Neil D'Astolfo, an expert on Roman history, joins the discussion on the tumultuous relationship between Emperor Hadrian and his young lover Antinous. They tackle the complexities of their bond, delving into themes of grooming and sacrifice within the context of ancient Roman society. The conversation explores queer narratives and mentorship dynamics in Rome, while humorously examining Hadrian's character. They also contemplate the transformation of Antinous from a mere mortal to a posthumous icon, blending historical insight with contemporary reflections.

Discover the gay side of Ancient Greek symposia with champion of the Classics, Cosima Carnegie. Topics include party planning, gay glassware, reclining etiquette, flirting, and more. Dive into pederasty, artwork, humor, and same-sex desire at symposiums. Learn about the queer nature of these parties and demand an apology from Hermann Göring. Also, explore the remarkable life of a black American entertainer in 1920s Paris.

Historical Homos is celebrating its one year anniversary!Like any Mother worth her salt, I forgot my child was turning 1 last month.It's been one year of Historical Homos, and there have been so many milestones, amazing episodes, dramas, traumas, small wins, and long mental health breaks that it feels like my baby child should be shipping off to college TOMORROW.That said – I am thrilled to share we added lots of new subscribers last month and I am even more thrilled to welcome them – you – to the Historical Homos cult. No one will make it out alive.To celebrate our 1-year achievement, this week we are re-releasing one of my favorite episodes of the show so far about a riotous rugmunching lesbian of 18th century Paris.Thank you to everyone who's written me in the past month with encouragement and compliments – please keep 'em coming! I live on Diet Coke and attention.For more from Historical Homos, you can join our cult at www.historicalhomos.com.And follow us on Instagram and TikTok.If you like what you hear, please leave us a five star rating on Apple or Spotify. Do it. Yeahhhhhh just like that.This episode was written and researched by Bash, hosted by Bash and Lucy Hendra, and edited by Alex Toskas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The guest, Andrew Lear, discusses Gad Beck, a gay Jewish man in Berlin during WWII who bravely resisted the Nazi regime. They explore the vibrant queer subcultures in 1920s Berlin, Gad's escape to Palestine, and his daring rescue mission. The episode highlights acts of kindness during WWII and the complexities faced by individuals living in Berlin illegally.

Learn about the vibrant queer culture of 18th century London and the brutal persecution faced by the 'Mollies'. Dive into the history of Molly houses, societal challenges, and the resilience of queer individuals. Explore the life of Gabriel Lawrence and the legal implications of sodomy in Georgian London. Reflect on the intersection of colonialism and queerness in today's cultural landscape.

"All male, all-whale orgies"...need I say more?We're back with another extra special episode for Pride Month 2024! And this one is a DOOZY, my little Hormones.First of all, let me just say..."You know you're gay right?"That's my impression of me talking to every living animal on this good, green Earth.Because it turns out animals have been gay for millennia (stop copying me, guys!), and human animals have known about it forever.Not least my new best friends, Laine and Owen, who are the hosts of the about-to-be-mega-hit podcast, A Field Guide to Gay Animals.Like many scholars who have come before them, Laine and Owen are fascinated by the queer natural world. Tune in to the episode to hear us discuss who the gayest animals are, where they come from, and which intrepid souls first outed them.We talk cock-chafing beetles, big gay sheep with really big...horns, and of course THE Havelock Ellis (you know the one).When you're done, go listen to Laine & Owen's premiere episode, which contains so many more incredible stories on this fascinating subject. I kid you not, it made me rethink my homosexuality...top to bottom. (No seriously I'm thinking of topping...halp.)For more from Historical Homos, you can join our cult at www.historicalhomos.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok.If you like what you hear, please leave us a five star rating on Apple or Spotify. Do it. Yeahhhhhh just like that.This episode was written and researched by Bash, hosted by Bash, and edited by Alex Toskas. Guest hosts: Laine Kaplan-Levenson and Owen Ever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Gay didn't always exist, but 'bottom' kind of did!"How did people douche back in the day? Did they have lube? And how'd they find other gays to get off with?In a turn of events that will shock absolutely no one, history is FULL of queer men doing the deed.We boinked, we douched, we lubed, we bathed, and we cruised – long before today's modern luxuries, like running water...or Gun Oil.Join me and my fabulous guest, Alex Hall, creator of The Bottom's Digest, on this magical tour of history's bottoms, bottoming procedures, and bottom cultures.Tune in for Mesopotamian shame, ancient Roman twerking, medieval Japanese lubes (there were many to choose from!), and of course, Renaissance cruising bars in 1400s Florence.The history of bottoming is anything but straight.forward. Every land and every era has dealt with its bottoms in its own unique ways. And Bottom History © has so much to teach us about our own bottom culture today.You can follow The Bottom's Digest on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube for more of Alex's hilarious, amazing work.And check out all the bottom-y treasures we mentioned in this episode:Greek vase of man wiping with pessos (MFA Boston)Ancient Roman tersorium aka sponge stick (Wikipedia)Chugi aka Japanese "shit sticks" (Wikipedia)Ancient enema syringe with bone nozzle (Science Museum)Chigo no soshi aka "Book of Acolytes" (British Museum)For more from Historical Homos, you can join our cult at www.historicalhomos.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok.If you like what you hear, please leave us a five star rating on Apple or Spotify. Do it. Yeahhhhhh just like that.This episode was written and researched by Bash, hosted by Bash, and edited by Alex Toskas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"And what we have to get into our heads, although it is difficult, is that [the] glamour of love, odd as it may sound, is just as much present between two homosexuals as it is between a man and a woman."- Lord Brabazon of Tara, House of Lords, December 1957What was it like to be a (practicing) gay man in London after the Second World War? I thought you'd never ask...The short answer: not great! But like everything in life, it wasn't all doom and gloom OR butterflies and rainbows. It was a dangerous time to be queer, but there was also a thriving subculture of artists, MPs, writers, drunks, criminals, Guardsmen, and working class queers – in short, a bit of everyone – who managed to live their gay lives in one way or another.Our guest this week, Peter Parker, has collected their diaries, court cases, bitchy theatre reviews, puff pieces (or is it poof pieces?), and more in what is only the first volume of his incredible time capsule detailing queer life in London before the decriminalization of homosexuality (partial and tentative thought it was) in 1967.When I read Peter's book, I laughed, sobbed, screamed, and gasped. I could not put it down for hours. It's a reminder that real history is not a story of politicians and battles. It's the stories of real people. People who loved, suffered, lived, and died in a world that, only 80 years ago, was vastly different than ours.I hope you enjoy this chat with Peter as we uncover the dirty deets of life for gay men in London between 1945-1959: which parks to cruise in, who the best rent boys were, which gay soirées to meet John Gielgud and Michael Redgrave at, and of course, the real reason Noel Coward never revealed his BLATANT homosexuality to his adoring public.Make sure you pick up a copy of the book, which is out today! It is a vivid and singular experience – we all owe Peter Parker our gay gratitude for this feat of loving research and magisterial curation.For more from Historical Homos, you can join our cult at www.historicalhomos.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok.If you like what you hear, please leave us a five star rating on Apple or Spotify. Do it. Yeahhhhhh just like that.This episode was written and researched by Bash, hosted by Bash, and edited by Alex Toskas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lucy and Bash discuss Leonard Bernstein's scandalously gay affairs, political activism, and personal struggles in the film 'Maestro'. They touch on LB's drug stash, standing ovulations, and societal pressures faced due to his identity and image.

"Saint Sebastian is really just a Bored Office Twink." – R. Eric Thomas (April 2024)Welcome to the wildly erotic, superheroic world of Saint Sebastian, who was initially martyred as a rugged Roman soldier before he blossomed into the lithe, Lana-Del-Rey-loving twink we cherish today.Scientists now know it was the extremely gay Italian Renaissance that decided Saint Sebastian should ALWAYS be painted with skimpy loincloths and penetrative arrows, leaving 80% of any canvas to be devoted entirely to his exposèd flesh.Along the way, Saint Seb – and the name Sebastian itself – has become a byword for "definitely gay maybe also kinky vibes" (a clunky phrase that needed a byword – thanks for that, Seb!). But how did this association with homosexuality develop?Join our hysterically homosexual guest, R. Eric Thomas, as we uncover the truth about the OG Sebastian; his Middle Age superpowers that totally didn't stop the plague; making the career jump from Patron- to Pin-Up Saint; and finally, his reception amongst modern gays today.Click on the paintings we discuss to follow along:7th century Saint SebastianGiovanni del Biondo - Sebastian (1350s)Saint Sebastian praying to Jesus (1490s)Andrea Mantegna - Saint Sebastians (1450s)Sandro Botticelli - Saint Sebastian (1474)Il Sodoma - Saint Sebastian (1525)Guido Reni - Saint Sebastian (1615)Gianlorenzo Bernini - Saint Sebastian (1618)Nicolas Regnier - Saint Sebastian (1620)Keith Haring - Saint Sebastian (1984)For more from Historical Homos, you can join our cult at: www.historicalhomos.comAnd follow us on Instagram and TikTok. Do it. Yeahhhhhh just like that.If you like what you hear, please give us an extremely high rating on Apple or Spotify (FIVE STAR ONLY). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.