The Highwomen just changed the future for country-music-loving gay girls everywhere

“If she ever leaves me, it won't be for you” is one of those classic country-and-western song punch lines. It’s a statement that’s simple and true, just like the whole genre claims to be; it’s also funny, like the country music song titles that inspire jokes about country music song titles. Its just one layer…

A rainbow wave in Kansas

This post was originally published on the University Press of Kansas blog on November 9, 2018. In the photo above, taken by Sam Zeff, a celebration breaks out at Sharice Davids' election-night headquarters on November 6, 2018. “There were tears, of course, as the reality began to set in that the eight years of persecution…

A young singer convinces me the National Anthem might belong to LGBTQ Americans, too

When I went to Wichita’s annual Pride rally and march in September 2014, I’d only been working in radio for a few months. Over decades as a print reporter, I’d often interviewed sources using a tiny Olympus tape recorder, but for most of my journalism career I’d never known all of the other important ways…