As "Out In The Bay" co-host Eric Jansen tells SFist, it began with the question, "Why isn't there an intelligent radio show about gay topics in, of all places, the Bay Area?" That was in 2005, when Jansen and Marilyn Pittman began hosting their show on KALW 91.7 FM. Jansen, coming from KQED's popular "Forum" as a producer, and Pittman, a leading talent coach for NPR stations across the country, have now corralled fascinating guests and led worthwhile discussions for ten years.

Tomorrow night they celebrate that fact in San Francisco at Oasis with a live taping and plenty of guests including SF Gay Men’s Chorus ensemble The Lollipop Guild, and jazz singer Joshua Klipp of the Klipptones. Jansen and Pittman will also be highlighting some of their favorite shows and clips from over the years, having collected a "best of" list you can hear on their website. You'll find interviews with filmmaker and artist John Waters; mother of murdered gay college student Matthew Shepard, Judy Shepard; and director Ang Lee.

But, when asked for an all-time favorite interview, Jansen recalls lesbian political pioneers Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, the first same-sex couple married in California whom he interviewed in 2006. "They invited me into their house," Jansen remembers, "and we talked at their kitchen table for about two hours. It was their love story, they were these party girls, known for starting the first national lesbian political organization, the Daughters of Bilitis, in 1955. At the time, they just wanted to a place where women could dance together without being arrested."

As for the future of the show and of queer radio, Jansen says "It's hard to tell how things will evolve," though he does cite the growing movement for transgender rights as one area of focus. "Marriage might be made legal, but there are still lots of protections that we need, and discrimination hasn't disappeared."

Kate Kendell, who is executive director of SF-based National Center for Lesbian Rights, says of the show,“Our stories need to be heard, and Out in the Bay allows listeners a glimpse into [our] diverse and crucial experiences. I’ve been inspired and moved by Out in the Bay’s work for years, and commend their commitment to bringing LGBT voices to the public in an elegant and accessible manner.”

Alongside stories of struggle, Jansen and Pittman have brought humor and culture to their subjects. "You've got to keep doing the fun stuff," Jansen says. Take another favorite episode, "Liberace! and his Crystal Closet" or "Sylvester," Pittman's portrait of a late great disco diva. In fact, it sounds like it's been fun for everyone. "I like the fact that over these years I've had an excuse to talk to people I otherwise haven't talked to," Jansen said.