Queer Out West back on the air
NSW’s longest-running GLBT community radio program was back on the air on Monday after being suspended last week for the first time in nine years.
A former Queer Out West presenter complained to 2GLF 89.3FM on May 7, telling the station he felt sexually harassed by comments made on air, leading to the show’s immediate suspension prior to an investigation.
The complainant also criticised the standard of the show and its relationship with supporter organisations including Guide To Gay and the Star Observer.
After reviewing the offending program, the 2GLF board found that, while unintentional and while the complainant was not mentioned by name, the comments could have been perceived to be harassment by a reasonable person, and thus breached the station’s harassment policy.
As a result, Queer Out West presenters will not mention the complainant on air again and will apologise in writing.
Concerns were also raised about coarse language on the show despite it airing after 10pm. In future, the program will begin with an adult content warning and will have warnings every 30 minutes during the broadcast.
Queer Out West presenters will also undertake a range of training with the station’s Regulations Director and have their performance reviewed monthly for the next three month.
Queer Out West producer and presenter Beverly Buttercup said she now had a better understanding of why the show had been suspended immediately when the station had 60 days to act.
“I’m really very happy with how they have approached this,” Buttercup said.
“They were very fair. They looked through all of the complaints and some of them were very personal but their main concern was to address the code of conduct and whether we were in breach of that.
“I do apologise for the comments that were made. It wasn’t done intentionally. They were tongue-in-cheek and we don’t read from a script and sometimes you say things you don’t mean.
“We just try to have a bit of fun and this person has taken offence to the things we’ve said because he’s no longer a part of the program and because he felt the show had lost a bit of direction and we needed to be pulled back into line.”
Buttercup said she had been bowled over by the messages of support from listeners that had flowed in following the show’s cancellation and she now just wanted to move forward.
“I know its only two hours, once a week, but in December we celebrate 10 years. How many other radio shows representing the GLBT community have lasted that long?” she said.
info: Visit www.queeroutwest.com
Sometimes I tune in to the station, when I can. The thing that annoys me is that whaling lisp that she has. I definitely don’t sound gay. And to me, she stereotypes that we should all sound like high-pitched banshees on a clear full moonlit night.
Another concern of mine is that the community diary at the end of the show, really isn’t a diary per se. I want to know what lies outside the nightclub / pub scene. REAL GLBTIQ community events or workshops. Beverly, just seems to waffle on about some stupid nightlife she does. I want to hear real issues, and not the people she or any other host sleep with.
i would have thought this should be a case of ‘if you dont like what u hear – change the channel!’
but i guess thats missed by some unintelligent people who cant handle good old fashioned witty banter… sigh!
GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK BEV!!