KPFA - Womens Magazine

Today on at 1-2pm on KPFA Radio’s “Women’s Magazine” I spend most of the hour talking about a new must see documentary “Second Nature” about the proliferation of homosexuality and/or gender changing/bending in all species in nature. For centuries the Church, science and now Republican lawmakers have invoked biological essentialism to justify pathologizing and attacking Queers and Transgenders. This attack is especially obvious now when transgender health care, school participation, bathroom access, and public visibility is being made illegal. Conservative activists routinely describe trans identity and homosexuality as a rejection of science itself. And homophobes often assert that heterosexuality and male dominance is part of natural law following centuries of darwinian bias and argue that homosexuality is an aberration in all of nature. Today I talk to Drew Denny, the director of the new documentary “Second Nature” which debunks this century’s old science based propaganda. And I also talk two scientists from the film about the science; the ground breaking evolutionary biologist Dr Joan Roughgarden, the author of the seminal science changing book “Evolution’s Rainbow: Diversity, Gender, and Sexuality in Nature and People” and renowned feminist darwinian primatologist Dr Amy Parish about the fallacy of this heterosexist science. This excellent and thoroughly convincing documentary is showing on September 17, at 7:00 PM as the opening night film of Critter Fest showing at the 4-Star Theater in San Francisco. You can find more info on their website secondnaturedoc.com And I want people to check out another important political documentary “Democracy Noir:A New Dawn” which is showing September 16th at 7:15 a the grand lake theater. “Democracy Noir: A New Dawn” is an informative account of how Viktor Orbán installed authoritarian rule in Hungary and of his stunning defeat by the unification of the people across parties. You can get more info about this film at clarity films.org. And I want to note the death of Gloria Steinem and Robin Morgan, two important feminists from the 70’s. Their passing and the continual loss of older feminist sadly marks the end of an era. I want to note that Steinem was lauded in the NY times obituary and my many feminist everywhere but was also attacked online for being a CIA spy and Neo liberal feminist. Steinem may not have been a radical anti imperialist feminist but she did work to create bonds and support with many African American feminists including bell hooks and Angela Davis among others. Like the Hungarians I hope we can realize we are in a state of emergency that may require we work together with those who may not be exact duplicates of ourselves. So rather than go into the both sides of that debate I am just gonna play a few short clips from Steinem. The post “Second Nature” documentary on gender and sexuality in nature appeared first on KPFA.

This hour long radio program presents and discusses women’s lives and issues globally and locally from a radical, multiracial, feminist, mujerist, womanist perspective. The post Womens Magazine – September 7, 2026 appeared first on KPFA.

Women’s Magazine Collective members Jovelyn Richards and Margo Okazawa-Rey host today’s live, call-in show to continue the discussion from Part 1, What Black Feminisms for This Political Moment? How do we understand Black feminisms in these times? How can the various perspectives illuminate the steady marching of governments, political trends, and formations marching steadily toward the racist, misogynist, nationalist Right and fascism in the US and countries around the world? What are the limitations of those perspectives? What kinds of feminisms must we develop to ensure all life forms will thrive, not only survive? Come join our conversation. The post What Black Feminisms for This Political Moment? Part 2 appeared first on KPFA.

To the extent that news about Palestine is even covered in the world’s mainstream media, the coverage is typically about violence and destruction, and when Palestinian people are humanized, grief and suffering. When, where, and how have you seen and heard about another side: children, youth, and young and older adults creating art together using naturally available materials? On today’s program, you will have the chance to learn from artists Haya Allabadi, Sara Hammoudeh, and Sera Maraka about the work of an art studio and their creations to archive and document the beauty of Palestine to build bridges of hope for generations to come. The post Young Palestinian Women Artists “Preserving Memory through Beauty” appeared first on KPFA.

ENCORE SHOW – Lisa Dettmer  feature  two segments both focusing on Buddhism, healing and spirituality. First I talk to Kithi Nath and Lata Mani about their two new films showing at the Elmwood Rialto cinema on Wednesday August 19th at 6:15 PM as part of a special one time program called “Cinema as Prayer: A Night of Queer South Asian Films.” This film program features “PARAMITA” by Kirthi Nath and “Longing Suite” by Lata Mani and Nicolás Grandi—two poetic films that move through longing, belonging and spiritual transformation. PARAMITA bears witness to Prajna Choudhury’s 25-year journey of coming out to her traditional Bangladeshi mother. Told with intimacy and tenderness, the film invites us into a meditative experience as Prajna connects with Buddhist practice and nature as gateways for intergenerational healing. “Longing Suite” is a lyrical exploration of awakening to the feminine Divine. Building on a cycle of poems written by Mani in the 1990s, the film traces the arc of a heart-mind-body awakening to the sacred in all that exists. Together, these intimate, spiritual films invite us to experience cinema as prayer. The screening will be followed by a conversation and Q&A with the filmmakers, moderated by Madeleine Lim, Executive and Artistic Director of QWOCMAP (Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project). And then I talk with Dr. Rima Vesely-Flad, the author of “The Fire Inside: The Dharma of James Baldwin and Audre Lorde” — a book exploring the radical literary legacies of James Baldwin and Audre Lorde through a Dharmic lens. “The Fire Inside”reveals how two of America’s greatest literary voices reflect — and expand — Buddhism’s most timeless truths toward justice and liberation, showing that liberation depends not only on organizing and mass movements, but on the generative power of inner well-being, authenticity, art, and embodiment. It offers space for the kind of conversation our communities need: one that centers and celebrates Black, queer, radical thought, and doesn’t shy away from difficult truths. That’s 1-2pm on KPFA Radio at 94.1FM or online at kpfa.org where the show will be available afterwards to stream and download. The post Cinema as Prayer showing and James Baldwin and Audre Lorde on Suffering and Joy appeared first on KPFA.