TIL the UK has a radio station for the queer community that broadcasts all over Britain on FM and DAB radio.
Almost certainly not news to any British people, but it was news to me and I think that's really cool.
I couldn't even imagine something like that in the U.S.
There is a history of inclusive radio in the UK which goes back at least to the 1960s. Anyone who was born here and is over the age of about 50 will know about Kenneth Williams, who appeared in radio comedies with Hugh Paddick. The material is dated and may be regarded as clichéd and demeaning now, but they played two gay men called Julian and Sandy on a show called Round the Horne from 1965 to 1968, and the same characters came up in later shows as well. Bear in mind this was on national radio at a time when gay sex was still illegal in the UK. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_and_Sandy for more details.
I'm british, and I was today years old when I learned this. Thanks!
I used to listen to Gaydio when I had more time. I Shazam'd the songs I liked and weeks later it would tell me I had great test because I listened to songs before they chart on Billboard in the US. Found out about London Grammar through them.
We emigrated here (three weeks ago) because my daughter is gay and it's just safer for her here. And every time I find out about something like this, or Scotland making queer history part of its standard school curriculum, it just makes me feel even better about it.
People keep telling me I made the wrong choice of countries to go to. I'm sure there are better options out there. This is still so, so, so much better than what she is used to. Her self-confidence about being in a place where people are actually willing to not just accept her for who she is, but treat her as just another person, has gone from zero to I don't know what. Enough to actually go out and make friends and have a social life.
What I also liked is they are way more open with disabled people on TV and radio as well. Now if they could just get the public financing in order after the Tories ran up the credit card for 13 years.