Pride Connection

Pride Connection for September 1, 2020 Presents: Ian Buchanan, Actor, Producer, Model and Icon

Pride Connection is always bringing informative, community-building conversations as well as fun experiences. During the last few weeks we have been focusing on racial justice, and decided to take a week of entertainment before we continue that series of conversations. So, we reached out to Ian who has been working the entertainment industry in various capacities for decades. You may know him from his modeling days with Ford, Elite and as Giorgio Armani’s personal fitting Model He transiti...

Pride Connection for August 25, 2020 - Pride Connection Asks; Are you a Ally or Co-conspiritor??

Blind Pride, being the diverse organization that we are, began an on-going conversation with our Past President, Will Burley, and member Cheryl Cummings last week on pride connection focusing around the ever widening national conversation regarding the state of Social Justice and where BPI fits in this important dialogue. The idea that one can be either a ALLY OR CO-CONSPIRITOR or both was raised and decided that this weeks show will address and ask this query. Blind Pride has so many int...

Pride Connection for August 18, 2020 - Black Lives Matter

This evening on Pride Connection, we emphasize that black lives matter. Will Burley, who has recently been appointed to co-facilitate the Cultural Humility workgroup at Disability Rights Texas will join in on the conversation and share history and personal stories from a Black activist perspective. We will also be joined by other black members of our community who will share their realities and stories with us in a world where racial injustice and oppression pervade society. Please join us ...

Pride Connection for August 11, 2020 Presents Joseph Shanley

Pride Connection for August 4, 2020 - A Little bit Gray with Byron Lee

This evening on ACB Radio Mainstream, Pride Connection goes a little bit gray. Byron Lee is no stranger to ACB. Over the years, he has helped with live streaming at national conventions. His weekly comedy music program, The Fun Zone, kept the ACB Radio audience laughing. In June, BPI benefitted from his brilliance when he produced and edited our Pride month music celebration. But who is the guy behind the comedy and the mixing board? We enter the gray zone with Byron Lee this week as ...

Pride Connection for July 28, 2020 Presents: The Voice of an Asexual Person

Please join Pride Connection tonight as we hear the voice of one of BPI’s newest members, Randy Reed. Randy invites us into his journey of self-discovery. He shares the confusion and misunderstanding he went through until he was able to find a word that described his sexual orientation- Asexual. This candid and open conversation educates us on the term “asexual.” we hear from this real-life expert; his struggles; his experiences; and most importantly, the life-transforming moment in whic...

Pride Connection for July 21, 2020 Celebrates 20 Years and an Amazingly Successful Convention

The ACB 2020 virtual convention burned brightly along with all the 4th of July fireworks, and now it is behind us. We've had a week to recover from the magic, the momentum and lightning speed of workshops, presentations and discussions. BPI successfully hosted an array of events as part of the ACB 2020 conference. Let's discuss perceptions, observations and thoughts. What were your favorite moments, and what would you like to see for next year? Join us live at 10 PM EST, 7 PM PST on ...

Pride Connection for June 30, 2020 Presents: Councilwoman Rosemary Ketchum, Wheeling, WV

You won’t want to miss this candid and compelling conversation with Rosemary Ketchum, the first trans woman to become an elected official. Rosemary is the Councilwoman for Ward 3 in the city of Wheeling, WV. Rosemary opened up her life to us. From growing up in Ohio; realizing she had to transition; the role of her family during her transition process; her thoughts on inclusive language and pronouns; and how she feels now that she is a successful woman. We also talk politics; her decision ...

Pride Connection for June 23, 2020 Presents - Laurel Hilbert: A story of determination, courage, and success

New BPI member Laurel joins us live this evening on Pride Connection to share his journey from a child growing up in Syria to his days spent working on the most recognizable hill in the world. He is a proud supporter of homeless advocacy, a champion of human rights, and an eloquent speaker. As we navigate through these turbulent times, his impactful story will intrigue us all and will motivate us to use one of the greatest privileges we have- VOTING!! So join co-hosts Gabriel, Leah, an...

Pride Connection for June 9, 2020 - Pride Connection Presents: A Candid & Open Conversation Around Pride & Solidarity

Dear ACB Family. Please join BPI on Pride Connection on ACB Radio Mainstream as we continue with our special programing for Pride Month. Co-hosts Anthony Corona, Leah Gardner, and Gabriel Lopez Kafati engage in a candid and open conversation around LGBT Pride. We share personal experiences; the challenges of coming out; reactions of loved ones. We compare also compare notes on the specific challenges of the intersectionality of being a blind or visually impaired member of the LGBT comm...

Pride Connection for June 2, 2020 - Pride Connection Celebrates Pride Month!

Pride Connection Proudly Celebrates Pride Month We begin with a fascinating show recounting the early days of our beloved organization. Blind Pride started as a small meeting of like minded people just meeting, hanging out and supporting each other at conventions int the late 1990s. Fire, passion and dedication led to the eventual forming of Bflag the family who eventually became BPI!! We were honored to be joined by founding members and not one but two amazing past ACB presidents. Ro...

Pride Connection for May 26, 2020 - Working Blind in a Sighted World

Pride Connection Proudly presents... Working Blind in a Sighted World! This week we have a dynamic panel of Blind Pride members who all work or have worked in diverse professions,. What they have in common is - working among and alongside sighted people. Hosts Anthony Corona, Leah Gardner and President Gabriel Lopez Kafati are joined by... Jessica Kell- A social worker in the addiction management field. Scott Marshal- A lawyer with a storied professional resume. John Denning- Who’s...

Pride Connection for May 19, 2020 - Identifying in Multiple Communities, a Paralympic BPI Member Speaks

Grasp a dream and run with it; see where the flight takes you. This week, Pride Connection features Sarah Chung, a Korean-American Paralympic athlete who identifies as a queer person. Sarah discusses growing up with a foot in 2 worlds, her education, her leap in to competitive judo in her early '20s and her conception of the term "queer". When dreams are not deferred, even the most impossible ones can be realized. Also, join us for a few surprises in the latter part of the show. Pri...

Pride Connection for May 12, 2020 Presents: Going Blind

On this week's episode of Pride Connection, join us as we gain insight in to the makings of a riveting documentary about sight loss that mixes the personal and the educational. Joseph Lovett of Lovett Productions, an acclaimed medical journalist and documentary film director, released Going Blind in 2010. The movie was based on his exploration of vision loss as glaucoma encroached on his limited sight. He spoke to doctors, low vision specialists and intertwined his story with candid d...

Pride Connection for May 5, 2020 Proudly Presents member Dwayne Estes

Please join Pride Connection for the melody and cadence of Dwayne Estes this Tuesday, May 5, at 10 PM EST on ACB Radio Mainstream. Dwayne has been a lifelong professional musician and he was a founding member of BPI in 1999. Dwayne discusses how he sustained his career based on grit and determination. He also reflects on the changes in his life as his visual acuity began to shift from legal blindness in 1996 to light perception in 2011. Dwayne conveys light and hope through his words....

Pride Connection for April 28, 2020 Presents a Conversation with member Leon

Pride Connection is proud to present a two-night event with BPI-member Leon Acord… Starting Tuesday night at 10 PM or the replay Wednesday morning at 10 AM We chat with Leon about his book, life and so many other interesting topics! The conversation turned to politics and the need for us to all respect each other and one Republican that he holes in high… Very high regard! It’s a fun conversation… And we celebrate the publication of his new book and resurgence in popularity of his web ser...

Pride Connection for April 21, 2020 Presents a Conversation with a Star and Creators of After Forever!

BPI’s Pride connection Presents A Conversation with the star and creators of AFTER FOREVER THE SERIES. Do you believe in love after life? How does one move on after losing the love of ones life? What happens to all of that love? All these themes and so much more are explored in the critically acclaimed and multiple award winning digital series. Besides a tremendous showing at last years EMMYs and receiving multiple LGBT awards and notices the series returns for its second season and it is P...

Pride Connection for April 14, 2020 - Gender Fluid

Blind Pride Internationals weekly ACB radio show is diving into the conversation on gender identity with this fascinating and informative conversation with BPI member, Chris, and his gender fluid child. We explore the definitions, feelings and associations that come with accepting and living this truth. From parenting to sibling and family acceptance to navigating in society this is a show that will open and broaden many horizons. Listen in Tuesday night at 10pm or the replays on Wednesday ...

Pride Connection for April 7, 2020 Presents Dating in the Dark

Dating can be a tricky thing for all of us and we wanted to discuss the fun and frustrating sides. From both a LGBT and STRAIGHT perspective we dive into dating as blind and visually impaired people. Having the multiple perspective panel conversation approach made for a fun, lively and even informative conversation. Learn more about Blind LGBT Pride International by visiting https://www.blindlgbtpride.org/

Pride Connection for March 31, 2020 - Our Allies

This week we present a very special show dedicated to our ALLIES and friends of BPI with a very special interview with one of our most valued Allies. We honor Al Ellis, who was the honorary father figure of BPI and we speak with his amazing wife Donna who in her own right is an amazing BPI family member. we celebrate the life of Al and the many years of their many years of love and commitment. So join us tonight and come back next week for a very informative conversation about gender fluidi...

Pride Connection - Inaugural Show for March 24, 2020

Come one and come all to the Blind LGBT Pride ACB radio show. We are very happy and of course proud to launch this new adventure in advocacy, human interest and of course fun. BPI has always been the fun affiliate and that hasn't changed. However, we have always been a force not only in LGBTQ rights, but also in human rights and the rights of the low or no vision community. That is where this new show starts, but prepare for a lot of fun along the way. Every Tuesday night at 10 PM Eastern ti...