Queer as Fact

Josephine Baker

The week of Saturday September 23rd is Bisexual Awareness Week and to celebrate, we’re talking about the life of bisexual performer Josephine Baker! Josephine’s life covers much of the 20th century, beginning as a poor child in the slums of St. Louis and becoming the biggest celebrity of her time. Along the way, she was a World War II spy, a civil rights activist, and the lover of many men and women.

Transcript available here!

Michael Dillon

In today’s episode we talk about Michael Dillon, who in the 1940s became the first trans man to undergo a phalloplasty. Listen to discover how Michael begun his life as a minor British aristocrat, and ended it as the first Englishman to be ordained in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, with interludes as a shipboard doctor, the suitor of a race-car driver, and a suspected spy.

Transcript available here.

Queer women in medieval Arab literature

In this episode, we look at the Quran, 1001 Nights and medieval sex manuals to explore attitudes to queer women in the Middle East, Spain and North Africa from the 9^th century to the 14^th century. Find out about the first lesbians, the correct sounds to make during sex, and how eating celery will turn your children gay.

Transcript available here

The Secret Sex Spreadsheets of John Maynard Keynes

Today's episode is a romp through the Bloomsbury Group guided by John Maynard Keynes, one of the great economists of the 20th century, and his meticulous table of sexual partners from 1901 to 1915. Expect polyamory, top secret telegrams and Russian spies.

Content warnings: This podcast includes discussions of sex, including between adults and minors; and mentions of suicide and murder.

Transcript available here

Yoshiya Nobuko

This episode details the life and times of Yoshiya Nobuko, a prolific and extremely successful Japanese author of the 20th century and possibly the first Japanese woman to own a racehorse. Listen on for flower metaphors, fifteen page love letters and '20s flappers from all over the globe.

Transcript is now available here

 

Gad Beck

Today's episode is on educator and activist Gad Beck (1923-2012). A member of the Jewish underground resistance in Berlin during WWII, Gad was the last known living gay survivor of the Holocaust.

Transcript available here.

Queer Love in Early Chinese History

In this episode we look into three important stories from early Chinese history that were used to discuss male-male queer romance and sexuality for hundreds of years to come. Expect romance, intrigue, poison and daring midnight carriage rides.

Transcript available here.

Vaslav Nijinsky

Today's episode is about Vaslav Nijinsky, a Polish-Russian ballet dancer of the early twentieth century. Considered both the best and most controversial dancer of his era, Nijinsky changed the course of ballet history.

Transcript available here.

Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake

“…this heart to her inclin’d by every gentle tie that binds the tender heart…” -Charity Bryant, 1808

In today’s episode we’re talking about Charity Bryant and Sylvia Drake. Charity and Sylvia were a same-sex couple who lived together in 19th century Weybridge, Vermont for over 40 years, recognised by members of their community as a married couple.

Transcript available here!

Anne Lister

Today's episode is on Anne Lister, a landowner, prolific diarist, and same-sex attracted woman who lived in Yorkshire during the 19th century and journalled her life and her innumerable love affairs in intimate detail. Featuring: Secret Lesbian Code! Transcript available here.

If you enjoy this episode, also check out our follow-up Christmas special, covering the second half of Anne's life in more detail.