New podcast out! We're discussing the Iraqi singer, Masoud El Amaratly. Join us as we visit the southern Iraqi marshes, hear what may be the oldest recording of a trans person, and learn about trans identity in Masoud's Ahwari culture. #transhistory queerasfact.podbean.com/e/masoud-el-...

New podcast out! We're discussing the Iraqi singer, Masoud El Amaratly. Join us as we visit the southern Iraqi marshes, hear what may be the oldest recording of a trans person, and learn about trans identity in Masoud's Ahwari culture. #transhistory queerasfact.podbean.com/e/masoud-el-...

NEW EPISODE! Today's episode is on Kenyan director Wanuri Kahiu’s 2018 lesbian romance film, Rafiki. Join us for a rich exploration of Kenyan culture through the lens of the director’s self-titled “Afrobubblegum” genre, legal drama, and a DJ named after an Australian cartoon character.

NEW EPISODE! queerasfact.podbean.com/e/hwarang/ Hwarang, a group of youth in first millenium Korea who represent nationalism, masculinity, and gay love. Episode contains: the most beautiful men in Korea, song lyrics about gay love, and how to approach queer history across time and culture.

NEW EPISODE! queerasfact.podbean.com/e/hwarang/ Hwarang, a group of youth in first millenium Korea who represent nationalism, masculinity, and gay love. Episode contains: the most beautiful men in Korea, song lyrics about gay love, and how to approach queer history across time and culture.

"Don't make a woman out of me. My name is Megillus ... I was born a woman like the rest of you, and I have the mind and the desires and everything else of a man." Megillus in Lucian's 'Dialogues of the Courtesans', 2nd century CE #transhistory

In 1654, Sweden’s monarch Christina abdicated the throne, cut their hair, donned trousers, and left the country to pursue a life of arts and scholarship in Rome... (1/3)

Filmed in 1978, 'Witches and Faggots, Dykes and Poofters' was intended to cover the history of gay and lesbian persecution and end with uplifting shots of the first Sydney pride march. Instead, the crew caught footage of violent police attacks on the marches. 53 people were arrested. (1/2)

Have you heard of Horace Walpole? -likely asexual and gay, -inventor of gothic fiction and the word 'gloomth' (gloom+warmth) -once wrote to a possible lover “My satisfaction arises from your passion not from my own…” -described by friends as “untost by [sexual] passions” -named his dog Patapan

In 1996, Subaru’s US market research revealed an unexpected demographic who loved their cars: lesbians. The company decided to lean in, and began ads pitching Subarus to lesbians. As a queer woman who drives a Subaru myself, I guess I have to say the advertising works!

We’re delving into some culinary history tomorrow and recording a bonus episode for our patrons on a notoriously queer food! I want to hear your thoughts – what do you reckon is the queerest dish?

NEW EPISODE Today's episode is a nice light-hearted look at something near and dear to many sapphic hearts - Subaru! We take a look at WHY lesbians loving Subarus is such a stereotype, what the car company did to encourage this, and laugh at some pretty saucy innuendos.

“I’m naturally, naturally born Kewpie. The gay. The lady. The woman. The sister.” Some of our fave photos of South African hairdresser and performer, Kewpie. We learnt so much not just about Kewpie, but about the queer coloured community in Cape Town, while making our podcast on her! ❤️ #transhistory

We were very emotional watching the #ArtemisII mission this week, and celebrating Christina Koch, the first woman to travel to the moon, and Victor Glover, the first Black man do the same! Here’s another space first for you - Sally Ride the first (known) queer woman in space!

New Episode! Today’s episode is on the South African performer and hairdresser, Kewpie! Join us to learn about queer life in Cape Town’s coloured community under apartheid, find out how you can get your hair done at 3am, and hear about a prize-winning Marie-Antoinette costume. Link in the replies.

New Episode! Today’s episode is on the South African performer and hairdresser, Kewpie! Join us to learn about queer life in Cape Town’s coloured community under apartheid, find out how you can get your hair done at 3am, and hear about a prize-winning Marie-Antoinette costume. Link in the replies.

New podcast! We're discussing the Catterick skeleton, the remains of person buried in 4th c CE Roman Britain. Join us to hear about what a bead can tell us about gender, how press reactions to the skeleton have changed over time, and a Roman board game! queerasfact.podbean.com/e/the-catter...

New podcast! We're discussing the Catterick skeleton, the remains of person buried in 4th c CE Roman Britain. Join us to hear about what a bead can tell us about gender, how press reactions to the skeleton have changed over time, and a Roman board game! queerasfact.podbean.com/e/the-catter...

Hey listeners! We are in the middle of moving house, so today’s podcast episode with be delayed until tomorrow. Looking forward to sharing it with you then!

In today's episode we interview author Dennis Altman about his new book - Righting My World: Essays from the Past Half-Century. Join us for a discussion that spans 60 years of queer activism, from the HIV/AIDS crisis to the state of queerness as an inherently revolutionary act in 2026.

“We both are talents who paint our eyebrows. Unconventional as I am, I want to possess the promised heart of a beautiful woman like you.” This poem was written in the 1800s by the Wú Zǎo, describing her love for another woman, Qīng Lín. #queerpoetry

In 1999 the British Museum bought the Warren Cup for £1.8 million. The cup, made in 1st century Roman empire, depicts explicity male-male sex. It was the most expensive object the museum had ever bought. Want to learn more? We made a whole podcast on it! queerasfact.podbean.com/e/the-warren...

We were thrilled last weekend to interview the veteran activist Dennis Altman. Dennis has been writing about and fighting for gay rights since the 70s, and has just brought out his latest book 'Righting My World', featuring 50+ years of his writing. Can’t wait to bring you this interview in March!

“…with gloating eyes she drew me to her, and her hot lips travelled along my cheek in kisses; and she would whisper, almost in sobs, “You are mine, you shall be mine, you and I are one for ever.” -Carmilla, J. Sheridan Le Fanu, 1872

If you're a 5 USD patron of Queer as Fact, now is your chance to personally break this tie and singlehandedly choose our upcoming episode topic! Or if you're not, for just $5, this choice could be yours

This person, photographed in 1908, was a sworn virgins or burrnesha – practising a traditional Albanian custom that allows someone assigned female at birth to assume a male gender role by taking a vow of chastity. This tradition has been an accepted part of Albanian culture for centuries.

Long before the word ‘transgender’, 19th-century sexologist Havelock Ellis coined the word ‘Eonism’, using the name of French diplomat and spy Chevalière d'Éon to describe “people who took pleasure in behaving and dressing like the opposite sex”. So, who was d'Éon? #transhistory

“- this creature is animated by a spirit in perpetual motion, always ready to take-leave, to spring into action, which is to say passion, and to leap from one form to the next - ” - French writer Hélène Cixous describing Taiwanese lesbian author Qiu Miaojin

Had an incredible time tonight at this show - Tom Ballard and the amazing cast managed to capture the muddy history, egos, camp fabulousness, and moments of sincerity that made up the Gay and Lesbian Kingdom. Definitely recommend if you're in Melbourne! www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/eve...

Dr James Barry (left) was a trans Irishman born in the late 1700s. He was one of the 1st Europeans in Africa to perform a Caesarean where both mother and baby lived. The baby was named after him. James is pictured here with an unknown man, possibly John, who worked as his servant for many years.

In Feb 2017, Australian senator Eric Abetz complained about a rainbow flag flown in the Department of Finance, saying: “…this particular flag is the flag of the Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands, which has declared war on Australia. … It is the flag of a hostile nation…” (1/3)

Queer writer Oscar Wilde’s tomb in Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris. Since 2011 the tomb has been surrounded by perspex, to protect it from being eroded by the thousands of kisses left on the stone by admirers. Have you kissed Oscar’s tomb? #queerhistory #oscarwilde #gayhistory

I am reliably informed that this episode mentions my article exploring transmasculine readings of Cú Chulainn! Listeners might also be interested in my recent article looking queerly at Cú Chulainn's relationships with Fer Diad, Láeg and Emer: journal.fi/scf/article/...

Today's episode is on the Irish mythological figure Cú Chulainn. Join us to experience tragically poetic anal penetration, some universal themes that have compelled humankind of millennia, and the two coolest cows in the universe. queerasfact.podbean.com/e/cu-chulainn/

This 1st-century BCE grave relief shows two women, Fonteia Eleusis and Fonteia Helena, clasping their right hands - a Roman symbol of marriage. It was one of the few real-world examples of female-female relationships I was able to find researching our podcast on women in ancient Rome. #queerhistory

Settling in for a nice evening of finding out why quiche is gay... #queerhistory

By now we all know about 19th-century lesbian Anne Lister's coded diaries but what about of Hildegard of Bingen? A 12th century nun, Hildegard (also likely queer), invented Litterae Ignotae, her very own alphabet designed for writing in her own constructed language, Lingua Ignota.

Happy birthday Sherlock Holmes! Although not mentioned by Conan Doyle, 6 Jan is traditionally celebrated as Holmes' birthday. At Holmes' birthday party in 1941 that Rex Stout made a speech titled 'Watson Was a Woman', arguing that the only way to understand Holmes and Watson was as husband and wife.

Black lesbian writer and activist Audre Lorde (right) and her partner and fellow activist Gloria Joseph. Audre and Gloria lived together in Gloria’s home of St Croix in the Carribean until Audre’s death in 1992. The last thing Audre wrote was a note reading “Gloria, I love you.” #queerhistory

Happy birthday to jazz-age heiress Henrietta Bingham, born #onthisday in 1901! Henrietta's lovers included the artist Carrington, who painted this nude portrait of her. Check out our podcast to hear more about her! queerasfact.podbean.com/e/henrietta-... #bisexualhistory

Today we're discussing the 1988 Korean intersex lesbian film Sa Bangji! Join us as we learn about the historical events behind the film, discover how government policy inadvertently led to the creation of a queer movie, and admire some historical hats. queerasfact.podbean.com/e/sa-bangji-...

We have a new episode! Today we're talking about the ancient Italian ice-mummy known as Ötzi the Iceman. Join us to learn about the world's oldest pants, the ethics of archaeology, and and whether there really was sperm in Ötzi's anus. queerasfact.podbean.com/e/otzi-the-i...

NEW EPISODE! This time we're discussing Maryam Touzani's 2022 drama film, The Blue Caftan. Join us for a discussion of queerness in Morocco, the "ostentatious nudity" of the bathhouse, and resolving the tension between differing modes of love with grace and deep affection.

We had a lovely time last week visiting the Vic Pride Centre - picked up a bunch of queer books (possible future podcast episodes?) and also saw an exhibition by the artist Andrew Goodman, exploring worlds with different modes of gender, sexuality and reproduction, and inspired by Ursula K Le Guin!

#OnThisDay in 1978, Harvey Milk, one of the USA’s first openly gay politicians, was assassinated by one of his fellow San Francisco Supervisors, who opposed his policies fighting for gay rights.

Today is #IntersexDayofRemembrance - and this is the Italian-British intersex sculptor, Fiore de Henriquez... (1/6)

We're taking a break from podcasting over November so we want to hear from you! What queer books are you enjoying at the moment? Bonus points for queer history!

As we wrap up #AceWeek, I cannot recommend enough that you check out the work of historian @luciellaes.bsky.social. Luciella’s digital exhibition 'Nonlimerent // Monosexual' is an aro-ace history aro-ace from ancient Mesopotamian to the modern day! luciellaes.itch.io/nonlimerent-...

It's been a while, but we are getting on top of replying to the letters we've received in the mail. Thank you all for your wonderful words, artwork and souvenirs! If you want to write to us, you can reach us at PO Box 2240 Brighton Nth, VIC 3186, Australia. We'll do our best to reply!

"It is yin and yang. Light is the left hand of darkness ... Light, dark. Fear, courage. Cold, warmth. Female, male. It is yourself, Therem. Both and one. A shadow on snow." Genly Ai, 'The Left Hand of Darkness' by Ursula K. Le Guin