Zachary James Out on Stage | This Way Out Radio Episode #1987
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
This Way Out’s Brian DeShazor talks with Out Opera and Broadway actor Zachary James about his roles in Philip Glass’ Akhnaten, Broadway, and being out on stage. In addition to his current role as Amenhotep III in the Olivier and Grammy-Award winning production of Akhnatan, he's played roles as Lurch in The Addams Family on Broadway, a robotic Abraham Lincoln in Philip Glass's The Perfect American, and Hades in the West End production of Hadestown. James was named one of the 30 most influential LGBTQIA+ artists in Opera by Operawire.
And in NewsWrap: Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ law ruled illegal as a new leader faces pressure to reform, the U.S. Supreme Court takes up a religious rights clash over queer families, Australia lifts blood donation restrictions for gay and bi men, Tennessee declares “Nuclear Family Month” to counter Pride, a trans custody case sparks international intervention, and a Trump photo-op goes off-script. Reported this week by Michael LeBeau and Michael Taylor Gray.
Those stories and more on “This Way Out" for the week of April 27, 2026.
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NewsWrap Web Transcript
Program #1987 Distributed 04/27/26
And in NewsWrap: Europe’s top court rules that Hungary’s anti-LGBTQ propaganda law violates human rights and EU values, as pressure mounts on newly-elected Prime Minister Péter Magyar to reverse years of restrictions on queer rights, the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear a high-stakes case deciding if religious schools can deny admission to children of same-sex couples and still receiving public funding, Australia lifts long-standing blood donation restrictions on gay and bisexual men, Tennessee’s governor declares June “Nuclear Family Month,” a move critics say is an attempt to undercut Pride, a transnational custody battle involving a transgender parent and child ends with FBI intervention, and a staged moment backfires when President Trump questions a delivery driver about trans athletes—and more international LGBTQ news reported this week by Michael Lebeau and Michael Taylor Gray (News Writer Ebony Joseph, News Producer Brian DeShazor).
[AUDIO: 4/21/26 EU COMMISSION HEARING] “We welcome today’s landmark ruling…The court has confirmed that Hungary has acted in breach of the European Union's founding values enshrined in article two of the treaty of the European Union.”
Europe’s top court has called on Hungary to repeal its anti-LGBTQ propaganda law.
The court ruled the law breaches the union’s treaty and is a violation of human rights.
This comes one week after the nation’s historic Prime Minister election where newcomer Péter Magyar won a sweeping victory against his former party member and incumbent Viktor Orbán, who led the country for 16 years.
In 2021, Orbán instituted a so-called “child protection law” which was a direct attack on queer Hungarians. Not only did he ban public LBGT gatherings like Pride, he changed the constitution to define marriage as a strictly heterosexual and cisgender union, and limited adoption to married hetero couples. Self-identified gender recognition was also forbidden, effectively erasing trans and intersex citizens.
Last week we spoke to Daniela Vancic, European policy and advocacy lead for Democracy International, an NGO based in Germany. She told us that while Magyar did not campaign on rolling back these discriminatory policies, doing so will be key to his success, especially when it comes to securing funding from the EU.
In 2023, the EU froze over twenty-two billion euros' worth of Hungary’s funds in response to Orbán’s corruption.
[AUDIO: VANCIC] “August is the deadline for the EU to unfreeze those funds…he has, let's say, in this first hundred days, he's going to have to really deliver some of those anti-corruption measures, those transparency measures, the rule of law, media…LGBT rights, undoing the damage on trans rights…So those are the kind of things that now, you know, those democracy NGOS, civil society organizations…they're going to be keeping, I think, big… magnifying glass to him.”
Now, it’s up to Magyar to prove that he can deliver meaningful reforms to unlock funding for the Hungarian people, and rebuild trust with the European Union.
The US Supreme Court will take on a new case at the center of the clash between religious freedom and LGBTQ rights.
The justices agreed to hear a challenge from Catholic preschools in Colorado that were denied access to a state-funded universal preschool program.
The schools’ policy denys admission to children of same-sex couples.
Colorado requires any school receiving public funds to follow anti-discrimination rules, including protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Catholic schools argue that being excluded violates the First Amendment right to freely exercise religion.
Lower courts sided with Colorado, but it’s unclear where the top court will land.
Just last month, the Supreme Court overturned a Colorado law that banned conversion therapy for minors. A licensed counselor argued the ban infringed on free speech and her right to talk with patients about “biological sex”.
The American Constitutional Society put it plainly, writing on its Expert Forum that, “Colorado protected kids” and “the Court protected counselors.”
Organizations like the World Health Organization and the American Psychological Association say the practice has no scientific basis and can cause real harm, linking conversion therapy to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide risk.
Now, the Supreme Court will decide whether religious schools can claim an exemption based on their beliefs, in case that could reshape anti-discrimination laws nationwide.
Gay and bisexual men in Australia can now donate blood without restrictions.
The Australian Red Cross Blood Service, also known as LifeBlood, updated its rules to expand eligibility for gay and bisexual men, including transgender donors, to give blood and platelets without a deferral process.
A blanket ban was put in place against men who have sex with men in the 80s, following the AIDS crisis.
Restrictions have loosened up since the 2000s, when openly-gay men were required to wait twelve months since their last sexual activity before donating. In 2023, the wait time went down to three months. Last year, the wait was completely removed for plasma donation, and now, the rules have changed again.
The new policy ends screening based on sexual orientation. Instead, all donors are asked the same questions about recent sexual activity, and are not required to wait to donate if they are in a long-term monogamous relationship.
Officials say the change keeps the blood supply safe while making the system more fair.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has named June “Nuclear Family Month,” in an attempt to overshadow Pride Month, which is also in June.
The resolution adopts a definition of family that excludes same-sex couples and other family structures, claiming that quote “God's design” of a family unit is "one husband, one wife, and biological, adopted, or fostered children.”
The bill takes a jab at quote “fatherless homes” and the “globalist ideologies of the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and like-minded organizations that fight for population control” by “promoting sterilization and abortion practices.”
A spokesperson for GLAAD said in a statement to The Advocate that “The strongest families are grounded by love. Lawmakers trying to exclude and intentionally harm some families should be recognized as actively harming all by not focusing their time working for an inclusive Tennessee where all are welcome and can succeed.”
The US government sent the FBI to Cuba to retrieve a 10-year-old child at the center of a custody dispute.
The child’s parent is a trans woman, and according to the Department of Justice, she took her child, who also identifies as transgender, to Cuba to undergo gender-reassignment surgery.
Federal officials say the child was taken without the other parent’s consent, triggering the international response to bring the child home.
The parent is now in federal custody and has been charged with international parental kidnapping.
[AUDIO: DOORDASH DRIVER]
“Nice to meet you. I have your DoorDash order for you Mr. President.”
President Trump asked a delivery driver about trans athletes but it didn’t go as planned.
In an awkwardly staged photo-op to highlight his “no tax on tips” policy for service workers, Trump invited the “DoorDash grandma” —yes, that’s what her shirt actually said—to deliver a McDonald’s order directly to the Oval Office, but the President steered the conversation in another direction.
[AUDIO: TRUMP] “Do you think men should play in women's sports?”
[AUDIO: DOORDASH DRIVER] “I really don't have an opinion on that. I'm here about no tax on tips.”
Later, at a policy meeting in Las Vegas, the president admitted the stunt was, quote, “a little tacky.”
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