Perth’s leading gay and trans* radio program, All Things Queer (ATQ), will be celebrating its first birthday in February.
While the weekly radio segment has seen its initial volunteer-base of 16 dwindle down to just three, presenter Paul van Lieshout Hunt told OUTinPerth that their audience had continued to grow.
‘We’ve definitely seen our listenership expand, but it’s been hard in terms of keeping a collective of dedicated presenters,’ said Hunt.
‘People tend to sign on and don’t really know what they are signing on for and just how much work is involved.
Over the past year, ATQ has covered hardline topics from the recent International Transgender Day of Remembrance to more intimate local coming out stories.
Hunt said the priority for ATQ was reaching out to the community while developing relationships with listeners.
‘We get people emailing in all the time telling us about their own personal stories which is nice to know young people are tuning in,’ Hunt said.
‘They’ve heard a few coming out stories and plucked up the courage after listening to All Things Queer and jumped in the deep end.’
For its role in the community, the show has already notched up some significant accolades and recognition throughout Perth and WA.
‘This year we’ve won two awards which has been fantastic: we won a (Pride) Glammy and a World AIDS Day Award,’ he said.
‘We’re always actively seeking stories and we’re out there in the community too.’
RTR FM station manager Graeme Watson said All Things Queer was all about ‘diversity’.
‘The real goal of community radio and RTR FM (is) to represent people who aren’t represented in other media forms,’ Watson said.
‘Like all groups, we have things to discuss, to debate, opinions and stereotypes to be challenged and positive role models to put forward: radio is a great medium for doing that.’
For the future, Hunt said he would like to see the program cross mediums into television and more online content.
A new blog will be launched on the birthday edition of ATQ, providing listeners with news on arts, culture and current affairs for Perth’s LGBT community.
All Things Queers will be celebrating its first birthday on February 5 and airs every Monday nights from 10-11pm on RTR 92.1FM.
Benn Dorrington
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