On Virgin Radio Pride this week: Joe McElderry, Rebecca Root and becoming an LGBTQ+ parent today

Virgin Radio

11 Jul 2022, 11:53

As we get stuck into July and the heat that comes with it, there’s plenty of specials to chill out with on Virgin Radio Pride. 

This week’s Big Conversation centres around the discussion of being gay and starting the journey to parenthood. Is it easier now than it was, or is there still a lot of stigma around LGBTQ+ people wanting to start a family?

Tonight (Monday 11th July) at 6pm, Steve Denyer will chat to drag royalty, The Dame Edna Experience, as they pick their tracks for My Pride Playlist. 

The DEE chats through their experiences on the UK drag circuit, the importance of London’s legendary LGBTQ+ venue, The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, and how it felt singing the anthemic ‘Smalltown Boy’ to over 40,000 people in San Diego. 

On Tuesday (12th July, 6pm) Tash Walker and Adam Zmith return with another look at The Logbooks, this time diving into awareness and understanding of gender identities through 1992 to 2003.

During that time period, more and more people were calling into LGBT+ helpline Switchboard to chat about their own identity. This episode offers a fascinating insight into how the community evolved over the period, and how trans people grew stronger in asserting their identities. 

Tash and Adam also hear from Steph Fuller, the general manager of Switchboard, about the nature of calls about gender identity today.

X Factor winner Joe McElderry will join Telly Talks on Wednesday at 6pm (13th July).

The singer will pick his top LGBTQ+ telly moments, and discuss what it was really like to be a contestant on one of the world’s most watched reality TV series. 

All of that, plus his love for George Michael and the importance of LGBTQ+ representation on prime time soap operas. His picks range from Coronation Street, Big Brother to Pop Idol.

On Thursday (14th July) at 6pm, trans actress Rebecca Root will appear on Matt Cain Meets. Their discussion will centre around self-acceptance and the progression of trans people not just in front of the camera, but also behind the scenes in the TV and film industry. 

This weekend, actor Omar Baroud and Marvel star Fra Free will take part in Sunday’s Quite A Queer Conversation (17th July, 6pm). 

Meanwhile, Virgin Radio Pride’s Mr Showbiz Crossey will hear from Blue’s Duncan James and the cast of new Disney+ movie RISE. 

Listen online at virginradiopride.co.uk, on the Virgin Radio UK app or ask your smart speaker to 'Play Virgin Radio Pride UK'. All specials listed air from 6pm.