Welcome to The Bridge!

We’re thrilled to announce the premiere of our new podcast, “The Bridge.” This innovative series aims to connect hearts and open minds through powerful personal stories and insightful discussions that bridge gaps in our understanding and strengthen our community ties.

Our very first episode, “Pride and Progress,” invites you to step into the vibrant atmosphere of the Columbus Pride Parade with Jared Kenneth Page, a passionate advocate and beloved member of the LGBTQ+ community. Jared shares his heartfelt journey from the challenges of coming out to the joyful celebrations of Pride, reflecting on how far the community and society have come over the years.

Episode Highlights Include:

• Jared’s Personal Story: From the fear of coming out to finding acceptance and peace.
• Evolution of Pride: Witness the transformation of the Pride Parade from Jared’s first march to today’s inclusive, vibrant celebration.
• Community Impact: Explore how events like Pride foster a supportive environment that champions diversity and acceptance.

The episode goes beyond just recounting experiences—it’s about the profound impact of embracing one’s identity and advocating for collective rights and recognition. Whether you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, Jared’s narrative and our discussion on the progression of Pride events will inspire and inform.

When to Listen:
Mark your calendar for the release of “The Bridge” on September 8, 2024 at 8:00 am. Debut starts with the revisit of of Pride Month back in June 2024, this episode promises to be a compelling start to a series that celebrates the strength found in diversity.

How to Listen:
“The Bridge” and STM Daily News Podcast are both available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss this moving kickoff episode and the amazing stories that will follow!

Join us as we explore the bridges that connect us to Jared’s story and the broader narratives woven throughout our communities. Let’s look back on Pride Month with understanding, unity, and joy through the stories that bring us together.

Listen, reflect, and celebrate with us on “The Bridge.” Your journey into deeper community connections starts here!

You can also catch the episode on YouTube: Pride & Progress

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PrideAndProgress #TheBridgePodcast #LGBTQStories

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The Bridge is a section of the STM Daily News Blog meant for diversity, offering real news stories about bona fide community efforts to perpetuate a greater good. The purpose of The Bridge is to connect the divides that separate us, fostering understanding and empathy among different groups. By highlighting positive initiatives and inspirational actions, The Bridge aims to create a sense of unity and shared purpose. This section brings to light stories of individuals and organizations working tirelessly to promote inclusivity, equality, and mutual respect. Through these narratives, readers are encouraged to appreciate the richness of diverse perspectives and to participate actively in building stronger, more cohesive communities.

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STM Daily News is a vibrant news blog dedicated to sharing the brighter side of human experiences. Emphasizing positive, uplifting stories, the site focuses on delivering inspiring, informative, and well-researched content. With a commitment to accurate, fair, and responsible journalism, STM Daily News aims to foster a community of readers passionate about positive change and engaged in meaningful conversations. Join the movement and explore stories that celebrate the positive impacts shaping our world.

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Lauren Herold, Kenyon College

“Hello to all you lovely lesbians out there! My name is Debbie, and I’m here to show you a few things about taking care of your vaginal health.”

So opens the first “Lesbian Health” segment on “Dyke TV,” a lesbian feminist television series that aired on New York’s public access stations from 1993 to 2006.

The half-hour program focused on lesbian activism, community issues, art and film, news, health, sports and culture. Created by three artist-activists – Cuban playwright Ana Simo, theater director and producer Linda Chapman and independent filmmaker Mary Patierno – “Dyke TV” was one of the first TV shows made by and for LGBTQ women.

While many people might think LGBTQ+ representation on TV began in the 1990s on shows like “Ellen” and “Will & Grace,” LGBTQ+ people had already been producing their own television programming on local stations in the U.S. and Canada for decades.

In fact my research has identified hundreds of LGBTQ+ public access series produced across the country.

In a media environment historically hostile to LGBTQ+ people and issues, LGBTQ+ people created their own local programming to shine a spotlight on their lives, communities and concerns.

Experimentation and advocacy

On this particular health segment on “Dyke TV,” a woman proceeds to give herself a cervical exam in front of the camera using a mirror, a flashlight and a speculum.

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Close-up shots of this woman’s genitalia show her vulva, vagina and cervix as she narrates the exam in a matter-of-fact tone, explaining how viewers can use these tools on their own to check for vaginal abnormalities. Recalling the ethos of the women’s health movement of the 1970s, “Dyke TV” instructs audiences to empower themselves in a world where women’s health care is marginalized.

Because public access TV in New York was relatively unregulated, the show’s hosts could openly discuss sexual health and air segments that would otherwise be censored on broadcast networks.

Like today’s LGBTQ content creators, many of the producers of LGBTQ+ public access series experimented with genre, form and content in entertaining and imaginative ways.

LGBTQ+ actors, entertainers, activists and artists – who often experienced discrimination and tokenism on mainstream media – appeared on these series to publicize and discuss their work. Iconic drag queen RuPaul got his start performing on public access in Atlanta, where “The American Music Show” gave him a platform to promote his burgeoning drag persona in the mid-1980s. https://www.youtube.com/embed/hab5HrnfEZk?wmode=transparent&start=0 RuPaul appears on a 1985 episode of ‘The American Music Show.’

The producers often saw their series as a blend of entertainment, art and media activism.

Shows like “The Gay Dating Game” and “Be My Guest” were tongue-in-cheek satires of 1950s game shows. News programs such as “Gay USA,” which broadcast its first episode in 1985, reported on local and national LGBTQ news and health issues.

Variety shows like “The Emerald City” in the 1970s, “Gay Morning America” in the 1980s, and “Candied Camera” in the 1990s combined interviews, musical performances, comedy skits and news programming. Scripted soap operas, like “Secret Passions,” starred amateur gay actors. And on-the-street interview programs like “The Glennda and Brenda Show” used drag and street theater to spark discussions about LGBTQ issues.

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Other programs featured racier content.

In the 1980s and ‘90s, “Men & Films,” “The Closet Case Show” and “Robin Byrd’s Men for Men” incorporated interviews with porn stars, clips from porn videos and footage of sex at nightclubs and parties.

Skirting the censors

The regulation of sex on cable television has long been a political and cultural flashpoint.

But regulatory loopholes inadvertently allowed sexual content on public access. This allowed hosts and guests to talk openly about gay sex and safer sex practices on these shows – and even demonstrate them on camera.

The impetus for public access television was similar to the ethos of public broadcasting, which sought to create noncommercial and educational television programming in the service of the public interest.

In 1972, the Federal Communications Commission issued an order requiring cable television systems in the country’s top 100 markets to offer access channels for public use. The FCC mandated that cable companies make airtime, equipment and studio space to individuals and community groups to use for their own programming on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The FCC’s regulatory authority does not extend to editorial control over public access content. For this reason, repeated attempts to block, regulate and censor programming throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s were challenged by cable access producers and civil liberties organizations.

The Supreme Court has continually struck down laws that attempt to censor cable access programming on First Amendment grounds. A cable operator can refuse to air a program that contains “obscenity,” but what counts as obscenity is up for interpretation.

Over the years, producers of LGBTQ-themed shows have fiercely defended their programming from calls for censorship, and the law has consistently been on their side.

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Airing the AIDS crisis

As the AIDS crisis began to devastate LGBTQ+ communities in the 1980s, public access television grew increasingly important.

Many of the aforementioned series devoted multiple segments and episodes to discussing the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on their personal lives, relationships and communities. Series like “Living with AIDS”, “HoMoVISIONES” and “ACT UP Live!” were specifically designed to educate and galvanize viewers around HIV/AIDS activism. With HIV/AIDS receiving minimal coverage on mainstream media outlets – and a lack of political action by local, state and national officials – these programs were some of the few places where LGBTQ+ people could learn the latest information about the epidemic and efforts to combat it.

The long-running program “Gay USA” is one of the few remaining LGBTQ+ public access series; new episodes air locally in New York and nationally via Free Speech TV each week. While public access stations still exist in most cities around the country, production has waned since the advent of cheaper digital media technologies and streaming video services in the mid-2000s.

And yet during this media era – let’s call it “peak public access TV” – these scrappy, experimental, sexual, campy and powerful series offered remarkable glimpses into LGBTQ+ culture, history and activism.

Lauren Herold, Visiting Assistant Professor of Gender & Sexuality Studies, Kenyon College

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The Bridge is a section of the STM Daily News Blog meant for diversity, offering real news stories about bona fide community efforts to perpetuate a greater good. The purpose of The Bridge is to connect the divides that separate us, fostering understanding and empathy among different groups. By highlighting positive initiatives and inspirational actions, The Bridge aims to create a sense of unity and shared purpose. This section brings to light stories of individuals and organizations working tirelessly to promote inclusivity, equality, and mutual respect. Through these narratives, readers are encouraged to appreciate the richness of diverse perspectives and to participate actively in building stronger, more cohesive communities.

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Following the second annual Ambition Accelerator Summit, 24-year-old changemaker Victoria Lamar receives $25,000 in funding to help excel her education-focused initiative.

IRVINE, Calif. /PRNewswire/ — Taco Bell Foundation and nonprofit partner Ashoka announced today the top changemaker in the second Ambition Accelerator Summit, hosted at Taco Bell’s headquarters in Irvine, Calif. Victoria Lamar pitched Securing Degrees, a national scholarship coaching platform that helps students alleviate the financial burden of higher education, winning the challenge and receiving a $25,000 social impact grant.

Changemaker Recognition

The prize funding will enable the Atlanta-based initiative to expand and provide additional resources to students aged 17 to 22, especially those from underrepresented communities. Since 2018, Securing Degrees has assisted over 4,000 families in securing $20 million in scholarships, ensuring debt-free education. Students on the platform are provided access to experienced coaches who help identify scholarships, craft compelling narratives, and meet application deadlines.

“Participating in the Ambition Accelerator program has been a transformative experience,” said Victoria Lamar, the 2024 Ambition Accelerator grand prize recipient. “The support and resources provided are empowering me to drive meaningful change and will allow me to take Securing Degrees to the next level. I’m excited to see the positive impact Securing Degrees can make with the help of the Taco Bell Foundation and Ashoka.”

After receiving over 370 applications from young people across the country, the Taco Bell Foundation invited the top 50 changemakers, including Victoria, for an immersive experience at Taco Bell’s headquarters this week. These Summit Semi-Finalists were granted the opportunity to enhance their entrepreneurial skills by participating in workshops focused on storytelling, community building, networking, and more. Each Semi-Finalist received $1,000 in seed funding for their social ventures, and five finalists were invited to a pitch competition. The grand prize recipient of the pitch competition received $25,000 in addition to previous competition awards and a Taco Bell gift card, gifted by Taco Bell Corp. The other four finalists were awarded an additional $5,000 each to further develop their projects.

“We created Ambition Accelerator to elevate the voices of our future leaders,” said Julie Davis, Global Chief Legal Officer, Taco Bell & Executive Sponsor, Taco Bell Foundation. “By fostering a supportive network and providing essential tools over the past few days, we hope these bright, socially motivated individuals will feel empowered to continue their work and make a difference in their communities.”

In addition to Securing Degrees, the other projects selected to participate in the pitch competition included:

• Farms for Thought: Farms for Thought combats food deserts by deploying autonomous vertical farms in schools. Through partnerships and innovative technology, the program aims to improve access to healthy food, promote education, and empower communities.
• Elevate the Navajo Nation: Navajo youth face challenges such as substance abuse, poverty, domestic violence, hopelessness, and lack of guidance. To address these issues, multi-generational Navajo leaders have created Elevate Navajo, a program that provides mentorship to help youth navigate these challenges. The program aims to build long-term, life-changing relationships, equipping Navajo youth to thrive and contribute to their community.
• Every Kid Gets a Robot (EKGAR): Founded in 2019, The STEAM Connection is a 501(c)(3) charity led by youth and minorities, dedicated to democratizing technical education for Indigenous youth through robotics by providing free access to cutting-edge solutions. The STEAM Connection has created Every Kid Gets A Robot (EKGAR), an educational robotics kit that costs less than $20 to produce. It’s provided free of charge to K-12 students, boosting their technical skills by 70%. So far, EKGAR has reached 45,000 youth.
• SignAll: Less than 0.1% of the hearing population understands sign language. SignAll is an AI-based sign language translation app that provides real-time translations by leveraging a mobile device’s camera at the person signing, helping to break down barriers in communication.

To narrow down these breakthrough ideas and select the winner, Taco Bell Foundation invited a panel of judges to deliberate including:

• Kim Malek, Founder & CEO, Salt & Straw
• Stephen Green, Founder, PitchBlack
• Chris White, EVP of Brand Partnerships, The SpringHill Company
• Neil Borkan, Taco Bell Franchisee & Chairman, Taco Bell Foundation
• SG Ellison, Taco Bell Franchisee & President of Diversified Restaurant Group and A&C Ventures
• Tim Bergevin, Vice President of Entertainment & Community Marketing, Taco Bell

“Meeting the participants and witnessing the connections they have made over these past few days is incredible,” said Tia Johnston Brown, Executive Director of Ashoka’s Youth Venture. “The Ambition Accelerator Summit embodies Ashoka and the Taco Bell Foundation’s mission to empower individuals to pursue their passion. These young people are already changing the world.”

Funded by Yum! Brand’s $100 million Unlocking Opportunity Initiative, Ambition Accelerator is dedicated to creating pathways for a more equitable and inclusive society. The inaugural Ambition Accelerator India Summit will be taking place in September in Bengaluru.

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About Taco Bell Foundation 

Taco Bell Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity that helps break down barriers to educate and inspire the next generation of America’s young leaders. Since 1992, the Taco Bell Foundation has reached more than 5 million young people across the country and has awarded more than $188 million in grants and scholarships, focused on education and career readiness. For more information about the Taco Bell Foundation, visit www.tacobellfoundation.org.

About Ashoka 

Ashoka is the largest global network of leading social entrepreneurs—individuals with new ideas to systemically address the world’s biggest challenges and the entrepreneurial skill to transform those ideas into national, regional and global social impact. For over 40 years, Ashoka has supported over 4,000 social entrepreneurs in 90 countries with solutions addressing society’s most pressing issues. Ashoka’s vision is a world in which Everyone is a Changemaker—a society that responds quickly and effectively to challenges, and where every individual has the freedom, confidence and societal support to address any social problem. For more information, visit ashoka.org.    

Katie Snyder – Edelman
katie.snyder@edelman.com 

Chad Hoffmann – Taco Bell Corp.
chad.hoffmann@yum.com 

Tia Johnston Brown – Ashoka
tjohnston@ashoka.org 

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SOURCE Taco Bell Corp.

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