Rewind: I'm gay, and this is how I overcame my homophobia
First produced and published in 2018, in the British Podcast Awards nominated Season Two of QueerAF - Support our workAfter Sean Allsop produced this episode, one of his first paid documentary audio commissions, heβs gone on to have an illustrious career making documentaries for the BBC, The World Service, Virgin Radio, Absolute Radio: And a vast number of them about the LGBTQIA+ community. Seanβs brought the history of Section 28, The Legacy of Terrance Higgins and investigations into Polandβs LGBT free zones onto National radio. All, in part, because we were able to give him one of his first portfolio pieces, as well as the training and mentoring on how to do queer stories justice. Thatβs what weβre up to here, supporting queer creatives to build media careers so they can change the media - all to change the country.https://www.wearequeeraf.com/membership/Sean suffered from internalised homophobia. He is perfectly OK with his sexuality, but kept asking himself why the LGBTQIA+ community has to be 'so queer.' At the time of recording, Sean Allsop was a recent radio graduate and set out to find if it's possible to overcome your shame of being gay β and learns why he has, until now, projected his own homophobia onto others.With thanks to Matthew Todd, author of Straight Jacket. To therapist Stephen Hanscomb, and also Switchboard. If you ever want to call them, you can call 10am-10pm every day on 0300 330 0630 or 0800 0119100Sign up as a QueerAF member to listen along ad-free and support our not-for-profit work, investing in a new generation of queer audio professionals:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/membership/If you like our podcast, you'll love our free weekly newsletter that thousands of readers use to understand the LGBTQIA+ π³οΈβπ headlines, learn new perspectives and stay on top of the latest queer content. Try it now:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/subscribe/Make sure to sign up for updates about Trans+ History Week, a QueerAF launchpad project:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/transhistoryweek/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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How homos can reckon with the history we were never told
Back on our feeds, the collaboration you've missed since 2020. We've loved collaborating with Historical Homos again, who have launched a podcast since we last worked with them to mark the 50th anniversary of Stonewall. In this episode, we bring you an introductory package, before handing the reigns over to Sebastian Hendra, for the usual Historical Homos format in this collab episode of the QueerAF podcast!Episode Credits: Hosted by Sebastian Hendra, with intro package produced by Jamie Wareham and interview section edited by Alex Toskas. Thanks to guests Kit Heyam and Marty Davies (Photo: Ciaran Christopher). A QueerAF and Historical Homos Production. Historical Homos is on Instagram, and you can listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Sign up as a QueerAF member to listen along ad-free and support our not-for-profit work, investing in a new generation of queer audio professionals:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/membership/If you like our podcast, you'll love our free weekly newsletter that thousands of readers use to understand the LGBTQIA+ π³οΈβπ headlines, learn new perspectives and stay on top of the latest queer content. Try it now:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/subscribe/Make sure to sign up for updates about Trans+ History Week, a QueerAF launchpad project:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/transhistoryweek/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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How do we tell Trans+ history, so we can all learn from it?
This week weβre sharing the conversation we recorded at the Trans+ History Week community event 2025, with the theme: How do we tell our history,so we can all learn from it?It might have taken place back in May but, well lets face it even before this yearβs Trans+ History Week, which is held in the first full week in May each year - the UKβs Supreme Court decision on the definition of a woman in the Equality Act has changed the context, urgency and climate for Trans+ and queer rights. The recording followed on directly from the first episode of the season, our live podcast recording with guest host Anthony Lexa from Sex Education and special guest Abigail Thorn, of Philosophy Tube and Game of Thrones fame.To celebrate the second year of creatives weβve mentored for Trans+ History Week, we brought together one of last years, podcasters Alex Parnham Cope, one of this yearβs history writers Nisreen Fox, and the legal researcher who was the only Trans+ journalist commissioned in the UK media to write about the Supreme Court ruling itself during the week, Jess O'Thomson: And yes, that was by us - here on QueerAF. The discussion is hosted by Jamie Wareham.So let's tuck in, and uncover how we can use history, and the lessons from our past, to march forward, and win the fight ahead.Sign up as a QueerAF member to listen along ad-free and support our not-for-profit work, investing in a new generation of queer audio professionals:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/membership/If you like our podcast, you'll love our free weekly newsletter that thousands of readers use to understand the LGBTQIA+ π³οΈβπ headlines, learn new perspectives and stay on top of the latest queer content. Try it now:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/subscribe/Make sure to sign up for updates about Trans+ History Week, a QueerAF launchpad project:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/transhistoryweek/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The Ballrooms from India to Wales getting tens across the board
βBallroom is liberation, it's queer history, it's trans history, it's power, it's fashion, it's sex, it's dance, it's music, it's love, it's hate, it's everything that you need in order to survive as a queer person in this world, especially as a queer person of colour.βYou may know ballroom from the legendary show βPoseβ or βParis is Burningβ but this beautiful home curated for and by queer icons is becoming a worldwide community, with queer communities of colour, finding safety and unity in these spaces.Thereβs nothing more queer than doing something because no-one else will. That is the story off Ballroom - from itβs New York blossoming, to as Anthony Pius will take us through in this episode of the QueerAF podcast with Trans+ History Week - itβs flourishing international growth from India to Wales.Episode Credits: Produced by Anthony Pius. Executive production and mastering by Jamie Wareham. A QueerAF Production. Made with support from Publicis Groupe UK. Thanks to guests Muz Ramzan, Alia Ramna, KRISH, Voguing In India Sign up as a QueerAF member to listen along ad-free and support our not-for-profit work, investing in a new generation of queer audio professionals:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/membership/If you like our podcast, you'll love our free weekly newsletter that thousands of readers use to understand the LGBTQIA+ π³οΈβπ headlines, learn new perspectives and stay on top of the latest queer content. Try it now:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/subscribe/Make sure to sign up for updates about Trans+ History Week, a QueerAF launchpad project:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/transhistoryweek/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The tension of the handkerchief - do you feel it too?
CW: This episode contains themes of a sexual nature, including references to kinkWho do you think you are? A universal tension exists in an acute way for trans people, our dependency on other people for recognition, part of how identity works is laid bare in the struggle for trans liberation.Perhaps not better explained by examinig not just any simple piece of cloth, but the very queer and Trans+ history of the handkerchief.Thereβs the hanky code (or flagging). There are historical examples (some fictional, others not): phallic handkerchiefs, morality judgments intertwined with the hanky, hankies as tokens passed from lover to lover, and handkerchiefs worn around the neck. But they all rely upon the handkerchief to be read β to be perceived in a certain way. They rely upon dependency.In this week's QueerAF podcast with Trans+ History Week, Ted Tinkler explores the ontology of the handkerchief and what it tells us about the power dynamics of dependency and intimacy - and what that tells us about being Trans+.Episode Credits: Produced by Ted Tinkler. Executive production and mastering by Jamie Wareham. A QueerAF Production. Made with support from Publicis Groupe UK.Thanks yous from Ted: A huge thanks to Olivia Warren, Kylo Thomas, Raul Cornier, Del laGrace Volcano, Hal Fischer, and Nat Reeve for their generosity and time during our conversations. The brilliant song used at different points in the show is βSummertime, Free Palestineβ by Gay Skeleton Club.Sign up as a QueerAF member to listen along ad-free and support our not-for-profit work, investing in a new generation of queer audio professionals:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/membership/If you like our podcast, you'll love our free weekly newsletter that thousands of readers use to understand the LGBTQIA+ π³οΈβπ headlines, learn new perspectives and stay on top of the latest queer content. Try it now:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/subscribe/Make sure to sign up for updates about Trans+ History Week, a QueerAF launchpad project:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/transhistoryweek/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
About QueerAF | Inspiring LGBTQIA+ stories told by emerging queer creatives
QueerAF is the award-winning (more than a) podcast with beyond-the-binary stories about queerness, history, sexuality, gender and identity from the UK's only press-regulated not-for-profit LGBTQIA+ publisher with a new episode out every Monday this Pride season. QueerAF helps you understand the LGBTQIA+ world and support queer creatives to change the media. All our shows are created by a different budding LGBTQIA+ audio producer who we mentor and support to create an inspiring queer story. As well as a mix of mini-documentaries and limited series, look out for our live podcast specials, with celebrities, activists and inspiring speakers.The podcast, with its roots and first four seasons in collaboration with National Student Pride, and later seasons with Trans+ History Week gives young queer creatives a crucial leg up on the career ladder. For many, it is their first paid audio commission. Our alumni have gone on to work at some of the UK's biggest media outlets including the BBC, PinkNews and Gaydio.British Podcast Awards 'Moment Of The Year' winner (Bronze)Four British Podcast Awards nominationsARIAS 2021 'Impact Award' shortlistedDownload and take the UK's best LGBTQIA+ inspiring stories podcast with you. Get the show in all the places podcasts exist.https://www.wearequeeraf.com/podcast/Or sign up as a QueerAF member to listen along ad-free:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/membership/If you like our podcast, you'll love our free weekly newsletter that thousands of readers use to understand the LGBTQIA+ π³οΈβπ headlines, learn new perspectives and stay on top of the latest queer content. Try it now:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/subscribe/Make sure to sign up for updates about Trans+ History Week, a QueerAF launchpad project:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/transhistoryweek/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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