Lorraine Hansberry was the brilliant author of “Raisin in the Sun,” “Young Gifted and Black,” “Les Blancs,” “The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window,” “The Drinking Gourd,” “The Movement,” and “What Use are Flowers?” She was the youngest playwright and first Black, to win the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Play of the Year for “Raisin in the Sun,” which propelled her into the media spotlight. Her work reflected the struggles for civil rights and Black liberation in the US at the time. What is less known is that she was both a communist and a lesbian at a time when being either was a cause for investigation by government agencies

During WBAI’s May Fund drive Out-FM will host a 4-hour special on the life and work of Lorraine Hansberry. Included in the presentation will be selections from Robert Nemiroff’s star studed production, “Lorraine Hansberry in Her Own Words”. More than 60 famed actors participated in creating this outstanding production, which includes selections from many of her plays. Be sure to tune-in to the special and pledge to help make the fund drive a success. Check the inner page for details.

Date: Monday, May 19, 2008

Time: 11am-2pm, and 9-12PM Monday night

OUT-FM in the NEWs, click HERE to go to Gay City News article.

Listen to hour 1 right click and "save" to download. Please support this show and WBAI by pledging for the premium of the 6 CD set of "Lorraine Hansberry in Her Own Words." You will receive this as a gift from us for $150 pledge. Any support is welcome, you become a member for one year by pledging at least $25 to WBAI. Call WBAI at 212-209-2950 to get the Lorraine Hansberry premium, originally b-cast on May 19th at from 11-3pm.

Listen to hour 2 right click and "save" to download

Listen to hour 3 right click and "save" to download

Listen to hour 4 right click and "save" to download

June 6, 2005

(This is republished because the play Tara's Crossing was recently performed as a revival in May for one showing. The play still has significance as discrimination against LGBT asylum seekers is widespread. Peter Jonas interviews one asylum speaker whose case is similar to that depicted in the play. Jonas also interviews the playwright.) Houses on the Moon Theater Company presents a new play which recounts a transgendered asylum-seeker's remarkable fight from Guyana and her uphill battle to prove her claims of persecution from within the confines of U.S. Immigration Detention. The play is one of the first ever to deal with the subject of political asylum for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered refugees, and was inspired by interviews with asylum-seekers from around the world.

Click HERE to listen to segment with interview with the writer and original subject on who's life this story was based. Interview in first 1/3 of show.