Queer As Fact

We have a special guest this episode - Jessie has just completed her thesis on queer film in Australia, and talks with us about its birth, its development, and the role it has played in Australian gay rights movements. Featuring gay film festivals, censors embarrassing themselves, and the first Australian Pride. Transcript available here. Image: Still from the film Adam (1975)

In this episode we are talking about Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay politicians elected in the USA. Tune in for incredibly theatrical political campaigns, an even more dramatic love letter, and recordings of speeches from the man himself. Transcript available here

Today's episode is on Tove Jansson, a Finnish author and illustrator, and creator of the world-famous Moomins. Tune in for queer women living on a remote island, adorable chubby anti-fascists, and the best euphemism for same-gender love that we've heard in a while. Transcript available here!

Today we're talking about Baron von Steuben, who served in the American army during the Revolutionary War, and over the winter of 1777-1778 turned them from a mismatched bunch of volunteers into a group of professional soldiers. Join us for flaming shots, daring escapes from the British, and an important discussion of Steuben's role as Alexander Hamilton's gay dad. Transcript available here.

In this episode we're talking about Edward II, 14th-century king of England, who almost ruined a country by being too gay. Featuring pirates, several nasty executions, and your hosts' ancestral Scottish rage. Happy New Year! Transcript available here

Happy Christmas! Queer as Fact is celebrating by bringing you this bonus episode, covering the second half of the life of lesbian diarist and land-owner Anne Lister. Improve your Christmas with first-hand accounts of 19th-century lesbian shenanigans, Anne's struggles to find a suitable wife, and an unfortunate touch of voter fraud that's not truly in the spirit of the holiday. Transcript available here. We'll give you a summary, but for the first half of Anne's story, listen to our earlier episode.

This episode focuses on Lesbia Harford, an early 20th century Australian woman poet. Lesbia was one of the first female graduates of Melbourne University, a dedicated political activist, and once had someone drink champagne out of her shoe. Transcript available here.

Today, on World AIDS Day, we discuss the history of HIV and AIDS in Australia, from its first arrival in 1982 until the present day. In this episode you’ll learn about the infamous Grim Reaper ad campaigns, the tireless battle of queer Australians to help each other in this time, and how the country’s positive response to the epidemic saved the lives of many gay and bisexual men. Transcript available here.

Today's episode focuses on the Warren Cup, a silver cup from the Roman Empire in the 1st century, which has artistic depictions of male/male sex on it. Expect to learn a lot about ancient Greek and Roman sexuality! Transcript available here!

In today's episode we're talking about Shelly's Leg, Seattle's first openly gay club, which operated from 1973 until 1978. Get prepared for a two-explosion story, including a confetti canon, eight foot tall nude women, and a possible cameo by David Bowie. Transcript available here

In this episode, we talk about French artist Rosa Bonheur, one of the most famous female artists of the 19th century. Not only was Rosa so well known for her painting that many American children has "Rosa Bonheur" dolls, during her life she kept pet lions, defended her town from invading Prussians, and received a Legion of Honour from the Empress Eugenie. Transcript available here.

In this episode we talk about bisexual jazz age heiress Henrietta Bingham. Although she struggled with depression, anxiety and addiction, as well as the homophobia typical of the period, Henrietta also led a full and exciting life. Her lovers included a world number one tennis player, and members of the Bloomsbury group; she mingled with artists and writers, supported the African-American jazz scene, and at least once, played the saxophone while standing on top of a piano. Transcript available here.

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!

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.

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 9th century to the 14th 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

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

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  

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.

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.

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.