Making Gay History | LGBTQ Oral Histories from the Archive - Podcast Rankings and reviews

Eric Marcus has been one of my guides since the 90s. Hearing the voices of our forefolx, in conjunction with the carefulness and kindness put forth in the creation and editing of this podcast, is unmatched. If you are LGBTQIA+ and want to truly and authentically know whose shoulders you are standing on… listen to Making Gay History. Thank you for weaving the narratives. Our next gen needs to know.

Wow! What an extraordinary series. 13 seasons, over 100 episodes. When I learned about it, I thought I would just listen to a few, maybe people I had heard of, like Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, Bayard Rustin, Harry Hay, well known gay history makers. And there are plenty of them in the episode guide. But I soon learned that the names I had never heard of were just as interesting, sometimes more interesting to listen to. Edith Eyde is a revelation. She wrote a lesbian zine in 1947 (not a typo, 1947). She also wrote gay parodies of popular songs and original songs, too. This line struck me: “She must wear a mask on her heart And live in a world apart. “ I’m now systematically listening to every episode. They are fairly short, easy to listen to on a morning walk or in the car running errands. One thing that makes these so good is that they are well edited from old tape recordings, starting in 1989. Eric Marcus was in his 30s when he started doing these interviews, and quit his job at CBS to write a book from them (also he had been told a gay person was never going on camera). The production values are excellent, Marcus is a talented interviewer and a good listener. He expertly contextualizes each interview before and after playing the recording. This series is a national treasure, worthy of many listening hours.

I have learned so much from listening to this podcast. As someone as was afraid to come out, if I had heard this earlier I would’ve come out sooner. It’s so very important to know our history as we navigate these perilous times of our country swinging toward Christian nationalism. Hearing how they protested and fought in the past gives me hope that we can protest and fight again now, to keep our freedom and defend those being attacked in our community.

I have written before as I enjoy Making Gay History book (and your other works) and this podcast every week. This is a beautiful tribute to your Mom and to PFLAG Moms and Dads everywhere. I refer to your book frequently as a great resource for our PFLAG support group meetings and as I counsel other parents and families who love those identifying LGBTQ+. Keep up the great work and I look forward to seeing you on TV or online again soon. ❤️🏳️‍🌈🤗
Very Proud PFLAG Mom with Trans son.