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Queer 101
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.
Episodes
31 episodes
How ’90s NYC Queer Nightlife Changed Pop Culture Forever
Okayyyy y’all Pride season is officially ON — and we are starting with a Queer 101 deep dive into the ICONIC ’90s downtown New York City queer nightlife scene that literally shaped mainstream culture.Yes. I said literally.<...
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They’re Redefining “Biological Truth.” Here’s Why It’s Dangerous.
This week on Queer 101, Hugh the Historian and I are back — and whew. It’s been a heavy one.We’re breaking down a wave of anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ legislation, including Louisiana’s so‑called “Restoring Biological T...
Queer Broadway, Trans Rights Wins & LGBTQ News | Our Spring Update
Hugh and I are back with a spring check-in packed with LGBTQ+ news, queer Broadway buzz, and hopeful updates on trans rights.This week on Queer 101, we break down global political shifts, including Viktor...
When Anti-Trans Rhetoric Boomerangs: Jenner, Chappelle & the Laws They Fueled
This week on Queer 101, Hugh and I are reacting in real time to headlines that say everything about the moment we’re in.Caitlyn Jenner went on Fox News to complain about being impacted by Trump-era passpo...
LGBTQ Rights, Body Autonomy & the Politics of Control
Okay y’all — this is Part Two of our activism conversation, and we’re zooming out.Because what’s happening right now isn’t random. It’s coordinated. It’s strategic. And it’s about control.On this episode of Queer ...
Existence Is Resistance: Trans Visibility & Queer Activism Today
This week on Queer 101, Hugh and I are marking International Trans Day of Visibility — not just as a celebration, but as a call to action.We start with some wins, because joy and recognition matter. Our Queer History Book Club ...
Is LGBTQ Visibility Backfiring? | Trans Rights & Culture Wars
We fought for LGBTQ visibility. So why does it feel more dangerous now?In this episode of Queer 101, I sit down with historian Hugh Ryan to talk about the current state of LGBTQ rights in the United State...
This Is Not a Culture War: Trans Rights Under Siege
This episode of Queer 101 is personal.Hugh and I start by talking about survival — because right now, that’s not dramatic. It’s real. Self‑promotion, community support, showing up for each other… these ar...
Gay Panic Is Back — And So Is the Anti‑Trans Playbook
Hey y’all it’s me, Peppermint- This week Hugh and step away from their usual queer art and literature focus to process an escalating political moment hitting queer people—especially trans communities. We discuss Shia...
They Love Our Culture, Not Our Rights: The Mainstreaming of the Queer Underground
This week on Queer 101, we’re digging into something that keeps coming up: how does queer underground culture — the worlds we build for survival and joy — end up in the mainstream?Hugh and I start with th...
Snowstorm Outside, Political Storm Inside: Our Own LGBTQ+ State of the Union
Hey y’all, it’s me, Peppermint! This week on Queer 101, Hugh and I are recording from the middle of a literal New York snowstorm — and let’s just say… the weather isn’t the only thing spiraling.We’re givi...
Power, Sex & Silence in the Epstein Era: Who Actually Gets Held Accountable?
This week on Queer 101, Hugh (my resident historian-in-chief) and I are back in our Sister Outsider era — and baby, we are not keeping it cute.We pick up where we left off with Audre Lorde and the idea of...
The Erotic Is Power: Queer Desire Is Revolutionary
On this episode of Queer 101, Hugh Ryan and I are not tiptoeing around queer history — we’re diving straight in. We’re talking about why queer literature still matters, why Audre Lorde remains required reading, and why...
Silence Won’t Save Us: Audre Lorde and the Fight for Trans Lives
Hey y’all, it’s Peppermint — and on this episode of Queer 101, Hugh and I are doing what queer people have always done best: connecting history to the mess we’re living in right now.We start with Audre Lorde’s ...
Hidden Queer History of Hollywood: Closets, Coding, and Power
Hey y’all—it’s me, Peppermint 💅🏽 and welcome back to Queer 101. In this episode, I’m joined by my partner in queer crime, Hugh the Historian, and honey… we are digging deep. Like “Hollywood secre...
Scar, Ursula, and the Queer History of Disney, Hollywood & Pop Culture
Hey y’all, it’s me Peppermint 💋 and welcome back to Queer 101! This episode is one of those “once you see it, you can’t unsee it” conversations—because we’re talking all about queer coding in pop culture. And yes… it’s...
Queer Coding, Then, Now & Still!
Hey y’all, it’s me, Peppermint, and on this episode of Queer 101, Hugh and I are ringing in the New Year the only way we know how: chatty, curious, and a little bit queerly chaotic.We kick things off swap...
New Year, Queer Power & Community: Peppermint and Hugh’s Thoughts on 2026
New year, fresh vibes, same big conversations — but with hope, glitter, and a little more wiggle room.Hugh and I chat about power, belonging, and what happens when queer folks stop waiting for a seat at the table and just b...
Peppermint & Hugh’s Holiday Survival Guide: How to Make Your Holidays Queer
Hey y’all, grab your cocoa and your cutest fuzzy socks because this episode of Queer 101 is basically a queer holiday special—with me, Peppermint, serving yuletide realness and Hugh the Historian sprinkling in th...
From the Margins to Magic: How Queer Communities Create Their Own Worlds
This week, Hugh and I dive right into ou chat about one of my absolute favorite topics: how queer folks and other marginalized communities turn exclusion into empowerment. You know me — if society tries to shut a door, I’m already sashaying ...
The Radical Roots of Queer Spirituality: A History They Tried to Erase
In this week’s episode, Peppermint and Hugh Ryan explore the vibrant intersection of queer identity and spirituality—a part of queer history that’s often overlooked or misunderstood. They celebrate queerness as an essential thread in the fab...
Peppermint & Hugh’s Ultra Queer Thanksgiving
In this episode of Queer 101, Peppermint and Hugh are spilling all the Thanksgiving tea—yes, the gravy‑soaked, chosen‑family, pass‑me-a-biscuit kind. They share their own little holiday traditions, the ones that make T...
Queer Magic: Reclaiming Power Through History and Witchcraft
In this episode of Queer 101, hosts Peppermint and historian Hugh Ryan explore the fascinating crossroads of queer history, spirituality, and witchcraft. They begin by unpacking the Supreme Court’s recent refusal to he...
Queer History They DON’T Teach in School (But SHOULD)
This week on Queer 101, Peppermint and Hugh, the historian with the receipts, are diving into the untold layers of queer history you probably didn’t learn in school. 🌈They talk in depth about resilience, ...
Lights, Closets, Action: Queer Voices and Visibility in Hollywood
In this episode, Peppermint and Hugh the Historian take you on a heartfelt journey through queer history and LGBTQ+ culture, blending humor, honesty, and reflection. They dive into the powerful stories of the past and present — including tou...