41 Best LGBT History Podcasts to Listen to (2026)

Intimate, personal portraits of both known and long-forgotten champions, heroes, and witnesses to history brought to you from rare archival interviews. more

Queer history podcast covering content from around the world and throughout time.

A podcast about evil and complicated queers in history. Why do we remember our heroes better than our villains? Hosted by Huw Lemmey and Ben Miller. Learn more: www.badgayspod.com more

History is Gay is a podcast that examines the underappreciated and overlooked queer ladies, gents, and gentle-enbies that have always been there in the unexplored corners of history. Because history has never been as straight as you think. Follow us on social media! @historyisgaypod on Twitter and Instagram, historyisgaypodcast on Tumblr, and subscribe to us wherever you listen to podcasts! more

We're Tash Walker and Adam Zmith, and EVERY WEEK we get together to talk about history, politics, art and LGBTQ+ life. From us ageing millennials nattering on, to interviews with exciting people doing amazing things, The Log Books contain… the stories of our lives. WINNER of several awards including Best New Podcast (Gold) at the British Podcast Awards 2020. An Aunt Nell Production. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

One From the Vaults, a trans history podcast by Morgan M Page. We bring you all the dirt, gossip, and glamour from trans history! more

Conversations about lesbian bars, sapphic spaces, and beyond! Not sure where to start? You don't have to listen in order! Pick your favorite city, space, or LGBTQ+ icon and dive in. Season 1 follows creators Sarah Gabrielli, Rachel Karp, and Jen McGinity on their 2021 cross-country road trip to every lesbian bar in the U.S., sharing the stories of the humans that run these spaces and the humans that call them a home. Season 2 features 14 more spaces, chronicling the current lesbian bar resurgence AND taking you back in time to lesbian bars of decades past. In Season 3, host Sarah Gabrielli sits down with history-making lesbians and LGBTQ+ folks to discuss all kinds of queer spaces - from bookstores, to farms, to peace encampments and more! New episodes air every other Tuesday. more

The world's only no-fucks-given guide to LGBTQ+ history. Join Bash and his brilliant guests each week as they wrench The Gayest Stories Never Told from history's deepest, darkest closets. Sign up on our website, and follow us on Instagram @historical.homos and TikTok @historicalhomos more

Beers With Queers True Crime Podcast dives deep into chilling true crime stories through a queer lens, uncovering forgotten cases, queer history, and systemic injustice that mainstream narratives often ignore. Hosted by Jordi and Brad, this LGBTQIA+ true crime podcast explores serial killers, cold cases, hate-fueled violence, gay history, under-reported cases and bizarre mysteries tied to queer experience, blending compelling storytelling, historical insight, and unapologetically queer commentary. Whether you're here for the haunting cases, the historical context, or the community-focused perspective, Beers With Queers invites listeners to grab a drink, press play, and discover the dark corners of queer history one episode at a time. Tune in weekly for deep dives into cases directly involving the LGBT community, with a powerful a perspective on true crime you won't find anywhere else. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Voted 'Best of 2025' by Apple Podcasts. Shane Daniel Byrne celebrates 10 years of marriage equality, taking listeners on an emotional journey exploring the decades-long fight for LGBT+ marriage. From the deeply personal stories of queer activism and resistance, he explores the cultural shifts that eventually made the historic 2015 referendum possible. The series includes live standup from Shane's sell-out run at Vicar Street in Dublin, as he revisits a time that transformed Ireland completely. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Digging into The LGTBQ History Project's vast interview archive, we portray the individuals who led from the frontlines, worked behind the scenes, and demonstrated resilience in their fight for civil rights. We seek to empower activists to vocalize their experiences in unfiltered narratives—a mission that remains singular. We are all about global recognition, preservation, and homage to often marginalized legacies. The QueerCore Podcast underscores the pressing need to uphold historical preservation and acknowledge narratives that might otherwise fade into oblivion. more

Drew and Sarah are college friends who share a love of pop culture from 80s music, old Hollywood movies, iconic closeted characters, and campy TV shows.  Countless LGBTQ+ stories remain hidden in history, but deserve to be in the spotlight. Drew and Sarah explore the memorable and the not-so-well-known LGBTQ+ people that influenced both their lives and society. Peppered in every story are their hot takes and sass. Listen in, learn, and laugh along as they humorously and affectionately tell the life stories of the many gays of our lives. more

Season-2 tells the The True Story of Canada's LGBT Purge in a landmark eight part documentary series. It's the first documentary to share the full extent of Canada's anti-homosexual campaigns from WW1 to today, based on our research of thousands of pages of newly declassified documents released through the LGBT Purge class-action settlement. From ridiculous to shocking, you'll hear amazing true stories from courageous survivors; academics; researchers; former MPs, cabinet ministers and a retired Chief of Defence Staff. We even uncovered a 1960s Purge mystery that led all the way to Rideau Hall - and we have the exclusive interview! | BONUS CONTENT: https://lgbtpurge.ca/ Season 2 is supported in part by a community grant from The LGBT Purge Fund. Thank you!! ------- Season-1 of Queer Legends is the 2023 Canadian Podcast Awards winner of Outstanding Documentary series. Our first season is about the people who built the rainbow, created space and held their own! Discover the artists, activists, performers, politicians and pivotal moments that shaped Queer history and how the 2SLGBTQ+ community protests today. Host/Producer: Shawn Dearn Executive Producer: Ian Capstick more

Unboxing Queer History is a podcast from Gerber/Hart Library and Archives, one of the largest LGBTQ libraries & archives in the world. Each episode in Unboxing Queer History focuses on a different story from inside Gerber/Hart's collections and archives. The episodes range from discussions of the importance of collecting LGBTQ+ erotica to Chicago lesbian bar history and include interviews with community leaders, volunteers, researchers, and local historians. SEASON TWO of Unboxing Queer History was co-created by Erin Bell and Jen Dentel; produced by Akaelah Flotho, Anna Mason, Quinn Rose, Hannah Viti, and Chijioke Williams; and edited by Bill Healy and Mara Lazer. Artwork by Mere Montgomery and Music by Mara Lazer. Major funding for Season Two of Unboxing Queer History is provided by the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, with additional meaningful funding from supporters of Gerber/Hart. SEASON ONE of Unboxing Queer History was created by Ari Mejia, Jen Dentel, and Erin Bell. Produced by Ari Mejia with Hannah Viti. Artwork by Mere Montgomery & theme music by Danny Robles. Episode on People Like Us Books was co-written by Jules Gordon and episode on Lorrainne Sade Baskerville was co-produced by Alyssa Edes. Season One was funded by a 'My Library Is... ' grant from RAILS (Reaching Across Illinois Library System) more

Every week, Kris Fitzgerald digs into the archives of LGBTQ+ history to uncover the moments, people, and movements that shaped queer life and culture. From landmark legal victories to unsung heroes, from underground parties to mass protests - This Week in Queer History celebrates the agency, resilience, and brilliance of queer communities across time. History isn't just what happened. It's who we are.  Watch the video versions on YouTube: youtube.com/@thisweekinqueerhistory Join our community: thisweekinqueerhistory.circle.so more

Come for the history; stay for the revolution, gossip, and desire that built it. 🤌 About Us :: Decade by decade , Our Dyke Histories dives deep into the living, breathing past and present of lesbian, queer, bisexual, trans, & nonbinary communities. Each season traces how we made space for ourselves—sometimes in bars, bookstores, and protests; sometimes in basements, alleyways, and prisons; & always against the odds. Host :: Our Dyke Histories is hosted by historian, geographer, and environmental psychologist Dr. Jack Jen Gieseking , and produced in collaboration with Sinister Wisdom , the oldest lesbian multicultural literary and art journal. Season One :: Our first season traces the history of dyke bars* - yes, with an asterisk - including lesbian bars, queer parties, & trans hangouts . Before Pride marches and hashtags , there were bars, parties, and whispered invitations that built whole worlds. Our Dyke Histories uncovers the stories of the women, trans, and nonbinary people who turned repression into resistance and nightlife into liberation. Join Our Community :: Want to be part of our community? We'd love to have you. 😏 Come comment, connect, and get your gayme on! Newsletter to your inbox: Jack's Queer Geographies newsletter with detailed takes on each episode, & more about lezbiqueertrans spaces across time Instagram for more dyke visuals and stories @ourdykehistories Read and follow our co-producer and collaborator, Sinister Wisdom Email us at ****@gmail.com Donate :: Subscribe and/or donate to the fabulous, in-print Sinister Wisdom , a multicultural lesbian literary & art journal founded in 1976. Sinister Wisdom recognizes the power of language and art to create radical, empowering, resilient, and joyous sanctuaries that build and sustain vibrant lesbian futures. What Does Our Tarot Reading Say about What's Next? :: In future seasons , we will move decade by decade through other defining places, objects, and ideas in lesbian, bi, queer, and trans history—mapping the worlds we've made and the futures we're still imagining. Funny and fierce, sexy and smart, and full of dyke spirit, this podcast isn't nostalgia—it's a survival guide disguised as a love letter. more

A show about queer women in history and historic literature, plus coverage of the field of sapphic historical fiction. Content note: May include discussions of sex within an academic context. more

Queering the Lone Star State explores the history of the movement for queer equality in Texas. In this first season, we will look at nine Texas legal cases that expanded the rights of LGBTQ Americans. Join us as we talk to activists, attorneys, journalists, legal experts, and historians who help us understand where the struggle for queer rights has been, where it is now, and where it's going. Queering the Lone Star State is made possible in part by a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. more

This podcast is a channel on the New Books Network. The New Books Network is an academic audio library dedicated to public education. In each episode you will hear scholars discuss their recently published research with another expert in their field. Discover our 150+ channels and browse our 28,000+ episodes on our website: newbooksnetwork.com Subscribe to our free weekly Substack newsletter to get informative, engaging content straight to your inbox: https://newbooksnetwork.substack.com/ Follow us on Instagram and Bluesky to learn about more our latest interviews: @newbooksnetwork Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/lgbtq-studies more

For anyone who wants to learn some fascinating and empowering LGBTQ history, this is your podcast! Our host, Kathleen Barker, will take you on a 'deep dives and backstories' journey from colonial America to the 21st century, unpacking stories that would have made your history class a lot more interesting! more

Welcome to The Gayest Generation, where we hear LGBTQ elders speak for themselves. Every episode, we sit down with a different member of the LGBTQ community who laid the foundation for the freedoms we have today. Their stories make noise where silence has lived for far too long. It is time we fill the room with the voices of what may be The Gayest Generation. more

Queering the District Podcast explores the role, history, and stories 'third places' have held across time for the Queer community in Washington, D.C. Join us as we journey as far back as the 19th century and make our way back to the present day to see how various types of Queer 'third places,' such as bars, parks, houses, and more, have evolved over time.Each season will focus on one 'type' of 'third place,' with season one focused on bars. You'll hear from Queer elders, academic experts, and even that one drunk friend leaving a voicemail in their favorite bar as they share the stories of Queer folks who have and continue to gather in defiance, solidarity, and celebration across the District.Learn more at queeringthedistrictpodcast.com. more

Incoming broadcast! Join two best friends as they broadcast across time and space and explore LGBTQ history. From profiling groundbreaking figures, pivotal moments, key locations, and technological advances in trans and queer history, Dot Femme is a deep dive into our queer past to learn the lessons and messages our elders left for us. Smart, sharp, and unapologetically bold—this is the podcast where history meets identity and resistance fuels innovation. more

A podcast by Stuart Merrill: LGBTQ+ rights activist, lobbyist, historian, and survivor. I Woke Up This Gay is a firsthand journey through LGBTQ+ history—the history they never taught you—and the stories of heroes they want you to forget. These are stories from someone who knew, loved, and witnessed many of them change the world. The journey begins with 'Russia Doesn't Have Gay Heroes,' the story of Kostya, Stuart's boyfriend, a hero of the 1991 revolution that brought down Soviet communism. Two days after that victory, he was assasinated by the new government he help establish—a victim of a society unwilling to accept a gay hero. Born into a prominent Mormon family, Stuart Merrill survived anti-gay violence, came out during the height of the AIDS epidemic, worked for U.S. intelligence agencies in the Soviet Union, East and West Germany, was the first American in history allowed to keep his top secret security clearance after coming out as gay, lived and worked openly as a gay man in six countries, and later became an LGBTQ+ rights advocate and lobbyist.. Through personal stories, interviews, history, and hard-won lessons, Stuart explores the people, events, victories, and tragedies that shaped modern queer life. From the AIDS crisis and the fight for equality to surviving religious extremism, political activism, and the collapse of the Soviet Union, these are stories of resilience, courage, loss, and hope. As anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and legislation rise once again, preserving our history has never been more important. The best way to fight hatred is to tell our stories. My name is Stuart Merrill. 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'Voice of the Turtle' is a podcast from the Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists (AWAB), produced in partnership with Good Faith Media. The year 2026 brings some uncertainty for our LGBTQ+ family ... but we've been here before. Across eight episodes, we're going to burrow our way through some of our history and talk to the people who made it ... and are still making it. 'Voice of the Turtle' was the name of an LGBTQ+ newsletter produced by Baptists in the late '70s and into the early '80s. Voice of the Turtle's motto was: 'Behold the Turtle: It Makes Progress Only When it Sticks Out Its Neck.' The podcast will honor the lives of those who courageously stuck out their neck, whether as an ally to or member of the LGBTQ+ community. more

Hosted by LGBTQ+ activist and world-renowned entertainer Miss Peppermint, alongside celebrated queer historian and author Hugh Ryan, this podcast is your weekly deep dive into the untold stories, pivotal moments, and extraordinary individuals who shaped LGBTQ+ history. Each episode, Pep and Hugh unravel the struggles, celebrate the triumphs, and explore the cultural revolutions that have defined queer identities throughout time. With heart, humor, and a dash of glamor, they guide you through centuries of rich, vibrant LGBTQ+ legacy. Whether you're here to honor the past, better understand the present, or ignite change for the future, Queer 101 is your direct line to the stories that matter most. more

Historians David Sessions and Blake Smith gossip about the gay life of the past and the gay discourses of the present. more

People's stories recorded from the Oral History Collection of the Civil Rights Heritage Center at the Indiana University South Bend Archives. Telling the history of the civil rights movement and the experiences of Black, Latinx, LGBTQ, and other marginalized peoples in South Bend, Indiana. For more, visit crhc.iusb.edu. more

This is Forgotten Queers, a show about the queer figures history pushed aside. They were once stars, leaders, icons — but time, shame, and prejudice buried their names. We're here to remember them, to honor them, and to say: you don't get to forget us. Cover art photo provided by Alexander Grey on Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/ @sharonmccutcheon?utm_source=spreaker&utm_medium=referral Cover art photo provided by Shannia Christanty on Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/ @shanniacy?utm_source=spreaker&utm_medium=referral Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/forgotten-queers--6719466/support . more

Megan and Thomas are two middle-aged, self-identified queer people. In each episode, they delve into historical events and people who are part of queer history, as well as take a look at aging in the LGBTQIA+ community more

LGBTQIA+ Heritage. Personal stories from across Northern Ireland from members of our fabulous community

Kickass Queers explores the lives and achievements of notable LGBTQ+ individuals throughout history. The show delves into the fascinating and often underrepresented stories of queer trailblazers, offering a mix of humor, emotion, and insightful commentary on their contributions to society.Each episode focuses on a different figure or topic. Co-host Larry Womack is a journalist with a diverse publication history, and Rachel Stuart is a Communication Studies academic focusing on Critical Intercultural Communication and LGBTQ+ identities online. Together, they bring both academic insight and engaging storytelling to the podcast​. more

 Sharing LGBTQ history that is accessible and entertaining! 

They tried to write us out of the story. We're here to set the record straight—and gloriously queer. Join activist Pepe Onziema as Uganda's LGBT+ trailblazers spill the tea on decades of resistance, resilience, and refusing to disappear. From heartbreak to hope, these are the unfiltered stories of people who dared to live out loud when the world demanded silence.This is history with a pulse, told by those who made it and are still making it. Expect tears, laughter, rage, joy, and the kind of fierce love that changes everything.Because the future isn't waiting for permission and neither are we more

Welcome to Making the Case with Lambda Legal! For 50 years, Lambda Legal has worked to address the highest priority needs for members of the LGBTQ+ community and those living with HIV. Join us as we discuss the creative strategies, unique challenges, and passion necessary to win some of the most significant cases for the LGBTQ+ community and people living with HIV, and be inspired by the stories and experiences of some of this movements most iconic change makers. more

In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the Revolution, join Queer History Boston to explore the stories of LGBTQ+ Bostonians who have fought for their right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This podcast is produced with the support of Mass Humanities. more

Semua Kita - 'all of us' - is a podcast featuring oral histories of the LGBTQ community in Singapore, from the 1980s until decriminalization in 2022. If you're interested in stories of queer activism in the Lion City, then you are in the right place. Learn about the time before the repeal of Section 377A, of the social groups that existed before Pink Dot, and of the in-person and on-line spaces which led to the formation of a Singaporean queer community. Listen to what challenges they faced, and how they overcame them, in the voices of the people who were there. more

Our Queer History explores the people, moments, and stories that shaped LGBTQ+ history across the world. Hosted by Lentil Pulse, the podcast uncovers both well-known and overlooked chapters of queer history; from remarkable individuals and cultural milestones to moments of resistance, tragedy, and celebration.Through storytelling and historical insight, Our Queer History brings the past into the present, reminding us that queer people have always been here. more

Join Claire, with help from Reeling in the Queers author Paraic Kerrigan, on a 5-part journey across the decades of Irish queer history, and the queer cinema culture that grew up alongside it. more

The Trans* Lesson Plan is a podcast that explores the rich and complex history of transgender individuals, their experiences, and share additional trans* education. From ancient cultures to modern day, we delve into the ways in which gender identity has been understood and expressed throughout history. Join us as we deepen our understanding and appreciation of transgender history and education. Welcome to the Trans* Lesson Plan!All donations go to fundraising To Better Understand, Inc., a Black Trans-Owned Educational Non-Profit Organization.@translessonplan@mariiiwrld@amarispeaks more

lavender noun /ˈ læv.ən.dər / A symbolic colour associated with LGBTQ2S+ identity, queer culture, and queer resistance. ranks noun / ræŋks / The members of a military force considered collectively. When you picture the First World War, you probably think of barbed wire, artillery fire, and mud. What you probably don't think of: drag shows, love letters passed between soldiers, and queer lives hiding in plain sight. Hosted by Queer Collective's Emily and Karbon, Lavender Ranks explores the stories that didn't make it into the official record because they were too tender, too queer, or too dangerous to preserve. From Canadian soldiers performing in drag at the front, to forbidden love in the trenches, to nurses whose lifelong relationship was dismissed as mere 'friendship,' the series uncovers a hidden history buried beneath the mythology of war. If you're interested in queer history, Canadian history, the First World War, or military history, follow Lavender Ranks now and discover the stories history tried to leave behind. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more