Historical Homos

How do you start a renaissance? The one woman who knows - Beyoncé - was unavailable to answer my questions. So instead, we've gone back to 1920s Harlem this week, to figure out the good gay truth. It turns out the Harlem Renaissance was a lot more queer than we learned in school. And half of its greatest luminaries, who represented a major step forward in Black queer history, have been largely forgotten today. Three of them are the focus of this week's episode: Alain LeRoy Locke, Gladys Bentley, and Claude McKay. They are just a fraction of the queer Black people who started, fueled, and memorialized the cultural flowering we now call the Harlem Renaissance. Join me and my guest as we delve into their lives and figure out what each has to teach us about this fascinating period. When you're done here, grab a copy of my guest's new book on the subject, which is beautifully illustrated and just came out: ⁠Flamboyants⁠ (2024). If you want more from Historical Homos, you can join our cult at our website. And follow us on Instagram⁠⁠ and TikTok⁠⁠. Like what you hear? Please leave us a five star rating on Apple or Spotify. Do it. Yeahhhhhh just like that. Written and hosted by Bash. Edited by Bash. Guest host: George M. Johnson.

“I wake up cold, I who Prospered through dreams of heat Wake to their residue, Sweat, and a clinging sheet.” (The Man with Night Sweats, Thom Gunn, 1992) Never heard of Thom Gunn? Me neither! That's because straight people want to destroy us. Thom was one of the great poets of the 20th century, up there with Philip Larkin and Ted Hughes. But he's scarcely remembered in the 21st century, because he was: gay. (end of list) Join us as we explore Thom's leather-harnessed and LSD-fueled life as a poet of sexual revolution, formal precision, and gay liberation. In particular, Thom deserves to be remembered for the memorializing poetry he wrote about the AIDS epidemic and his many friends who lost their lives to the disease. My guest this week is Michael Nott, who has recently published a magnificent biography, Thom Gunn: A Cool Queer Life. Grab yourself a copy after the episode, and make sure to let us know what you think about Thom's poetry! If you want more from Historical Homos, you can join our cult at www.historicalhomos.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok. Like what you hear? Please leave us a five star rating on Apple or Spotify. Do it. Yeahhhhhh just like that. Written and hosted by Bash. Edited by Alex Toskas. Guest host: Michael Nott.

"'Cosmus is a great big cinaedus. He keeps his legs apart and sucks d!ck.' ... I believe that's almost a direct paraphrase." – Professor Tom Sapsford, quoting Ancient Roman graffiti about my biological ancestors Kinaidos (or cinaedus in Latin) was the Ancient Greek word for a depraved, unmanly man who liked to get railed. (LIKE MEEEEE.) Since then, the kinaidos has been used and abused by scholars of classical antiquity for centuries. (LIKE MEEEEE.) Some say he never existed and is more akin to the Victorian idea of vampires than any modern-day frociaggine. But my guest on the podcast this week says different, and he literally wrote the book on the subject, so...let's ask him, shall we? Join me and Professor Tom Sapsford (Boston College) as we trace the history of the kinaidoi, from their first mention in Plato to the peak of their cultural and sexual powers in the 3rd century CE. Kinaidoi were not "f*gs just like us," to be sure. But they were a well-known sexual and gendered Other in the classical world. They highlight the pitfalls of telling normative tales whenever we try to understand ancient sexualities of any kind. Check out Professor Sapsford's book here for more on this fascinating subject! –––– If you want more Historical Homos, you can join our cult at www.historicalhomos.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok. Like what you hear? Please leave us a five star rating on Apple or Spotify. Do it. Yeahhhhhh just like that. Written and hosted by Bash. Edited by Alex Toskas. Guest host: Tom Sapsford. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dylan Adler, a Japanese-Jewish comedian known for his unique humor, dives into the fascinating and often humorous world of homosexuality in medieval Japan. He discusses the intricate relationships between monks and their young protégés, showcasing how societal norms influenced intimacy. The pair explores the nuanced role of samurai culture, from homoerotic bonds to the use of quirky sexual lubricants. They even share tips on romance from the past, making history both entertaining and enlightening!

I've been talking about gay men for FAR too many episodes recently, so please enjoy this summer repeat of one of my favorite episodes ever from Season 1, with my former co-host Donal Brophy.Virginia Woolf is the more famous author today, but back in the 1920s and 30s, it was her lover and socialite-best-friend (God I need one of those), Vita Sackville-West, who was the celebrity.Virginia and Vita fell in love quickly, and throughout their long friendship – THEY WERE ROOMMATES – they wrote intense, glowing letters to one another.Virginia also kept a regular diary, recording for posterity her first, second, and many subsequent impressions of Vita and her glittering aristocratic life.You'll be surprised to hear how bitchy, funny, and catty these letters and diaries can be – brilliant and incisive, too, but neither writer is ever afraid to knock the other down a peg.Enjoy, and we'll be back next week with our scheduled programming!If you want more Historical Homos, you can join our cult at www.historicalhomos.com and follow us on Instagram and TikTok.Like what you hear? Please leave us a five star rating on Apple or Spotify. Do it. Yeahhhhhh just like that.Written and hosted by Bash. Guest host: Donal Brophy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.