America's First Gay Morning Radio Show Breaks Barriers and Stereotypes

    SAN FRANCISCO, April 3 /PRNewswire/ -- San Francisco has always been
 known for breaking barriers for the LGBT community, and now morning radio
 shows can be added to that list. Energy 92.7FM has achieved rock star
 success with "Fernando & Greg in the Morning," the first commercially
 broadcast gay morning radio show in the United States.
     "Our show really happened by accident," said Fernando Ventura. "We've
 known each other for over ten years from when we were working together in
 Texas. When I got offered the job in San Francisco with Energy, there was a
 definite need for content and Greg was a natural fit."
     Greg Sherrell, known on air as "Greg, the Gay Sportscaster," started
 calling in as a guest to Fernando's morning show to talk about sports. "It
 really started with Barry Bonds and the whole BALCO scandal," said Greg.
 "When newspaper headlines are screaming about men injecting each other in
 the butt, a gay sportscaster has a lot of material to work with, and it
 just grew from there."
     Avid listeners attribute the show's success to the natural chemistry
 between the two. "Many radio stations across America have tried to have a
 gay personality, but it's usually an attempt to pander to the community,"
 commented John Peake, program director for Energy 92.7FM. "Fernando and
 Greg have a morning show that is entertaining and fun to listen to, they
 just happen to be gay."
     Their on-air connection has started growing a fan base beyond the reach
 of the FM broadcast airwaves. Listeners across the nation have started
 tuning in via their live stream on the station's website,
 http://www.energy927fm.com.
     "One of the hardest things about being gay is finding positive role
 models as you grow up," said Greg. "For example, if you're Hispanic, you
 can look to your family members for positive role models, but most gay kids
 don't have gay parents, so where do they turn? We hear from queer youth all
 over the country that they love tuning into our show, because not only can
 they identify with us, we help reinforce that being gay is normal and it's
 not something to be ashamed of."
     Becoming gay role models wasn't originally part of the plan. "Our show
 wasn't created to be some sort of political statement," said Fernando. "But
 at a time when ministers and generals are on TV saying that we are immoral
 and that being gay is wrong, I'm proud we're able to counter those beliefs
 by simply living our lives as proud and out gay men and sharing our story
 with our listeners."
     For more information or to listen to "Fernando & Greg in the Morning,"
 tune into Energy 92.7FM or visit their website at
 http://www.energy927fm.com for live streaming.
     Broadcasting since 2004, Energy 92.7FM (KNGY) is the only independently
 owned radio station in San Francisco.
 
 

SOURCE Energy 92.7FM