Tune into OutOnline's Pridecast this weekend where I'll be sitting in with host Jason Lucarelli to bring a lesbian perspective to the show. I'm planning to delve into the controversy surround South African female runner, Caster Semenya, who is being forced to undergo gender testing in the wake of accusations that she is, in fact, a man. This is an incredibly complicated story that should give us pause to think about the implication of expanding our concept of gender identity.
It was only two years ago that a smaller scale battle threatened to tear the lesbian community apart as organizers of Celebrate the Night, a hugely popular fundraiser among the slightly older lesbian crowd, denied a female identified performer the opportunity to participate, claiming she had not transitioned enough to meet their vague definition of being a female. It was heated and bigotry carried the day, ripping back the curtain that hides Pittsburgh's queer community internalized homophobia and transphobia.
I've said this before, but I think my coming out later in my young adulthood rather than earlier helped me understand the complexities of continuums. Good stuff to discuss.
On a lighter note, I'm hoping we can spend some time chatting about an emerging trend in daytime television - prominent LGBT storylines. From BAM to NUKE, queer couples are gaining fans and garnering ratings.
Hope to see you (so to speak) Sunday afternoon. Be sure to log in to OutConnect during the show to chat with Jason and myself live!
