Lavender
by Anna Nelson
Issue 284 April 14-27, 2006

Bisexuality, same-sex marriage, living with HIV, and ex-gay ministries. These are just a few topics covered by KinPride, a weekly St. Cloud-based cable-access talk show hosted by Michael Smith, named City Pages 2005 Best Public-Access Cable TV Program.

"We're not always the extreme Pride stuff that the media always seems to pick up on," Smith says. "[KinPride] is a really good vehicle to give eyes to us, and give help to folks who may be in the closet or not wanting to go out."

KinPride first aired in 1999, and Smith is arguably quite the pioneer - minus the bonnet - in the Minnesota GLBT broadcast community.

As Smith recalls, "When I first started, there weren't really a lot of shows like this. I had asked around, like on Channel 17, if they had any gay shows to see if other people were doing a lot of it. I don't think they had any. Now, there are a few of us out there."

Smith hosts GLBT and allied guests from artists to activists, professors to professional athletes. Esera Tuaolo, former Minnesota Viking, and one of only three NFL players to have come out of the closet publicly, recently made an appearance on the show. Together, Smith and his guests explore everything from transgender marriage to health-care directives.

"I don't feel animosity - but I do see it," Smith recounts. "I know other people in the community are in situations where they have to be somewhat in the closet. There's a lot of country mind-set here [in St. Cloud]. So, I understand why some folks in [the GLBT] community have to kind of watch their back. I'm fortunate I don't have to."

KinPride and its clever host have become valuable resources to many, not just in St. Cloud, but also across Minnesota and Wisconsin.

"The fortunate thing with me is that I'm able to be out there. I'm able to be supportive and be real open. [St. Cloud is a] conservative town, but I have yet to have any negative things happen," Smith relates.

Smith has been given a 12-week run on TPT's Minnesota Channel. Instead of showing in 11 markets throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin, KinPride will be broadcast to viewers on the Minnesota Channel, as well as Comcast and TimWarner digital and stellite cable, reaching about two million viewers every week.

Depending on his behavior - "It's hard to keep the profanity out of [my mount]," Smith admits - and how the show is received, he hopes to retain a time slot next year.