Online Radio Station Launches Show About Los Angeles LGBT History
With protections against discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation being lifted by the Trump administration and queer identities and histories being erased from federal websites, it feels like the United States is backsliding to a time when the LGBT community were denied basic rights.
As a result, it is increasingly important to platform queer voices and preserve their stories, and Handball Court Radio’s newest show “Rainbow Records” does just that.
“Rainbow Records” debuted on June 6 on both Handball Court Radio’s online station and the station’s YouTube channel. The show is an oral history podcast that documents the experiences of queer Angelenos during the AIDS crisis. By centering Los Angeles, a city often overlooked in queer historiography, and highlighting the perspectives of lesbians, “Rainbow Records” addresses gaps in mainstream representations of queer history.
“I was barely taught queer history growing up,” said Analisa Venolia, creator of “Rainbow Records” and co-founder of Handball Court Radio. “When we did learn about it in class, the focus was always on New York or San Francisco and queer women were practically never discussed. I wanted to create something that honors stories from my city and recognizes the contributions of queer women in the fight for LGBT rights.”
Sarah Livings-Walsh, co-founder of Handball Court Radio, stated that “Rainbow Records” has something to offer for more than just queer Angelenos.
“The stories shared by the subjects of ‘Rainbow Records' are important pieces of Los Angeles history and American history,” Livings-Walsh said. “They not only teach us about a powerful time of resistance in the face of oppression in the past, but they also have valuable lessons for the present.”
The first episode of “Rainbow Records” featured the story of Michel Chenelle, a teacher who worked at UCLA Medical Center in 1981 when AIDS was first discovered in the United States. Chenelle shared her experiences as a young queer woman during the crisis and her first-hand account of the discovery of the virus.
“From people who worked in healthcare during the AIDS Crisis to ACT UP LA members, to everyday Angelenos,” Venolia said. “The subjects of ‘Rainbow Records’ all have stories that deserve to be heard.”
The first episode of “Rainbow Records” is now available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, with future episodes airing at the beginning of every month. For more information, visit hanbdallcourtradio.com or the station’s Bluesky @handballcourtradio.bsky.com.
