QueerAF | Inspiring LGBTQIA+ stories told by emerging queer creatives

We live in an era where algorithms are filtering queer and Trans+ stories, and worse - where whole archives of LGBTQIA+ content are being deleted. Ahead of us may be worse, active rhetoric and regimes that seek to erase us in public life too. How do we fight back, in small ways, by saving Trans+ stories now, for future generations? Historian Dr Rebecca Jane Morgan, director of Trans+ Solidarity Alliance and QueerAF alumni Alex Parmar-Yee and historian drag artist HRH Aphrodite I join guest host, and QueerAF podcast alumni Ki Griffin in this live episode at the Trans+ History Week community event 2026.Learn more about how easily LGBTQIA+ history can be deleted in the cautionary tale of Geocities - a gay founded early internet business.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+ 🏳️‍🌈 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.

There perhaps isn’t a more British way, to say - gender is a construct - than with Shakespeare is there?So put aside your stack of sonnets, go stick on the kettle, brew a cuppa, and let Shevek Imogen Fodor tell you about the gender foolery that took place in Shakespearean England and ignited and already ember burning flame of gender diversity on stage in the UK's most hallowed theatre institutions.If we acknowledge that gender was performed, messed with and expanded on stage then we can find a glimpse of positive non-binary, genderqueer, genderfluid ways of existing in the past. That's what we'll explore in another episode with Trans+ History Week of the QueerAF podcast.Episode Credits: Produced by Shevek Imogen Fodor. Opening monologue performed by Aryn Jae (they/them). Executive production and mastering by Jamie Wareham. A QueerAF Production. Made with support from Publicis Groupe UK.From Shevek:"Additional thanks to: Dr Will Tosh (he/him); Emma (they/them); Sarah Li (she/they); Stan Doubt (he/him); Vick the Prick (say what you see); Veggie Stripper (he/they); Mack (they/he); and Darkwah (they/them).Thanks to all of the lovely members of the DGA Collective who helped me feel so at home rediscovering drag performance in the North East, sharing all of their experiences of queer discovery and self-acceptance to inspire my thinking for this project. Find out more about Edward's Boys here. Find out more about the history of male impersonation and principal boys with the virtual exhibition of Opening the Closet Doors, the project Sarah did with the Darlington Hippodrome. All of my knowledge and fascination with Shakespeare is a direct result of my parents - I'm indebted to them and to my queer extended found family for encouraging, supporting and inspiring me always (and especially while making this)."Music:“Enlightened”; “Pondering”; “It Doesn’t Have to End”; “Timeless Master” -  Medieval Lofi - licensed under a CCSA4.0. Vintage Piano - Piano_Music (Pixabay)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+ 🏳️‍🌈 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.

Abigail Thorn is currently filming a new role as a trans femme action star, she revealed at the Trans+ History Week community event on a live recording of the QueerAF podcast. The actor, who is known for her roles in the Game Of Thrones (House Of The Dragon, Sharako Lohar) and Star Wars (The Acolyte, Ensign Eurus) universes, said: “I can't say what it is, but I am about to start filming a big action thing this summer. I'm having boxing lessons and sword fighting lessons like three times a week and like learning to dive across things.” Although there has been a transgender superhero before, notably Dreamer, played by Nicole Maines in the CW series Supergirl - Thorn says this is the first time a trans femme person has been cast as an action star in a production of this kind. “I said to the producers when I got it, was like, thank you for giving me this. Because they didn't write it with a trans woman in mind, they just wrote it. And I said to the producers, thank you for giving me this because the idea that a trans woman can be an action star has not yet occurred to anyone outside of this project. And when it does, it's going to blow their minds.”Check out the full interview with special guest Abigail Thorn and guest host Anthony Lexa out now.And if you missed last year's interview with Anthony Lexa and co-star Felix Mufti, listen back here. Episode Credits: Hosted by Anthony Lexa. Produced by Jamie Wareham. Recording production by Tyrone Lewis. A QueerAF Production. Made with support from Publicis Groupe UK.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+ 🏳️‍🌈 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.

To celebrate 20 years of National Student Pride - in 2025, we were back on stage as a media sponsor, for a special live recording for a panel about disability and healthcare in the queer community. It was particularly special because the last time we covered the topic in this way, it was also at Student Pride - check back for the Access All Rainbows episode in season four for that. National Student Pride is an incredible event, and as well as giving QueerAF an incredible launchpad - it's been helping students get graduate jobs, and driving critical conversations in our community, and to mark 20 years of it this year is quite something. The panel is hosted by @char_bailey_, with guests:💜 @iamsteffilynn💙 @jessicaoutofthecloset💚 @_ali.bromley💛 @hausofasadSign 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+ 🏳️‍🌈 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.

Rehangs at art museums are rare. The last one at Tate Britain was in 2012. Whilst galleries will make small changes to their on-display collections, these are small, only happen every few months and usually happen for specific reasons (such as an item going on loan to another gallery).But each rehang gives an art gallery to make a statement on what its mission as an institution is. A statement that visitors will likely see for ten or more years. So it's a big deal that Tate Britain and the National Gallery both increased the amount of LGBTQIA+ representation in their recent rehangs. This week's producer, Mills Dyer explores some key Trans+ history they reveal, with guests:Abi Penton – A Tate tour guide and expert on GluckCas Bradbeer - A queer historian and V&A Tour guideProf Matt Cook – Professor of Queer History at Oxford UniversityView the art discussed in today's show:Flora’s Cloak c.1923, GluckChevalier d'Eon by Thomas Stewart, after Jean-Laurent MosnierPrints of Chevalier d’Eon at the National Portrait GalleryRead more stories from Trans+ History Week:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/transhistoryweek/Here is the article we recommended:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/the-jewish-transgender-couple-who-fell-in-love-and-escaped-the-nazis/Watch the Transcending Words poetry night:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tmbn900ekPM Plus, be sure to sign up for our newsletter to understand the LGBTQIA+ news every Saturday:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/subscribe/This episode is made possible with the support of Publicis Groupe UK.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+ 🏳️‍🌈 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.

After a busy Pride month at QueerAF HQ - a rewind episode, while we prepare the final few episodes of an already stunning set of stories from emerging and marginalised LGBTQIA+ audio producers. This Week Rosa Eaton ponders: Do they need to get a queer haircut to feel part of the community? In their university town of Bristol they meet the towns local queer hairdresser who has been helping trans, non-binary and LGBT+ people feel more at home with the identity they want to show to the world. And despite Rosa’s love for long, femme hair, they wonder after seeing so many people get empowered by having the chop – whether to have a 'queer haircut' too. Something, by the end of this episode Rosa resolves – for better or worse. Looking for more QueerAF content? Read more stories from Trans+ History Week:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/transhistoryweek/Watch the Transcending Words poetry night on our YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tmbn900ekPM Plus, be sure to sign up for our newsletter to understand the LGBTQIA+ news every Saturday:https://www.wearequeeraf.com/subscribe/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+ 🏳️‍🌈 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.