Nov 28th, 2008 · Isabel Bayrakdarian and Ana Maria Martinez star in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, an opera with a slapstick surface that hides deeply emotional roots. The production is from Houston Grand Opera.
Nov 25th, 2008 · Despite wild swings in stereotypes about sex — from the supposedly puritanical days of the Soviet-era to today's designer-clad mistresses and wild parties — Russians' opinions about sex and marriage remain surprisingly traditional.
Nov 21st, 2008 · Comedian Wanda Sykes publicly came out of the closet at a rally in support of gay marriage. Will other black stars follow suit? Newsweek's Allison Samuels gets us up to speed on the latest in entertainment news.
Nov 20th, 2008 · Tim Rutten, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times, argues that both proponents and opponents of California's controversial same-sex marriage ban are "going too far" in their responses.
Nov 20th, 2008 · Californians voted in favor of a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage earlier this month. Gay rights groups are now challenging the amendment in the California Supreme Court. We discuss what issues the court will consider.
Nov 19th, 2008 · Ann Leary's new book is about a woman whose husband (a TV star) may be cheating on her. In real life, Leary is the wife of comedian and actor Denis Leary — but she says that while the main character bears a resemblance to her, the book is not entirely based on fact.
Nov 14th, 2008 · Just a little over a week ago, voters elected Democratic Sen. Barack Obama as the country's next president. In this week's BackTalk, hear more perspectives about Obama's win. Also, find out how a recent segment on Michelle Obama's sense of style has some voters playing fashion police. Also, listeners weigh in on the gay marriage debate brewing in California.
Nov 13th, 2008 · The controversy over California's gay marriage ban, known as Prop 8, has spilled into the streets. In some places, the fight for gay rights has turned into an public indictment of African-Americans who voted in favor of the ban. Farai Chideya moderates a conversation about race and sexual identity, the proposition's impact on American politics, and the future of coalition building between blacks and gays.