Revisiting The Gay Life

David Boyer
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Documentary
  • Weekly Series

Revisiting The Gay Life explores a pivotal moment in LGBTQ history — from the rise of Harvey Milk to the early days of AIDS — through the archive of The Gay Life, a radio show that aired in the late 1970s and early 1980s.  Revisiting The Gay Life is produced by KALW’s Queer Power Hour in collaboration with the GLBT Historical Society and The Gay Life's longtime host Randy Alfred.

Episodes

  1. Episode 1

    The History of LGBTQ Radio

    In the premiere episode, we go back to the beginnings of LGBTQ+ radio. And hear how it developed from the 1950s to the 1970s. And we meet the host and producer of The Gay Life, Randy Alfred (pictured above!) Revisiting The Gay Life is a new 12-episode series from KALW’s Queer Power Hour. It explores a pivotal moment in SF’s LGBTQ history — from the rise of Harvey Milk to the early days of what would later be called AIDS. We reconsider this time through a perhaps unexpected lens: a radio show called The Gay Life that aired on KSAN, a commercial rock and roll station in the Bay Area in the late 1970s and early 1980s.  Revisiting The Gay Life is produced by KALW Public Media in collaboration with the GLBT Historical Society and The Gay Life's longtime host Randy Alfred.

    The History of LGBTQ Radio

  2. Episode 2

    The Life (and Afterlife) of Harvey Milk

    In this episode of Revisiting The Gay Life, we consider the life and afterlife of Harvey Milk, who was one of the key figures of what was then called the Gay Liberation Movement, as well as the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected to public office. Revisiting The Gay Life is a new 12-episode series from KALW’s Queer Power Hour. It explores a pivotal moment in SF’s LGBTQ history — from the rise of Harvey Milk to the early days of what would later be called AIDS. We reconsider this time through a perhaps unexpected lens: a radio show called The Gay Life that aired on KSAN, a commercial rock and roll station in the Bay Area in the late 1970s and early 1980s.  Revisiting The Gay Life is produced by KALW Public Media in collaboration with the GLBT Historical Society and The Gay Life's longtime host Randy Alfred.

    The Life (and Afterlife) of Harvey Milk

  3. Episode 3

    Midcentury (Gay) Men

    In this episode of Revisiting The Gay Life, we intertwine the stories of two men that appeared on the Gay Life. On paper, the men are quite similar. Born a year apart — Bob Basker in 1918 and Stuart Loomis in 1919. Both Veterans. Both spent time in Chicago after the war. And both ended up in San Francisco and were early gay activists. But how their stories diverge sheds some light on the difficult choices gay people faced in the midcentury. And how one or two decisions could dramatically alter the trajectory of your life. Revisiting The Gay Life is a new 12-episode series from KALW’s Queer Power Hour. It explores a pivotal moment in SF’s LGBTQ history — from the rise of Harvey Milk to the early days of what would later be called AIDS. We reconsider this time through a perhaps unexpected lens: a radio show called The Gay Life that aired on KSAN, a commercial rock and roll station in the Bay Area in the late 1970s and early 1980s.  Revisiting The Gay Life is produced by KALW Public Media in collaboration with the GLBT Historical Society and The Gay Life's longtime host Randy Alfred.

    Midcentury (Gay) Men

  4. Episode 4

    Lesbian Herstory

    In this episode of Revisiting The Gay Life, we do a deep dive into lesbian history. We share Randy's 1978 conversation with Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin about the first lesbian organizations in San Francisco and he sits down with Marie Renfro in 1980 to hear about that year’s black lesbian conference. And we hear from Randy about the evolving relationship between lesbians and gay men. Revisiting The Gay Life is a new 12-episode series from KALW’s Queer Power Hour. It explores a pivotal moment in SF’s LGBTQ history — from the rise of Harvey Milk to the early days of what would later be called AIDS. We reconsider this time through a perhaps unexpected lens: a radio show called The Gay Life that aired on KSAN, a commercial rock and roll station in the Bay Area in the late 1970s and early 1980s.  Revisiting The Gay Life is produced by KALW Public Media in collaboration with the GLBT Historical Society and The Gay Life's longtime host Randy Alfred.

    Lesbian Herstory

  5. Episode 5

    José Sarria and the Imperial Court

    In this episode of Revisiting The Gay Life, we hear about an LGBTQ organization that has been around for more than 60 years and is still somewhat misunderstood: The Imperial Court is a social and charitable organization that adds a drag twist to the concept of royal courts.  Since it began in San Francisco in 1965, The Imperial Court system has gone global and raised millions of dollars for LGBTQ+ communities. This conversation from a 1981 episode of The Gay Life is ostensibly about the history of the Imperial Court system, but it actually focuses more on the historic mistreatment of queer people at the hands of law enforcement.  Featured in this episode: José Sarria, Empress I de San Francisco and the first out gay political candidate in the US Bob Ross, Emperor VII and Founder/Publisher of the Bay Area Reporter

    José Sarria and the Imperial Court

  6. Episode 6

    Bisexual "Chic"

    In this episode of Revisiting The Gay Life, we're going to focus on bisexuality — as a distinct identity. Bisexuality was nothing new and sexual exploration was a big part of the counterculture movement of the late 60s and early 70s. But it went mainstream in the mid 1970s, when rockers like David Bowie, Elton John and Lou Reed came out as bisexual and both Time and Newsweek ran trend stories about “The New Bisexuals “ and “Bisexual Chic.”  Coastal communities in the United States were at the leading edge of societal change. And, in San Francisco, bisexuals began to create their own spaces and organizations. Host Randy Alfred interviewed leaders of those organizations on The Gay Life. And we’ll be revisiting two conversations from 1981. Featured in this episode: Maggi Rubenstein, co-founder of the San Francisco Bisexual Center David Loreau, co-director of the San Francisco Bisexual Center Dr. Earl M. Marsh, medical director of the clinic at the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality _______________ Revisiting The Gay Life is a new 12-episode series from KALW’s Queer Power Hour. It explores a pivotal moment in SF’s LGBTQ history — from the rise of Harvey Milk to the early days of what would later be called AIDS. We reconsider this time through a perhaps unexpected lens: a radio show called The Gay Life that aired on KSAN, a commercial rock and roll station in the Bay Area in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

    Bisexual "Chic"

  7. Episode 7

    Tales of Two Cities

    In this episode of Revisiting The Gay Life, we're going to explore two very different versions of the 1970s queer experience through interviews with two gay fiction writers working on opposite coasts at the time.  Featured in this episode: ARMISTEAD MAUPIN —  His Tales of the City is a love letter to San Francisco and a celebration of its quirks. Tales began as a daily fiction serial in the San Francisco Chronicle in 1976. Those columns became the basis of a wildly popular series of books, which were then adapted for TV and aired on PBS in 1993. This interview is from 1982. LARRY KRAMER — Most people him as a cofounder of ACT UP and as a polemic playwright, whose plays captured the fear and anger of the early years of AIDS. But before his activism days, Larry caused a stir with his 1978 novel, Faggots, which was a biting portrayal of New York City's gay scene in the 1970s. When it first came out, the book was condemned by many within the gay community. This somewhat testy interview is from 1979. RANDY ALFRED — He's a pioneering gay journalist, who hosted The Gay Life from 1979 to 1984. Also featured: "Michael's Letter to Mama." In 1999, Seattle Men's Chorus commissioned David Maddux to compose a choral piece with lyrics from Armistead Maupin's original coming-out letter that appeared in Tales of the City. This rendition is from San Francisco Gay Men's Choir._______________ Revisiting The Gay Life is a new 12-episode series from KALW’s Queer Power Hour. It explores a pivotal moment in SF’s LGBTQ history — from the rise of Harvey Milk to the early days of what would later be called AIDS. We reconsider this time through a perhaps unexpected lens: a radio show called The Gay Life that aired on KSAN, a commercial rock and roll station in the Bay Area in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Joining us for the look back: pioneering gay journalist Randy Alfred, who hosted the show from 1979 - 1984.

    Tales of Two Cities

  8. Episode 8

    Gay Politics, Gay Power

    In this episode of Revisiting The Gay Life, we're gonna focus on an inflection point in queer history: when the gay and lesbian rights movement was gaining strength, but also facing some backlash.  As the '70s gave way to the '80s, the deeply religious and conservative moral majority was founded and it helped catapult former Governor Ronald Reagan into the White House. At the same time, in the aftermath of Harvey Milk's murder, gays and lesbians were making serious inroads both in terms of public acceptance and political clout.   Featured in this episode: RANDY SHILTS & DAVID ISRAELS: In April of 1980, CBS Reports aired a controversial one-hour news program across the country was called "Gay Power, Gay Politics." But the show seemed less interested in gay power and more interested in gay sex —  portraying gay men as sexually depraved and maybe even dangerous. Soon after it aired, Randy Alfred convened a discussion about the program on "The Gay Life," which included Randy Shilts, who reported for KQED and KTVU at the time, and David Israels, who covered city politics and the gay beat for the San Francisco Bay Guardian. JUDGE MARY MORGAN: She gained entry to the halls of power as the first out lesbian appointed to a judgeship in the United States. Governor Jerry Brown appointed her to San Francisco Municipal Court in 1981. Randy Alfred sat down with her a few months after she started on the bench. RANDY ALFRED — He's a pioneering gay journalist, who hosted The Gay Life from 1979 to 1984. _______________ Revisiting The Gay Life is a new limited series from KALW’s Queer Power Hour. It is produced by KALW Public Media in collaboration with the GLBT Historical Society and The Gay Life's longtime host Randy Alfred. Show Credits:Executive Producer / Host: David BoyerProducer / Engineer / Life Saver: David Kwan

    Gay Politics, Gay Power

  9. Episode 9

    Out on the Air (Live)

    In this episode of Revisiting The Gay Life, we explore the past, present and future of LGBTQ radio with three of its pioneers who have been making radio since the early 1970s. This discussion was recorded live on July 15, 2016 at KALW’s event space in downtown San Francisco.  Featured in this episode: RANDY ALFRED - A pioneering gay journalist who worked in print and radio; he was the longtime host of The Gay Life, which aired on KSAN, from 1977 to 1984 CHANA WILSON - She hosted and produced Radio Free Lesbian on KPFA in the early 1970s ERIC JANSEN - He's the co-founder and host of Out in the Bay, which aired on KALW from 2004 to 2024 _______________ Revisiting The Gay Life is a new limited series from KALW’s Queer Power Hour. It is produced by KALW Public Media in collaboration with the GLBT Historical Society and The Gay Life's longtime host Randy Alfred. Show Credits:Executive Producer / Host: David BoyerProducer / Engineer / Life Saver: David Kwan

    Out on the Air (Live)

  10. Jul 4

    INTRODUCING Revisiting The Gay Life

    Introducing Revisiting The Gay Life is a new 12-episode series from KALW’s Queer Power Hour. It explores a pivotal moment in SF’s LGBTQ history — from the rise of Harvey Milk to the early days of what would later be called AIDS. We reconsider this time through a perhaps unexpected lens: a radio show called The Gay Life that aired on KSAN, a commercial rock and roll station in the Bay Area in the late 1970s and early 1980s.  Revisiting The Gay Life is produced by KALW Public Media in collaboration with the GLBT Historical Society and The Gay Life's longtime host Randy Alfred.

    INTRODUCING Revisiting The Gay Life

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Revisiting The Gay Life explores a pivotal moment in LGBTQ history — from the rise of Harvey Milk to the early days of AIDS — through the archive of The Gay Life, a radio show that aired in the late 1970s and early 1980s.  Revisiting The Gay Life is produced by KALW’s Queer Power Hour in collaboration with the GLBT Historical Society and The Gay Life's longtime host Randy Alfred.

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