Feb 20, 2018
In this episode, your hosts Leigh & Gretchen take a stroll down Jungle Alley and bring you stories of the vibrant black lesbian and gay subculture of the Harlem Renaissance and the blues legends who sang of its glory. With wild parties, bathtub gin, clandestine orgies, and crooning bulldaggers, the lesbian and bisexual blues legends of the 1920s and 1930s were definitely not as straight as you think.
Outline
0:00 –
Introduction
3:46
– The Harlem Renaissance, Cultural Context, and the Language We
Used
10:42 – Bio Time!: Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, Bessie
Smith, Gladys Bentley, Ethel Waters (& Ethel Williams), Alberta
Hunter, & Lucille Bogan
39:13 – What Do You Mean
They're Not Straight?
39:28 – Evidence from
Historical/Cultural Context: Queer subculture & performance in
Harlem nightlife
44:06 – Word(s) of the Week: Rent
Party & Buffet Flat
48:56 – Evidence from Their Personal Lives & Music
1:04:41 – Pop Culture Tie-In: Bessie (2015)
1:05:29 – Takeaways
1:07:55 – How Gay Were They?
1:08:31 – Closing and Where to Find Us Online
Find our full list of sources and bonus content at www.historyisgaypodcast.com. Get at us on twitter @historyisgaypod, tumblr at historyisgaypodcast, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts! Don't forget to rate and review so more folks can see the show!