Jim Andris, Facebook

Lambda Reports: St. Louis' Second LGBTQ Radio Show

by Jym Andris, John Hilgeman, and Charles Koehler

[Disclaimer: this article is being composed and verified. Please do not quote from it.]

It seems fairly certain that both the first and the second LGBTQ radio show in St. Louis grew out of the fact that St. Louis radio pioneer, Richard L. Miller, extended, through employees of his radio stations, invitations to leaders in the lesbian and gay community of the time to present an informational weekly talk show on topics relevant to the community. The first such program in 1979 and 1980, GayTalk on KADI FM and hosted by Jim Andris and Byron Davidson, occurred at a time of the blossoming of the gay and lesbian community both locally and nationally, following a decade of organization and networking. Gay men and lesbians had collaborated with progressive legislators in 1977 to defeat the destructive Save Our Children campaign fronted by Anita Bryant. St. Louis would celebrate the first Pride Parade—billed as a "Walk for Charity—to be sponsored by the Mayor's office and have a "friendly" police presence in 1980.

The second such program, Lambda Reports, hosted by John Hilgeman, Deborah Law, and Charles Koehler from 1989 to 1994, occurred at the end of a decade darkened by the AIDS crisis. But though the 1980s saw the tragic rise of the AIDS epidemic (20,000 deaths in the U.S. by 1988), it also witnessed crucial milestones in identifying the disease, making scientific breakthroughs, raising public awareness through education campaigns and activism, and the government's initial policy responses to combat the crisis.

There was one other lesbian and gay radio program formed in the 1980s. According to an article by Colin Murphy in the Vital Voice,

"GLBT radio started in the Gateway City when 88.1 KDHX FM, St. Louis Community Radio signed on the air on October 14, 1987 at 12:14 a.m.. Just two years later, in June 1989, "Coming Out of Hiding" made its debut on the same dial. It was primarily a queer music show featuring some interviews and news and ran through December 1998. During much of its run, it was hosted by Denise Hill and friends."

John Hilgeman, a former Roman Catholic priest who in 1974 had helped to organize the St. Louis chapter of Dignity, had become involved as an AIDS buddy and on Dec. 15, 1988 was waiting to be interviewed by local radio host, Sandra Spiritas, when Richard Miller, then owner of KRJY, engaged him in conversation about recreating a lesbian and gay talk show similar to GayTalk which had appeared a decade earlier. Hilgeman recommended Jim Thomas of the Lesbian and Gay News Telegraph to Miller and said also that he himself would be interested. Miller apparently contacted Thomas, who suggested Law, and she accepted, thinking this was her show. Hilgeman also had contacted Koehler, and they had started making plans.

A joint meeting of the three co-hosts, Hilgeman, Law, and Koehler, was finally arranged for Jan. 23, 1989 at Law's house. They reviewed how they had become involved and discussed the format, possible toplcs and interviewees. All three of the hosts were well-connected in the gay and lesbian community of the time and so participant interviewees continuted to be lined up. Hilgeman and Koehler were also working with Jerry Rabushka, St. Louis musician, artist and poet, to develop theme music for the program.

Hilgeman did the first program (Mar. 6, 1989) in which he interviewed St. Louis Alderman and business man, Steve Roberts, Sr. about hate crimes in St. Louis and how to effectively use current hate crime legislation to combat them. Koehler's first interview (Apr 2, 1989) was with Art and Marian Worth, co-founders, along with Carolyn Griffin, of the St. Louis Chapter of Parents for Lesbians and Gays (P-FLAG). Art Worth was Professor of Foundations of Education at Washington University. Deborah Law first interviewed (May 7, 1989) Joyce Treblicot, Washington University philosophy professor and founder of the women's study program there, about the March for Women's Lives. Once a week interviews by the hosts continued to be presented through May 27, 1990 with only one repeat.

At the very end of 1989, the three co-hosts gathered for time to reflect on what the show had accomplished that year. Here is a summary of that show:

Deborah Law, Charles Koehler, and John Hilgeman reflect on the success of their radio program, Lambda Reports, over the past year. They talk about the growth and opportunities that doing the show together opened up for them. They discuss the evolution of the show's name and format and the significant guests they've had, including Alderman Steve Robertson (St. Louis Hate Crimes Bill), Sgt. Perry Watkins (discrimination by the military), Tom Wilson Weinberg (singer/songwriter), Art and Marian Wirth (founders of P-FLAG), St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney George Peach, Joan Lipkin (playwrite), Steve Endean (campaign to write Congress) and the local display of the QUILT. They highlight the success of a local play, "Some of My Best Friends Are," the positive response to a billboard campaign, and how the St. Louis Pridefest is growing, despite some political losses nationally. They also ask for community feedback on what topics should be covered on Lambda Reports.

Also provided here are links to digital sound files, transcriptions and AI generated summaries to all of the existing tapes.

The show had an impact on the LGBTQ St. Louis Community. For example, Charles Koehler did a phone interview with St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney, George Peach and asked him a number of tough questions about harrassment and/or indifference by the St. Louis Police of or toward the lesbian and gay community in St. Louis and about his public use of the term 'queer.' Peach's answers exhibit a classic indifference to any claims of bias and a confidence that all groups are being served equally well by both his office and the Police Dept. Subsequently in March of 1992, George Peach was caught soliciting sex from a female St. Louis Police officer posing as a prostitute, leading to calls for his resignation. Peach was at first defiant, but further investigation led to his being convicted of felony theft and misconduct in 1993, ending his 16 year long career in St. Louis police enforcement.

Wikipedia Article on AIDs history.