Join us as we learn about the history of the LGBT community and discover the people and events that shaped our society. We also cover religion, sexuality, politics, personal stories, civil rights, and much, much more.
In this month's politisode Evan dives into the differences between the Queer Revolution and the Gay Rights Movement. These sometimes parallel, yet very different movements, have collided to spark the backlash impacting Pride organizations across the country right now. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
This week we are discussing the many symbols, language, and colors that have made up queer culture in America. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Last month was Asian American History Month and this month is PRIDE MONTH!!! So we thought it was best to kick things off with a much-anticipated episode about Queer Asian American history. Before we begin, we want to credit our main source for this episode, and really one of the few sources available on this subject, Breathing Fire: Remembering Asian Pacific American Activism in Queer History by Amy Sueyoshi. You can find this resource made freely available by visiting yourequeerstory.com and going to our posted script. We will also have some more suggestions to beef up your knowledge around Asian American history in our recommended resources at the end of the episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Our second segment of date night with guest Samantha Taylor disucess Demi Lovato coming out as non-binary, the Aces 2020 album Under My Influence, and queer parenting life. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Evan interviews Joel Barrett, a former fundamentalist pastor who underwent 3 years of conversion therapy before coming out as a proud gay man. Today, Joel is an author, motivational speaker, and happily married husband to his partner of 15 years. He shares his story in his new book, "Godly...But Gay", which is available for pre-order today! Get a glimpse of his amazing story in this week's episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Every now and then Evan & Paul just need to have a conversation! Join us on Patreon! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
On our monthly politisode Evan discusses the New Jersey Principal who threw beer on a group of folks filming his wife in a transphobic rant. We also, spotlight New York Representative Ritchie Torres before delving into the main topic, Caitlyn Jenner's bid for California governor. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
This Sunday marks the 56th anniversary of the Dewey Lunch Counter Sit-Ins. An infamous moment in queer history when gender-diverse youth challenged their exclusion from an American Diner. Four years before Stonewall and the formal Gay Rights Movement broke into mainstream consciousness, queer revolutionaries were already preparing for battle. From the formation of the Janus Society to the distribution of Drum Magazine, queer culture thrived in Philadelphia. Today we’re heading to the “City of Brotherly Love'', to discuss a place rich in all history, but especially LGBTQ+ history. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Samantha Taylor joins the YQS podcast for a new segment titled 'Date Night with Sam & Evan'. Together the couple discusses queer news and reviews, amid other casual conversations. On their first segment together they tackle the coming out of former Bachelor star Colton Underwood, review the Lesbian period drama "The World to Come", and give a sneak peek into their lives as queer, foster parents. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Today we interview Jim Obergefell. In 2015, Jim, an openly gay man from Ohio, had his name attached to the most significant case in queer American history. Obergefell v. Hodges was the landmark Supreme Court ruling that finally legalized same-sex marriage in the United States. Mr. Obergefell joins us on the podcast to tell his story and encourage others to continue the fight for queer equality --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
On this Politisode Evan goes solo to review the recent wave of anti-transgender legislation entered into state legislatures this session. Join to stay informed as well as ti learn the history behind some of these bills. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Hey #Queerstians, this episode was our first attempt at recording virtually. Sorry in advance! Today we are continuing our topic for March, which is covering various groups and movements that contributed to women’s rights in America. While it is not necessary to listen or review the previous episodes in our series, we do encourage that you follow along in order. Our March episodes are built on a loose, chronological order of events beginning in 1826 and running through the movements of today. In order to best understand how we have arrived at today’s so-called radicalism, it is important to understand how each movement has built on those of the past. But with that in mind, wherever you are in our series, we welcome you to this year’s celebration of Women’s History Month. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
This year, to honor women’s history month, we are going to cover a few of the major movements in the past that have focused on full equality. We say full equality because the fight for women’s rights has never been based solely on women. True feminism has always allowed room for any person oppressed and shunned to join its ranks. However, this certainly has not been an easy ideal to maintain, and time and time again leaders within the movement have been held accountable and called out for their bigotry, racism, and exclusion. Yet we are encouraged by the fact that it is often their own siblings in the fight for equality who hold one another to the high standards of feminist pursuits. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Today we conclude our Black History Month tribute by covering one of the most well-beloved books in queer, Black literature. The Color Purple has held a place of reverence among modern literature for nearly 40 years. In fact, next year will mark the 40th anniversary of this iconic book that broke down barriers for both Black and queer women. Its author, Alice Walker, did the same through her work and her activism. Today we’ll tell the story of both Walker and her protagonist Celie and the effects these women made on feminism and LGBTQ civil rights. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Today we continue recognizing and honoring Black writers, their work, and their other contributions to American society. This week we will be covering a man whose words were incredibly influential throughout the 20th century and whose legacy continues to inspire fans and draw ire from critics. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Today we continue celebrating Black History Month and this year we are covering Black literary giants, their works, and how they inspired the movements of yesterday and today. This week we get current as we discuss a woman living in the heart of today’s civil rights protests, Andrea Jenkins. She is the first Black, transgender woman elected to public office and serves on the seat of the Minneapolis City Council in Minnesota. But before Andrea was a politician, she was - and is - a poet and queer oral historian. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Today we launch the annual observance of Black History Month. And this year we will be focusing on some of the literary works that have inspired different movements towards Black equality. One of the most timely and well-known books written in the last century was the Black manifesto, The Fire Next Time. Written by the queer, civil rights activist James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time stirred the nation and fanned the flames of a Black revolution well in progress. And while there were dozens of writers who contributed to the amazing works that encouraged and motivated Black Americans during this time, Baldwin was by far one of the most poignant and influential. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
For nearly a quarter of a century, Ellen has been an open advocate for LGBTQ rights and lived her own queer life openly even when it cost her dearly. Her humor and desire to spread good in the world has allowed her to enter the homes of even the most staunch anti-LGBTQ critics. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Born in Pennsylvania in April of 1791, James enjoyed life as the wealthiest boy in town. His father was an immigrant who came to America just a few years earlier and soon made his wealth in agriculture and real estate. The young heir went off to Dickinson College and, perhaps due to his arrogance or mere young mischief, was nearly expelled twice. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
In this episode Evan & Paul discuss the Insurrection on the United States Capitol building on January 6, 2021 & good news for the queer community from 2020. Join us on Patreon! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
In this episode Evan & Paul discuss all of the changes that are coming to the podcast & our growing queer network next year. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Today we celebrate and recognize the 47th anniversary of homosexuality being delisted as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association. Of course, there was and continues to be much work to be done for the LGBTQ+ in relation to the field of medicine. However, today we want to focus on the wins over the last century and how our movement went from a group of so-called insane, sexual deviants, to a thriving, openly queer revolution. And as we look back on this year and the devastating effects of COVID-19, we want to dedicate this episode to the frontline healthcare workers who have remained in the trenches against insurmountable odds. Your work and your sacrifices are seen and appreciated. Join us on Patreon! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
As we move full-force into the Holiday season, we can’t go another minute without recognizing one of the most popular songs of the holiday - and the man behind it. For the last 26 years, the song Last Christmas has remained a consistent, holiday favorite, continuing to top the charts again and again through the month of December. Part of this is due to the unique style of the song; which tells the sad story of unrequited love, while jamming away to a smooth, almost happy, electric beat. While most Christmas songs tend to all sound the same, Wham!’s 1984 hit remains a refreshing break from the traditional. Join us on Patreon! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Today, in honor of World AIDS Day on December 1st, we want to recognize and honor a group that was fundamentally responsible for changing the tide on the AIDS crisis. ACT UP, an acronym that stood for AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power, was founded in 1987. At this time, over 40,000 Americans had died of the AIDS crisis and the President had only just acknowledged there was even a pandemic happening. Funding was still obsolete and most doctors couldn’t convince people that this was not a “gay disease”. And they certainly couldn’t convince people to care about all the gays who were dying of this mysterious virus. The world needed to wake up and start taking action on a crisis that had been raging for nearly a decade. Join us on Patreon! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Evan and Paul have partnered with Sojourner House in Rhode Island to send free, rapid HIV testing kits to listeners in the United States. Listen to find out more! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
This week we’re talking about a very serious topic, though in a quite light-hearted way. Queer coding is defined as such: The subtextual portrayal of a queer character in the media whose identity is not explicitly confirmed within canon. This concept refers to a character that encapsulates what might be considered "queer traits" that are recognizable to the audience, but are never labeled or claimed by the content creator. Join us on Patreon! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
This week is Transgender Awareness week and it sits in the month of November, which is Native American history month. With all of that in mind, we thought what better person to cover than the newly elected Kansas Representative, Stephanie Byers. Byers is a transgender Native American who is a member of the Chickasaw Nation, currently residing in Kansas. Join us on Patreon! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
A brief episode on the woman who just became the first transgender state senator in U.S. history. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
In this episode Evan and Paul talk election anxiety, what's at stake, and some tips for getting through this stressful time. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
In this episode Evan and Paul talk election anxiety, what’s at stake, and some tips for getting through this stressful time. The post 121: Vote Him Out appeared first on Your Queer Story.
Today we’re finally covering a long time queer favorite – Rocky. And if you think we’re talking about a down on his luck, Philadelphia boxer, who constantly walks around with blood running down his face calling out for “Adrian!!!” – well then you’re probably straight and have stumbled upon the wrong podcast. But if you’re... The post 120: The Rocky Horror Picture Show appeared first on Your Queer Story.
Today we’re finally covering a long time queer favorite – Rocky. And if you think we’re talking about a down on his luck, Philadelphia boxer, who constantly walks around with blood running down his face calling out for “Adrian!!!” – well then you’re probably straight and have stumbled upon the wrong podcast. But if you’re queer then there’s only one real Rocky in your horror book. And of course, that’s the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. With the doom and gloom of the upcoming election in America, we thought we’d lighten the mood a bit by heading to Transylvania… or Denton if you want to get technical. And before we begin we just want to let our listeners know that we will be using some outdated language in accordance with the terminology used during the show. This does not mean it is appropriate to use this language today and there are many ways in which Rocky could be perceived as offensive today. But when we remember it in the context of its time, we can see how Dr. Frank-N-Furter certainly inspired a generation of LGBTQ+ people to celebrate their queer identity. So now let’s “come to the lab and see what’s on the slab!” --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Today we are finally covering the woman that many have dubbed the “First Female Serial Killer in America”. While this statement is inaccurate and in fact cannot be measured as the term “serial killer” was not even coined until the 1970s, we can say that Aileen was the first notorious female serial killer in American history. Most of this was due to the fact that Aileen’s case came to light just as the country was riding a wave of high profile serial killers. The 1980s saw a peak in serial killings before advancements in forensic and investigative sciences changed the landscape for mass murderers. Killers such as Jeffrey Dahmer, Richard Ramirez, Gary Ray Bowels, and the duo Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole all were active during this time period. It is estimated that more than 200 serial killers were active during the decade, and of these only a very few were women. Such a small pool made it easy for someone like Aileen to stand out as a star. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Today we are finally covering the woman that many have dubbed the “First Female Serial Killer in America”. While this statement is inaccurate and in fact cannot be measured as the term “serial killer” was not even coined until the 1970s, we can say that Aileen was the first notorious female serial killer in American... The post 119: Aileen Wuornos appeared first on Your Queer Story.
As we launch into October there are many things to celebrate. It’s LGBTQ+ history month, we’re just a few days before National Coming Out Day on October 11th, and also October serves as the original ‘Pride Month’. But all of that aside, what we really care about is Queer True Crime and October is Your Queer Stories True Crime month. So we thought what better way to kick the month off than to start with the underrated serial killer The Last Call Killer. Before we begin we want to put out a trigger warning for the entire month of October. We will be discussing blood, gore, violence, assault, sexual abuse, homophobia, queerphobia, transphobia, and more. So if you’re not up for any of that then please check out some of our past episodes. Last year’s Halloween episode discusses why October was the original Pride Month and our History of Drag episodes discusses the art behind many of the fabulous looks that are sure to be revealed this year. But for those of you still hear and ready for that queer true crime, let’s get into the life and mind of serial killer Richard Rogers, nicknamed, The Last Call Killer. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
As we launch into October there are many things to celebrate. It’s LGBTQ+ history month, we’re just a few days before National Coming Out Day on October 11th, and also October serves as the original ‘Pride Month’. But all of that aside, what we really care about is Queer True Crime and October is Your... The post 118: Richard Rogers; Last Call Killer appeared first on Your Queer Story.
We are in our final week of honoring Queer LatinX culture and history and it seems fitting to go out with the infamous Walter Mercado. The icon was an astrologer and T.V. spiritual advisor who held daily shows to over 120 million viewers at the height of his career. His charisma and charm captivated his followers while his androgynous identity baffled his critics. In a culture overrun with Catholicism and gender roles, Walter Mercado became a beacon of hope for many LatinX viewers who were also gender non-conforming. His defiance of the norms broke the barrier of sexuality and even at age 87 he couldn’t suppress a grin when folks questioned whether he still held onto his V-card. So let us dive into the mystical world that is Walter Mercado or - Walter of the Miracles. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
We are in our final week of honoring Queer LatinX culture and history and it seems fitting to go out with the infamous Walter Mercado. The icon was an astrologer and T.V. spiritual advisor who held daily shows to over 120 million viewers at the height of his career. His charisma and charm captivated his... The post 117: Walter Mercado: LatinX Legend appeared first on Your Queer Story.
Our episode today will first air on Bisexual Visibility Day so we want to wish all of our favorite bisexuals a proud, and happy day of visibility. And in honor of both Latin history month and Bixsexual Visibility we have invited Vima Manfredo, our favorite, bisexual Latina, to join us today. We also have David Rivera, Paul's fiance! Before we get to the story of the incredible Joan Baez, we are going to have a brief discussion around the usage of the term Latinx. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Our episode today will first air on Bisexual Visibility Day so we want to wish all of our favorite bisexuals a proud, and happy day of visibility. And in honor of both Latin history month and Bixsexual Visibility we have invited Vima Manfredo, our favorite, bisexual Latina, to join us today. We also have David... The post 116: Bisexual Visibility: Joan Baez appeared first on Your Queer Story.
For the next few weeks, we will be celebrating LatinX history month. September is chosen to remember LatinX history because of the significance around the Mexican War of Independence. This defining, 11-year war, both began and ended in the month of September. And it was through this struggle that Mexico gained independence from the colonization... The post 115: Amelio Robles Avila appeared first on Your Queer Story.
For the next few weeks, we will be celebrating LatinX history month. September is chosen to remember LatinX history because of the significance around the Mexican War of Independence. This defining, 11-year war, both began and ended in the month of September. And it was through this struggle that Mexico gained independence from the colonization of Spain. For over 300 years Spanish military and priests had worked to eliminate the rich history of what is now known as Central and South America. The glory of the Aztec and Mayan empires of Mexico were erased along with the Incan kingdom of modern-day Peru. But these grand atrocities were only the beginning as countless smaller civilizations and tribes were killed off or enslaved during centuries of Spanish rule. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Today we finally are touching upon queer culture in the Pacific Islands. Specifically discussing the Hawaiian Islands and the variance in expression and openness today from island to island. Before we begin we want to lend credit to two of our main sources. A paper written by Professor Aleardo Zanghellini and published by the University of Reading’s School of Law was actually our main source. We have linked the article on our script along with the free-access PDF for anyone who is interested. We also want to praise the work of Eleanor Kleiber, a University specialist librarian, and former intern D. Kealiʻi MacKenzie. Who both compiled queer Pacific Island resources for the Univerisity of Hawaii at Manoa, and made those resources public to us and the rest of the world. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Today we finally are touching upon queer culture in the Pacific Islands. Specifically discussing the Hawaiian Islands and the variance in expression and openness today from island to island. Before we begin we want to lend credit to two of our main sources. A paper written by Professor Aleardo Zanghellini and published by the University... The post 114: Hawaiian Queer Culture appeared first on Your Queer Story.
As Hyles star began to fade in the 1990’s, a new surge of anti-LGBTQ+ activism was on the rise in Topeka, Kansas. Fred Phelps was born a few years after Jack Hyles but his infamy wouldn’t come until much later in life. Unlike Norris and Hyles, Phelps grew up in a middle class family in Meridian, Mississippi. His mother passed away when he was 6 years old and his aunt helped Fred Sr raise the two children. Phelps graduated in the top of his high school class and was prepared to enter West Point when a revival meeting changed his plans. Instead, Fred went off to the Baptist super college, Bob Jones University. But quickly became disillusioned with the school that he considered too watered down and liberal. So he headed to California and took up street preaching for several years before meeting his wife Margie and settling down. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Fred Phelps (1991 – 2014) As Hyles star began to fade in the 1990’s, a new surge of anti-LGBTQ+ activism was on the rise in Topeka, Kansas. Fred Phelps was born a few years after Jack Hyles but his infamy wouldn’t come until much later in life. Unlike Norris and Hyles, Phelps grew up in... The post 113: The New IFB: Even More Hate appeared first on Your Queer Story.
A Norris fanboy and good friend of Roloff was already well on his way to IFB stardom when Roloff passed. Jack Hyles was born the same year J. Frank stood trial for murder in 1926. Hyle’s early life seemed to mirror that of Norris. Jack was born in poverty, the son of an alcoholic who... The post 112: Jack Hyles; The IFB’s Evil Pope appeared first on Your Queer Story.
A Norris fanboy and good friend of Roloff was already well on his way to IFB stardom when Roloff passed. Jack Hyles was born the same year J. Frank stood trial for murder in 1926. Hyle’s early life seemed to mirror that of Norris. Jack was born in poverty, the son of an alcoholic who beat him severely and eventually left the Hyles family all together. Like Norris before him, Hyles found comfort in the world of the fiery Baptist preaching. After serving in the Army during World War II, Hyles returned and attended East Baptist Bible College in Marshall Texas. He then pastored a few churches in Texas and his success drew the attention of a large congregation in Hammond, Indiana. Seeing the potential, and the money, of the wealthy and well-respected church, Hyles took the position at First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana in 1959. By age 33, he had become somewhat popular in the South, yet the move to Hammond was the real catalyst for Jack Hyles’s career. It was here that he created an empire and a worldwide name - as far as the IFB goes. It was also here that he created what most experts have classified as a cult. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Today we are going to deep dive into the world that Evan belonged to for the first 23 years of his life. A world that many consider bizarre yet harmless. While others, often those who have left this type of environment or similar ones, recognize the lasting impacts of the IFB on local communities and... The post 111: The IFB: Fundamentals of Hate appeared first on Your Queer Story.
Today we are going to deep dive into the world that Evan belonged to for the first 23 years of his life. A world that many consider bizarre yet harmless. While others, often those who have left this type of environment or similar ones, recognize the lasting impacts of the IFB on local communities and the U.S. as a whole. It should be noted upfront that this is an overview of the Independent Fundamental Baptists and we do not have the time to devote to a full history of the movement. Nor are we the appropriate platform to present such a detailed narrative. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
Today we are covering one of the most heartbreaking and bizarre cases in modern medical history. The story of David Reimer has been used as both a platform for reform around acceptance of Intersex identities and as a weapon against transgender children transitioning at a young age. What is more interesting though is that David Reimer was neither intersex nor transgender, yet his body and his legacy have been used as an exhibition for the rest of the world. Nothing better encapsulates the toxicity of social standards around masculinity and femininity than this story. And while Reimer was not part of the LGBTQ+ community, his case and his abuse shed light on the many harms done against queer individuals. So, let us start at the beginning of what would become known as the “John/Joan” case. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yourqueerstory/message
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