Dating App Ambushes | This Way Out Radio Episode #1980

Anti-LGBTQI hate crimes are on the rise in Australia. In New South Wales nearly 200 violent incidents have been reported since 2023, many involving men lured by gay dating apps (Michael Brown reports from Sydney).

Plus: we announce the passing of This Way Out Co-founder and Coordinating Producer Greg Gordon.

And in NewWrap: Russian repression strikes again with the designation of the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Coming Out as an “extremist organization,” “deviant culture” is how a new Deputy Minister in Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government wants to refer to LGBT people, Maryland parents who sued their local school district over LGBTQ-themed storybooks are now one and a half million dollars richer, the international music, art and cultural festival KOLFEST is being targeted by Kyrgyzstan officials based on its alleged promotion of LGBTQ life, and more international LGBTQ news reported this week by Marcos Najera and Ava Davis (produced by Brian DeShazor).

All this on the March 9, 2026 edition of This Way Out!

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Complete Program Summary

for the week of March 9, 2026

Dating App Ambushes

In “NewsWrap” [full transcript below]: Russian repression strikes again with the designation of the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Coming Out as an “extremist organization,” “deviant culture” is how a new Deputy Minister in Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government wants to refer to LGBT people, Maryland parents who sued their local school district over LGBTQ-themed storybooks are now one and a half million dollars richer, the international music, art and cultural festival KOLFEST is being targeted by Kyrgyzstan officials based on its alleged promotion of LGBTQ life, and more international LGBTQ news reported this week by Marcos Najera and Ava Davis (written by Lucia Chappelle, produced by Brian DeShazor)

Promo: For listener support, write info@thiswayout.org or see thiswayout.org/donate 

Feature: Brief obituary for This Way Out co-founder and Coordinating Producer Greg Gordon (by Brian DeShazor).

Feature: A recent investigation by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation found a rise in serious assaults against gay and bisexual men over the past two years. In several cases, victims were lured through gay dating apps, and videos were later circulated in online chat groups sympathetic to Islamic State. Sydney correspondent Michael Brown reports on the concern throughout the community and the response of New South Wales Premier Chris Minns. (ALERT: Contains material some listeners may find disturbing) (With intro music by Devoura)

NewsWrap 

for the week ending 7 March 2026

Program #1980 distributed 9 March 2026

Reported by Marcos Najera and Ava Davis

written by Lucia Chappelle

and produced by Brian DeShazor

    Russian repression strikes again with the designation of the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Coming Out as an “extremist organization.” A secret trial held on March 3rd in St. Petersburg granted a request from the Ministry of Justice. No details of the ruling were released. This is the first Russian queer organization to be officially banned since the Supreme Court invented an “international LGBT movement” to declare “extremist.” Coming Out’s organizers have been operating outside the country since the invasion of Ukraine, and say they will continue to provide services to queer people in-country and those trying to flee.

   “Deviant culture” is how a new Deputy Minister in Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government wants to refer to LGBT people. Marhamah Rosli is responsible for religious affairs, and is ordering the immediate change of terminology in public discourse and in social media. Human rights activists inside and outside Malaysia are condemning the move. Amnesty Malaysia calls it a “reckless decision” that will further marginalize and endanger LGBT people.

    Maryland parents who sued their local school district over LGBTQ-themed storybooks are now one and a half million dollars richer. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the parents favor in June 2025, ruling that they had the right to prior consent when such materials would be introduced in the classroom. Damages were awarded on U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman on February 19th. It’s a judgement that puts public schools around the country on notice about potential right-wing pressures.

    The international music, art and cultural festival KOLFEST is being targeted by Kyrgyzstan officials based on its alleged promotion of LGBTQ life and drug use. MP Bolot Sagynaev spoke out against the event during a meeting of a committee on science, education, innovations, information technologies, culture, sports, and youth affairs. He called for the organizers to be investigated, but a probe already conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs found no substance to the accusations. KOLFEST’s organizers argue that the event is a boon to tourism in Kyrgyzstan, bringing more that 10,000 guests from 30 countries. It’s scheduled for July 24-26.

    Veteran human rights activist Peter Tatchell is not letting the opening of London’s first Chick-fil-A restaurant go without notice. The U.S. fast food chain has a long reputation for its support of homophobic causes, although it now says its charitable giving is focussed on “education, homelessness, and hunger.” Tatchell organized a picket line at the Kingston upon Thames location on March 5th. He says that efforts to have a dialogue with Chick-fil-A officials have been rebuffed.  

    Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s legendary LGBTQ bar This Is It! may be out of business, but its legacy will be felt forever as an official state historic site. This Is It! opened in the pre-Stonewall world in August 1968. Sarah Freshet is the granddaughter of the original owner, June Brehm. Freiheit said, For decades, This Is It was the go-to destination in times of crisis, in times of celebration, and those times when just being with your community was the best possible comfort." The Wisconsin Historical Society approved a state historic marker for the landmark on March 4th. 

    Meanwhile the news was not so good for Cardiff’s Queer Emporium. What’s been called South Wales’ most recognizable LGBTQ+ enterprises announced its closing on March 4th. The Queer Emporium has been a meeting place, creative venue and community hub since 2021.Escalating operating costs are forcing the shop that’s mostly run by trans, intersex and non-binary workers. The team expects to continue with festival pop-ups in Wales and across the U.K.

    In other news:

Trans service members being forced out of the U.S. military are pressing the Justice Department to move their case forward before separation proceedings are initiated. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes has given the government until March 11th to respond to a request to schedule the trial,

    Asylum seekers Ludovic Mbock of Cameroon and a woman identified as Farah from Morocco are fighting the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. ICE is threatening to send both back to their anti-LGBTQ countries where their lives are in danger.

    British female track and field athletes will now have to pay for their own World Athletics-required SRY sex tests. The international athletic governing body used to provide financial aid for the tests intended to prove that contestants in all female category championships are not trans or intersex. UK Athletics has no “hardship fund” for financially disadvantaged women.

    Menaka Guruswamy could be India’s first our MP. Guruswamy was the senior advocate at the Supreme Court of India who argued the case that decriminalized same-gender sexual activity in 2018.

    Senegal’s National Assembly will be debating Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s bill that would enhance penalties for LGBTQ organizing and sexual activity on March 11th.

    Foster homes in the U.S. no longer have to affirm their support for children’s gender identity transitions. The Trump’s Health and Human Services Department has rescinded that Biden administration guidance,

    And two drag performers from Brisbane have beaten a conservative Christian activist, with an appeals court overturning the dismissal of their vilification complaint against him. Johnny Valkyrie and Dwayne Hill perform under the names Queeny and Diamond, and sued Lye Shelton over his social media criticism following their Drag Queen Story Time event.