Radio Free Lambda, an LGBT+ community news and information radio program, first aired on WRUW 91.1 FM in 1975. Radio Free Lambda was created and organized by John Vogel, a doctoral student at Case Western Reserve University, as a means to both “reach closeted people who don’t know that there are other gays out there” and “[get] the word spread that we DO have a culture.” Radio Free Lambda was “the first gay program on Cleveland radio.” In September of 1975, Radio Free Lambda first began airing 15-minute-long explorations of various topics related to local and national LGBT+ communities. By November of 1975, Radio Free Lambda’s broadcasts expanded to 30 minutes in length. In 1984, Radio Free Lambda became GayWaves radio program.
Additional information coming soon.
Resources
- “Brian DeWitt Interview, 2008.” Cleveland Voices.
- “Cleveland Gay Radio Expands.” High Gear. November 1975. Page 1.
- Nosek, John, and Leon Stevens. “Gay Community 1970s.” Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.
- “Radio Lambda Sidetracked.” High Gear. June 1976. Page 2.
- “Radio Lambda Returns.” High Gear. August 1976. Page 1.
- Schneck, Ken. LGBTQ Cleveland. Charleston: Arcadia Publishing, 2018. Page 16.