The leading legacies of Gayly Speaking and 'Come Out! In Detroit'

In 1973, the Gay Radio Collective began producing Gayly Speaking through WDET. The Lesbian Radio Collective collaborated with them to shape episodes that resonated with the queer Detroit audience for a decade. 

Dr. Tim Retzloff teaches history and queer studies at Michigan State University. He returned to WDET today after celebrating the 40th anniversary of Gayly Speaking on the Craig Fahle Show in 2013. 

Isabel Clare Paul is a freelance illustrator who graduated from the College for Creative Studies. She made a comic book called “Come Out! In Detroit” with Dr. Retloff in 2022 during the 50th anniversary of Michigan Pride. 

Retzloff joins The Metro to discuss the leadership behind Gayly Speaking and what impact that had on the queer population of Detroit. He and Clare Paul also touch upon how they published “Come Out! In Detroit” as a love letter to the first Pride of Michigan. 

"The Metro" covers local and regional news and current affairs, arts and cultural events and topics, with a commitment to airing perspectives and uncovering stories underreported by mainstream media in Detroit.