The Brian Lehrer Show

Arsham Parsi, Executive Director of the Iranian Queer Organization – IRQO

I Am a Gay Iranian

Friday, September 28, 2007

No homosexuals in Iran, President Ahmadinejad? We meet a gay Iranian who got asylum in Canada based on his sexual orientation. Also, New York’s underground dinner club scene; congestion pricing in the air; health disparities in New York City; following up on the presidential candidates, and we take your calls on what chores men do around the house.

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Listen to the whole show

Airport Congestion

Patrick Smith, airline pilot and Salon.com’s air travel columnist, and author Ask a Pilot: Everything You Need to Know About Air Travel (Riverhead Books 2004) and Herb Jackson, Washington correspondent for The Record of Bergen County, NJ, discuss the Bush administration's plan to ease airport congestion.

The "Ask the Pilot" Website

Big Apple Health Disparities

Dr. Nick Freudenberg, professor of public health at Hunter College and president of the Public Health Association of New York City, talks about the health disparities in New York City between the rich and the poor.

Dining In

Underground clubs meet fine dining in New York’s supper clubs. Representatives of clubs based in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan talk about this off-beat dining experience. “Danielle” helps run New York Bite Club; "Nancy" is the founder of Williamsburg’s Whisk and Ladle Supperclub, and Tamara Reynolds blogs about cooking and offers Sunday Night Dinner in Queens.

Other websites to check out:
The Roving Gastronome
Home Slice West

Following Up: I'm a Gay Iranian

This Monday President Ahmedinejad stated that there were no homosexuals in Iran, Arsham Parsi would beg to differ. He is the executive director of the Iranian Queer Organization (IRQO) and is originally from Iran. He had to flee Iran in 2001 because of his activism surrounding homosexuality.

Following Up: Next Stop New York!

This week Senators Barack Obama and John McCain came to New York. WNYC's Andrea Bernstein talks about what candidates get out of New York and what New Yorkers get in return. Also, presidential candidate John Edwards has decided to opt for public financing, does this mean his candidacy is in trouble?

Following Up: Men's Work

Listeners call in about what household tasks men are "happy" to do, following up on Wednesday's interview with David Leonhardt about gender and happiness.