Rainbow Country: radio created as gayly as possible

02 Jun 2021 -

"Rainbow Country came about in the spring of 2016 and was launched in June of the that year," says Mark Tara of his radio show  now launching into its sixth season, syndicated nation-wide, and top-rated among LBTQ podcasts. "It surprised me that in Toronto there wasn't an obvious gay radio show. A show giving voice to the LGBT Community. So I took matters into my own hands. Got letters of support from key members of Toronto's LGBT community. Made my case to the station manager of CIUT.FM 89.5 and I got the green light."

Tara hesitates when asked about the show's success. "Success? That's relative. I'm an independent, community based radio show. Compared to mainstream media, I'm disposable and have been told that. Maybe not in words but by actions." Tara then relates the difficulties of attempting a liaison with the more commercially oriented Proud FM. They did not wind up combing forces. "That being said I'm so grateful to the station managers and station programmers that heard and saw what Rainbow Country has to offers. To be honest I see Rainbow Country as a work in progress. I absolutely recognize and celebrate achievements along the way but the next chapter is waiting to be written."

There is one thing that Tara hopes Rainbow Country's audience is gaining from listening. "Perspective. As a community we've come so far but we still face challenges, even in 2021. Progress is great but at what cost? Are we as united as we once were? As a community we're so fractured. I try to use my platform to bring perspective to the audience. Not in every episode but perspective sprinkled throughout a season."

Sadly, Tara doesn't kiss and tell. Despite having interviewed former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Toronto mayor John Tory, Rev Dr Brent Hawkes, Indigo Girls, Carole Pope, Michelle Shocked, Quincy Jones, Sky Gilbert, many TIFFers and best selling author Garrard Conley, when asked to name his favourite guests he responds, "Too many to list." His most difficult guest? "They will remain nameless." He does however have a dream guest in mind. "Madonna, That's so typical isn't it? But it would make for an interesting listen."

With the Pride parade and many celebrations effectively cancelled for the second year in a row, Tara hopes that Rainbow Country can help fill the gap, "by having a June line-up that kicks ass." Tara lists the titles of shows that are in the works for Pride Month. "Queer Progress," "1981 Bathhouse Raids," "A Trans Journey," "RHEA Queer Therapy," "The Artist's Way," "LGBT and Beyond," and the Madonnathon of "Strike A Pose/Truth Or Dare/Blond Ambition."  On a personal level, Tara is filling the Pride void with "work, work, work" and is eager to get back to his favourite Pride activity, "Interviewing people about what gay pride means to them. Especially the naked ones."

Like all of us, Tara is concerned about the future of Pride. But  every year for as long as I can remember, there has been crisis of one sort or another that the indominable queer spirit has triumphantly overcome. "I don't know if this hiatus will have any lasting effects on Pride," says Tara. "I think when we finally do get back together, it's like riding a bike. we'll get together in every possible way and I can't wait. But for now we must."

For now Tara is dealing with the challenges of syndication. "I'm being mindful to keep guests' conversations more universal. When I first started the show it was the more local the better. Now that I have a national audience I need to be mindful that while a guest may be Toronto-based it's up to me to help tell their story in the most universal way possible." He admits that it is "easier said than done" but he is up to the challenge, "Like I said earlier, the next chapter is waiting to be written. As gayly as possible."