A podcast on LGBTQ current events and issues, by Brookline High students but aimed at the larger community, is set to debut in a few weeks.



“Dialog(ue)” will launch this September after school starts.



The initial creator of the podcast, rising senior Nick Collins, came up with the idea for “Dialog(ue)” after creating a podcast chronicling the steps his former school near Chicago was taking to address homophobia and LGBTQ issues.



The steps to reform came after Collins penned an open letter to the school, addressing the homophobia he had experienced there.



“Looking back, I got fed up and thought that shouldn’t happen anymore,” he said.



Looking to Brookline, Collins saw an opportunity to do something similar.



While Brookline is a liberal community with a reputation for supporting the LGBTQ community, Collins said there was still a need to cover LGBTQ current events and issues more regularly than just during events like Day of Silence and Day of Dialogue at the high school.



“It’s the idea that while Brookline, Boston and Massachusetts are liberal, there are people who don’t represent that,” said Collins.



This is when he reached out to friends and fellow students at BHS.



When Collins told rising senior Paria Reich about his idea, she and classmate Isa Wetzler immediately signed up.



For Reich, the podcast is an opportunity to not just cover current events but to dig deeper into the history of issues like the transgender military ban and understand why they happen.



Though the group is still working on finalizing the details of the podcast, Collins said each episode would be split between current events, and deeper discussions on LGBTQ issues.



According to Reich, there are many things that go on in the LGBTQ community, even in Brookline, that many people do not know about. The podcast will provide a way to spread awareness and educate.



By covering current events Collins hopes to foster change and change the minds of those who are homophobic or don’t understand what it means to be in the LGBTQ community. While some, Collins said, have complained that events like Day of Dialogue and Day of Silence are intrusive, he hopes the podcast will be impactful in a non-intrusive way – through listening and conversation.



“This is more of an osmosis approach,” Collins said.



Since developing the idea for “Dialog(ue)” in July, six students, including Reich and Wetzler have signed up to be a part of the project. When school starts in September, Collins hopes that number will continue to grow.



Participation in “Dialog(ue)” is open to anyone in the LGBTQ community including allies and those who are closeted.



The goal is to bring in as many different people in the community to contribute their perspectives to the conversation. Much better, Reich said, to have someone who is transgender contribute to the conversations on transgender issues, than someone who is not.



Collins also plans to reach out to teachers at Brookline High School and include them in “Dialog(ue)” as well.



“It would be cool to have an adult on it,” he said.



The more people join, Collins said, the more episodes the group will be able to make, and the more positions they can create for students like a social media editor and public relations.



“Dialog(ue)” will record at the Brookline Teen Center and is in the process of finding a host website. Those interested in participating in the podcast can get more information by sending an email to bhsdialogue@gmail.com.



