LGBTQ+ Voices in the Miami Valley and Beyond
At WYSO, we are committed to amplifying the voices and experiences of LGBTQ+ people in our region. From deeply personal storytelling to community events, art, history, and policy shifts, this tag brings together reporting and audio features that reflect the diversity and depth of queer and trans life.
You'll hear from local advocates and artists, youth and elders, families and faith leaders—each helping to shape a more inclusive future in southwest Ohio. Whether it's a conversation about gender identity, a profile of a drag performer, or an exploration of rural Pride celebrations, these stories aim to inform, connect, and uplift.
We believe journalism is strongest when it reflects the full range of human experience. The LGBTQ+ tag is part of that mission.
Explore the latest stories below.
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Dayton Public Access Television and Greater Dayton LGBT Center have partnered to record and archive local LGBTQ+ people's stories. -
Navy veteran Monica Helms explains how she created the iconic transgender flag in 1999, its symbolic meaning, and how it became a rallying point for the trans community. -
On May 4, 2025, transgender people and allies gathered in Dayton, Ohio, for a rally to demand transgender rights and resist anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and systemic erasure. -
Arienne Childrey, Ohio's first transgender city council member, urges the LGBTQ+ community to take "Stonewall spirit" and fight anti-trans laws through political action. -
Arnold challenged Republican Rodney Creech, who she says is a former trans ally, for the Ohio House in '24, raising awareness about trans rights in conservative districts -
Khris Goins founded Black Transmen of Ohio after noticing a lack of representation. The nonprofit now provides support, resources, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. -
Kathie Bowers, an instructor at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, wrote to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine opposing Senate Bill 104's bathroom restrictions. Hear her story. -
Trans youth face increasing anti-trans laws nationwide. Advocate Shelby Chestnut shares how communities are organizing and why young people give them hope for the future. -
Lee Wade, an Ohio trans man, reunites with his father, Danny, after his dad was in prison. It's their first meeting since Lee began his transition from female to male. -
Translucent is a new WYSO series sharing stories from transgender people in Ohio and beyond, highlighting resilience, identity, and community in their own words. -
The Equal Deathcare database kicked off a year ago to help LGBTQ+ people with making funeral and end-of-life arrangements. -
WYSO's Lee Wade is one of just 10 BIPOC journalism students nationwide chosen to participate in this year’s “Opening Doors” program, an initiative of the Public Media Journalists Association.
