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Podcasts that celebrate LGBTQ+ history & the people still fighting for equality today.
It used to feel like podcasting was a space dominated by cis, straight men. There was a seemingly endless supply of shows hosted by three guys sitting around a microphone and talking over each other for an hour. Luckily things have changed in the past few years, and the podcasting working has begun to open up to a greater range of voices – including those from LGBTQ+ communities.
With Pride Month 2021 already under way, now seems like a great time to sink your teeth into a new LGBTQ+ podcast. Whether you’re looking to learn about the history of gay rights in the UK or you’re more interested in hearing in-depth discussions with celebrities and LGBTQ+ trailblazers, there are plenty of options out there to try. Attitude’s Heroes podcast, for example, has interviews with the likes of Ian McKellen and Tom Daly, while British LGBTQ History – created by the Historical Association – gives listeners a chance to deep dive into the Civil Rights movement. If you’re keen to learn about HIV and its continued impact on LGBTQ+ communities, Positively UK is a good place to start, while shows such as Being Transgender and Word Of Mouth: Language and Gender Identity will discuss topics of gender, identity, and inclusive language.
Whatever you’re looking for, keep reading to find some of the top LGBTQ+ podcasts from creators based in the UK.
1
Call Me Mother
Journalist, artist, and presenter Shon Faye hosts conversations with trailblazing LGBTQ+ elders to discuss their incredible life stories, cross-generational activism, and issues faced by the community in the past and today.
2
Bottoming Podcast
Using their own personal experience, Hackey-based Matthew and Brendan host in-depth conversations surrounding mental health in the LGBTQ+ community. Along with the occasional guest, the boys aim to explore difficult subject matters with a sense of humour, which they hope makes each topic “more accessible, approachable, and easy to digest.”
3
Homo Sapiens
“We are a podcast that likes to think of itself as Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour for an LGBTQ+ audience,” reads the Homo Sapiens website. And boy, does it deliver. Expect interesting and in-depth conversations with celebs including Paris Lees, Tom Allen, Jameela Jamil, Adam Kay, Lady Phyll, and Melanie C. Originally hosted by Will Young and Chris Sweeney, Will’s spot has recently been taken over by legendary actor Alan Cummings.
4
Positively UK
Chris O'Hanlon hosts this HIV-centric podcast series in which he delves into topics including accessing HIV services, living with HIV amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as mental health, Chemsex, and ageing. Guest stars include those at the forefront of the fight against HIV and the stigma which surrounds it.
5
The Gay Agenda
Broadcaster, illustrator, and writer Rylan Cavell takes a fresh look at LGBTQ+ issues in this podcast, which often includes contributions from drag king Lydia Bernsmeier-Rullow and comedian Kate McCabe. The Gay Agenda generally covers a really broad variety of topics, and the episodes are also often close to the two-hour mark, so you shouldn't run out too quickly.
6
Being Transgender
Amnesty Factual released a two-part series called Being Transgender in early 2018. The series explores what it means to be trans and non-binary in the UK in the 21st century, with the second episode focusing on Sparkle, the world's largest transgender festival, which takes place in Manchester in July.
7
British LGBTQ History
Developed by the Historical Association, this series provides an insightful and more academic look at the background of LGBTQ+ life in Britain, from the 1800s through to the Civil Rights Movement and into the present day. It features lecturers from Birkbeck University, University of Sussex, and Reading University, and offers a comprehensive look at gay history in the UK, with each episode dealing with a specific time frame.
8
Word Of Mouth: Language and Gender Identity
This is a one-off episode was originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4 back in February 2018 but is still available to download. It deals with gender-neutral language and gender identity and features an interview with singer and author CN Lester, who wrote Trans Like Me: A Journey For All Of Us.
9
Attitude Heroes
In 2017, Attitude produced a podcast series to mark the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales. The series, which features an incredible line-up of guests, including Tom Daley, Ian McKellen, and Gok Wan, ran for the entirety of 2017, so there are a lot of episodes to get through.
10
Prejudice & Pride
This six-part series from the National Trust makes for incredible listening and is essential if you are interested in British LGBTQ+ history. Hosted by the legendary Clare Balding, the series explores hidden stories and important figures in UK history, celebrates queer performance, and discusses the "herstory" of lesbian sexuality through the decades.
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