Tag: radio

Effective January 1, 2015 the city of Rochester, NY will cover medical services related to gender reassignment, including medical and psychological counseling, hormone therapy, and cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries, as announced by Mayor Lovely Warren at Empire State Pride Agenda’s Spring Dinner on May 17.

The initiative is part of a plan steered by City Councilmember Matt Haag to raise the city’s Municipal Equality Index.

Eliminating barriers to health care is simply the right thing to do.  The city was the first to support domestic partnerships, and I am happy that we lead the effort to equalize benefits for all once again.

–Mayor Warren

The inclusion of transition-related care in municipal benefits will improve the health and well-being of transgender employees and also send a message to the rest of our state that we need to provide medically necessary care to all transgender New Yorkers.  Rochester has long been a leader on LGBT civil rights and this is just one more example of how this great city sets a strong example for the rest of New York state.

–Nathan M. Schaefer, executive director of Empire State Pride Agenda

Additionally, beginning with the 2014-15 academic year, the University of Rochester will offer transition-related health care coverage as part of the student health care plan.  

It’s a medical necessity.  It will also help promote a more inclusive environment and a more healthy and productive student body.

–John Cullen, coordinator of outreach for the Susan B. Anthony Center for Women’s Leadership at UR

UR thus becomes the 52^nd university in the nation to adopt a progressive health care policy for its transgender students.

Every Tuesday morning, I drive my daughter all the way to school, instead of just to the bus stop, for Band Sectionals at the ungodly hour of 6:30a.m. So I have a good sit in the car. On the return trip, I am all alone and get to choose the station! I listen to my local hippie station which has, in that weekly time slot, a Pacifica show called “People of the Earth”. Very cool. They talk about various native and indigenous peoples and related issues. Like this one:

With numerous errands to do yesterday and today, I’ve been driving and listening more than usual. Its their pledge drive now. “CALL! and let us know you’re there.” I really want to contribute to this station, maybe I make it another birthday present to myself (this could go on all month, if I had $).

So. What stations do you like and listen to? Links welcome!

From one of my favorite radio artists, Joe Frank:

Here’s To War (5MB MP3 File)

[WARNING: Dark satire — not for the seriously-depressed or humor-impaired.]

If you like this piece, I encourage you to check out Joe’s website for more of his radio shows:

JoeFrank.com

June 29, 2008

The Media Project

WAMC, Northeast Public Radio

318 Central Avenue

Albany, New York 12206

Dear Alan, Ira, Elisa and Rex:

This evening, again, the subject of Blogs came up during your show, the Media Project.  And, to nobody’s particular surprise, the usual, superficial analysis was quickly dispensed: bloggers are not journalists, blogs have no quality control, blogs are too quick, blogs have no restraints, blogs by anonymous writers are irresponsible, blogs don’t gather news, some blogs print “horrible” things. I’ve come to expect this.

The fact is that there are millions of blogs.  For political and cultural analysis these come in two main types: group blogs (e.g., daily Kos in left Blogistan) and individual blogs.  Individual blogs, like newspapers, radio, and TV, have enormous variations in intelligence and quality.  Some are absolutely brilliant; others, unreadable.  But both kinds of blogs are extremely democratic: anybody with access to a computer can be a writer and express an opinion or an analysis or spread a story.  Anybody with a comment about a story is free to post it.  Yoanni Sanchez, a prizewinning Cuban blogger, uses the computer at the local library.  One doesn’t need money to be a blogger.  Only time and desire.  Bloggers who are no good remain unread and eventually give up.  Bloggers who have something to say are ultimately recognized and build a readership.