Jacksonville, Alabama (WLJS) --- For the first time ever last Saturday, WLJS news anchor Ed Moore III hosted a radio broadcast revealing listeners to the lives of eight people who identified themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
Moore invited the guests to discuss issues surrounding perceptions of the LGBT community, religious aspects of the LGBT community, and hate crimes surrounding the LGBT community.
"This was my very first time hosting a program like this," said Moore following the program. "I am glad we were able to do it. I believe our panel appreciated it as well. I think this was a major step for everybody involved."
Four men, three women and a transgender female opened up their lives to Moore in ways that the audience may have not been prepared for at certain times. Tavares K. Doizer, 25, of Montevallo, Alabama told Moore during the program of a life changing experience regarding the first time his mother found out he was gay.
"I was kind of forced out," says Doizer. "My mom -- which is even more confusing, who is transgender, found some porn on my computer. At that time I was 18. I had tried at that point in high school to be with girls and try to date girls. I knew I was gay, but I was still trying to go through that phase of trying to wean myself off. So, my mom found the porn and I tried to lie about it. She didn't believe me and told my family. It was kind of one of those things where I felt betrayed, you know? If anybody should know how I feel, it should be [her.]"
Roxanne Demornay, 43, of Birmingham, who was born a man named Jeffery, but now identifies as a female, told her story growing up feeling like she was always in the wrong body.
"Of course, I experienced bullying from other kids," said Demornay. "I guess it was because I was always real feminine in school. The guys used to make fun of me when I played sports and what not. The 1-st through 6th grade was h-e- double l." I've always went to the girls bathroom. I've always identified with the females. Even when I was three years old and I was a little child, I used to get in my mother's makeup. She was an Avon lady. I would do my make-up and I would put on her high heels and parade through the house doing little dances. I have always been a woman as far as I can remember."
The panel also discussed controversies surrounding high profile religious figures that have come under fire for allegedly secretly engaging in sexual acts with people of the same gender, such as Atlanta area Bishop Eddie Long. Long is the senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist church in Dekalb County, Georgia who received national media attention in September 2010 after 4 men filed lawsuits against him alleging sexual abuse towards them as 17 and 18-year-olds.
The lawsuits allege that Long would use his spiritual guidance and wealth to sexually coerce the young men, who are now in their 20's, by purchasing them cars, as well as taking them on lavish vacations to destinations around the world.
The lawsuits were settled out of court in May 2011 and the terms of the settlement were never made public.
"I mean seriously, he is not the first person to do this." says Jayr Morris, 27, of Anniston, who identified himself as gay during the program. "I think what made his situation so dramatic was that he had a mega church. I just really think that he didn't think. There is always somebody watching you. Why would you risk that? There comes a point where you have to just stop and think, 'should I be doing this here?'"
The program in its entirety is available on YouTube by clicking on the links below:
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XtG2O_Jbjw
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO07HCr9TNM
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWO1JVuVI1U
Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqX2ZFwgqCE
Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozQEXmke3jo
Part 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irA6y08kEvc
Part 7: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d__pSI-fcPU
Part 8: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q4RkF0MutA
This report was made through WLJS News in Jacksonville, Alabama on 10/01/2013 at 3:59 P.M. Updated on 10/04/2013 at 11:12 P.M.
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