We're back. General Global Context of LGBT History & Culture (7 min)
After a one-year break, we're finally back with some wonderful news and many new episodes which we have produced. Before diving into the LGBT stories of different countries around the world, let's first set our perspective and our mind.
Engaging and insightful, the podcast navigates the multifaceted experiences of LGBTQ+ communities worldwide, driven by host Michael Ross's dedication to amplifying diverse voices. The discussion begins with a candid reflection on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting how it has affected individuals across the globe, particularly within marginalized communities. The episode introduces a new collaboration with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, which aims to deepen the exploration of LGBTQ+ narratives while fostering connections between activists and audiences. This partnership builds on the success of previous episodes that addressed the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in specific countries, such as Turkey.
The podcast emphasizes the importance of storytelling in promoting understanding and acceptance, showcasing the host's journey from creating a popular Hebrew-language podcast in Israel to expanding the conversation globally. Michael's experience illustrates that LGBTQ+ stories resonate universally, encouraging listeners to appreciate the rich cultural tapestry of LGBTQ+ identities. By sharing these narratives, the podcast seeks to challenge perceptions, celebrate diversity, and underscore the notion that being LGBTQ+ is an integral part of human existence, deserving of recognition and respect across all cultures.
As the episode unfolds, listeners are prompted to reflect on their own identities and the historical contexts that shape their communities. The host raises thought-provoking questions about love, belonging, and the rights of individuals to express their true selves. By fostering these discussions, the podcast aims to create a safe space for listeners to engage with LGBTQ+ issues, inspiring them to seek justice and equality for all. With an invitation to explore upcoming interviews with activists and community leaders, the episode sets the stage for a rich dialogue that promises to enlighten and empower listeners in their understanding of LGBTQ+ rights and histories.
Takeaways:
- The podcast aims to highlight the experiences of LGBT communities globally, fostering understanding.
- Covid-19 has significantly impacted everyone, demonstrating the strength of community connections.
- The collaboration with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation enhances the podcast's reach and impact.
- Listeners from diverse regions found relevance in the story of a Turkish LGBT activist.
- The host emphasizes the importance of sharing LGBT history to promote normalization and acceptance.
- The podcast seeks to address and celebrate the diversity within LGBT cultures around the world.
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- Friedrich Naumann foundation
- TICSF
Transcript
Let's talk for and about the lgbt communities around the world. I'm Michael Ross, and this is straight friendly. Welcome back. Welcome back.
We are all back recording here after a year where we had a break thanks to Covid-19 in some cases, I really. I prefer to laugh rather than to cry. And I think that the Covid-19 is just one of those situations. This year has been difficult to any one of us.
No matter where you are in the world, I'm sure that this pandemic somehow affected you. And I hope that today you are healthy and safe and also your families.
And in difficult times like we had now, I think these are the times in which we can see the power that communities have. So we also have some really, really good news.
We are now starting to cooperate together with the Friedrich Naumann foundation in Jerusalem, who are actually, by the way, are big part of production of a previous episode where we were talking about the situation of the LGBT community in Turkey, the Friedrich Naumann foundation together, the TICSF, the Turkish Israeli relation, something like that. They connected between myself and Mustafa Soyoumas, the activist from Turkey. And that episode was very successful, I have to say.
We didn't expect those numbers of listeners, which are really great news.
And it was interesting to see how people also from the United States and Europe and Asia found the story of a turkish guy to be relevant for them as well. What?
We're just gonna continue into this new production of straight friendly global, where we're gonna interview and host some of the most interesting people of the lgbt communities around the world.
The Friedrich Nauru foundation, located in Potsdam, Germany, has more than 60 offices around the world, and we're gonna use that for the next episodes if you know the story behind this podcast. So just quickly, I will brief that I started podcasting in Israel, the country where I'm coming from.
And in Hebrew, my podcast became the second most popular lgbt podcasts in Israel, which are great news. No one could believe before that that people can find interest about lgbt culture and history and stories.
And with that success, we are now trying also to do this around the world.
I think that there is something very important about showing and broadcasting stories, both historical and also the present times, and showing history and culture of different lgbt communities and around the world, because it shows what unifies us. It shows us that being an LGBT is supposed to be at least just a regular thing.
Because if it happens all around the world and it happened in the past as well, it means that it's all natural.
It means that there are lgbt people who are just like you and me, or our friends who are located all around the world, just as there are white and black people all around the world, or christian or jewish or Muslim.
So before we proceed to the next episodes, talking about different countries, talking about each and each country, let's first have a global aspect, a global view around the world. There are more than 7 billion people living these days on planet earth. Imagine how many people live in your country. Is it big or is it small?
What part of the world your country has? Your continent, what countries and areas in the world you have no idea about?
Who were the people who lived in your area generations and generations back ago? How ancient and long ago it history goes back to what choices did they have? Did they speak the same language?
Did they know how to love what their families looked like? Could they choose their own clothes? Are you lucky enough to be in those countries where legally we can be who we are?
How many people are yelling out today from their graves, asking for justice? Where were the rainbows thrown in jail? I have lost my job.
Guest:I have lost my apartment.
Michael Ross:For gay liberation, I'm Willie Ninja, the mother of the house of Ninja.
Guest:Once upon a time there was a little black girl. We wish you a better goodbye from swimming. Our congratulations to Dharma International, the winning song and diva.
It is well known that I make a person in this state. There is a law that says gay people cannot be married. But there is no law that says two human beings cannot love one another.
Michael Ross:Third, reading a bill for an act, amend the law relating to the definition of marriage and protect religious freedoms and for related purposes. That's it. That's it. Cherishing our history and our roots, our ancestors, for our future, for the future of next generations.
