First person stories of queer coming of age. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and genderqueer people.
…
continue reading
Season-2 Coming June 1, 2024 | Discover the true story of Canada's LGBT Purge in a landmark, eight part documentary series. This is the first documentary to examine the full extent of Canada's anti-homosexual campaigns using newly declassified documents released by the LGBT Purge Fund. 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. Queer Legends is the 2023 Ca ...
…
continue reading
Through a mix of interviews with LGBTQ community members, academics, and students, find out why Newark's LGBTQ history matters and how public history projects can combat queer erasure. This podcast is an offshoot of the Queer Newark Oral History Project, a community-driven endeavor supported by Rutgers University-Newark that collects and preserves the life stories of LGBTQ and gender nonconforming individuals in the city of Newark, New Jersey.
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Guest Podcast: "Nuances - Queering Premodern Asia"
1:03:08
1:03:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:03:08
Enjoy this bonus episode of the podcast series Nuances: Our Asian Stories. Hosted by Lazou, Nuance's latest season is titled Queering Premodern Asia and each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary and personal stories from guest scholars and artists. Lazou reached out recently and, because our podca…
…
continue reading
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify. You graduated high school. You packed up all your things and you’re moving into a dorm room or your first apartment. Finally, you have the chance to define life on your own terms. For many queer people, leaving our family and getting our own place is the chance to finally seek out the experiences we’ve al…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S5E12 - Firsts Vol.5: The Art of Cruising
1:14:13
1:14:13
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:14:13
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify. These days, thanks to technology, it’s easier than ever to hook up; but no app can provide the rush you feel when you lock eyes with someone in person and you know, without any verbal communication, that there is a mutual interest. In this episode, our interviewees share first-time stories of cruising as …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Legacy Of The LGBT Purge and A Queer Mystery - Pt.8
50:06
50:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:06
The road to justice for LGBT Purge survivors was not an easy one - even after the Government of Canada’s apology. Seeking justice also meant that Purge survivors had to confront and relive some truly terrible memories. The eighth and final episode in our series that tells The True Story Of Canada’s LGBT Purge celebrates victory; seeks accountabilit…
…
continue reading
Before the Government of Canada’s apology and before the LGBT Purge class-action lawsuit, there was a small group of dedicated Canadians who were determined to get justice. This network of Purge survivors, academics, researchers and activists was known as the We Demand An Apology Network (WDAN). The WDAN group was the catalyst that led to the landm…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The Ban On Gays In The Military Ends (On Paper) - Pt.6
50:29
50:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:29
By the early 1990s the Conservative government of Brian Mulroney knew it could not continue the military’s anti-homosexuality policies. However, his ministers and military kept looking for loopholes to continue their discrimination against LGB soldiers. Discover the behind-the-scenes legal drama that led to, what many consider to be, the end of the…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S5E11 - Spilling Tea, 2024 Pride Edition
1:14:39
1:14:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:14:39
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify. Let’s end Pride 2024 with a bang! For this episode, Dave is taking a break from his series on First Times and he’s selected a few of his favorite moments when interviewees shared profound thoughts about queerness, community, identity and, of course, there are a lot of things to say about sex. So put your …
…
continue reading
The 1980s were a pivotal decade in Canadian politics and history, including key battles for queer liberation and rights. You’ll hear about former MP Svend Robinson’s efforts to get homosexuality into the Canadian Human Rights Act and protection under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms; the military and RCMP efforts to undermine the Charter rights o…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
We Demand and Lesbians In The Military - Pt.4
53:55
53:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:55
Canadian queer resistance emerges in the 1970s and puts a spotlight on the injustices facing gays and lesbians. This caused further police, military and government crackdowns on queers across Canada - particularly in Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa in the lead up to the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Lesbians in the Canadian Armed Forces were “walking a tigh…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S5E10 - Firsts Vol.4: Internet Hookups
1:11:32
1:11:32
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:11:32
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify. There’s a tendency to devalue first times that come as a result of the internet. There’s no meet-cutes; no love at first sight. The getting-to-know-you window happens on your device. Most of them are one-offs we will never see ever again. But, like it or not, this is the way most of us find first time par…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The Fruit Machine and Bedrooms of The Nation - Pt.3
44:14
44:14
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:14
The Government of Canada and RCMP Intelligence Service engaged in unethical human research experiments on homosexual Canadians throughout the 1960s. Queer Legends' research sheds new light on the origins and timeline of Canada’s so-called "Fruit Machine" project and its clear links to Carleton University; the CIA’s MK Ultra program at McGill; and t…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
How Canada's LGBT Purge Got Started - Pt.2
39:10
39:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:10
This is a true-crime episode. Gripped with paranoia about Soviet spies using ‘human weaknesses’ to steal government secrets, Canada and its allies started hunting for and eliminating homosexuals from government employment. Investigative journalist Dean Beeby tells the incredible story about how the RCMP interrogated a retired Canadian ambassador to…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Queers of the First and Second World Wars - Pt.1
39:35
39:35
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:35
Welcome to Season 2 of Queer Legends: The True Story About Canada's LGBT Purge. We begin with amazing new research that has uncovered what life was like for gay and bisexual soldiers during the First World War. From the “gross indecency” laws that imprisoned heroic Canadian queer soldiers, to the military-sanctioned drag shows that made Ross Hamilt…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S5E9 - Firsts Vol.3: High School Hookups, Part 2
1:14:38
1:14:38
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:14:38
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify. As I was editing this second high school hookup episode, I realized that many of the stories I have collected over the years have striking similarities. People who grew up thousands of miles apart, often in different decades, had coming of age experiences that had a lot in common. So I decided to create a…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S5E8 - Firsts Vol.2: High School Hookups, Part 1
1:18:18
1:18:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:18:18
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify. For queer people, our sexuality is not something that just switches on one day. It reveals itself over time - usually during adolescence - and the experience is often internal and private. Our first explorations into physical intimacy with other people often serve as a kind of test to see if we like it an…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The True Story of Canada's LGBT Purge - TRAILER
1:48
1:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:48
Coming June 1, 2024 | Season 2 of Queer Legends shares The True Story of Canada's LGBT Purge in a landmark, eight part documentary series. This is the first documentary to examine the full extent of Canada's anti-homosexual campaigns using newly declassified documents released by the LGBT Purge Fund. From ridiculous to shocking, you'll hear amazing…
…
continue reading
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify. Who was your first crush? That first intense infatuation with someone special? A famous actor? A singer? An Athlete? Or was it someone you knew like another student at your school, a hot neighbor or a teacher who gave you extra attention? Whoever it was, first crushes are often the first indication that w…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S5E6 - Sex Ed Vol.3: Mastering "Self-Love" (Puritan Description Edition)
39:43
39:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:43
Help support independent queer media. Get exclusive access to an UNCUT version of this episode with more than 30 extra minutes of stories by joining Fruitbowl’s Patreon community. Learn more at fruitbowlpodcast.com/donate Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify. Note: the descriptions of this episode were altered to avoid censorship by the major…
…
continue reading
Patreon members get exclusive access to an UNCUT version of this episode with 20 extra minutes of stories. Learn more at fruitbowlpodcast.com/donate Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify. Many of us grew up in families and communities that never once acknowledged the existence of queer people: no exposure to queer authors, filmmakers, artists.…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S5E4 - Sex Ed Vol.1: Secrets of Sex
1:12:03
1:12:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:12:03
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify. Now we’re getting down to the nitty gritty. For this first episode we’re going back to the beginning of our coming of age when we had no clue what sex was or what it even meant. Maybe we heard about it from our parents, our friends or maybe we even went to a library. Many of us got the wrong information o…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Everett Klippert: The only Canadian man imprisoned for life for being gay
13:32
13:32
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
13:32
The Calgary Gay History Project's Kevin Allen shares his research into an important and reluctant queer legend - Everett George Klippert. Klippert was the only Canadian ever declared a "dangerous sexual offender" by the Supreme Court of Canada and he was sentenced to life in prison for being incurably gay. Public and political outcry over the Klipp…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S5E3 - Origins Vol.3: Mother's Nature
1:10:43
1:10:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:10:43
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify. Femininity and queerness go hand in hand; that’s the conventional wisdom, anyway. So it follows that our mom’s should be supportive, non-judgmental, embracing of our idiosyncrasies and accepting of children who don’t conform to conventional expectations of gender. But it doesn’t always work out that way. …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S5E2 - Origins Vol.2: Our Flawed Fathers
1:11:40
1:11:40
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:11:40
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify. There are as many cliches about fatherhood as there are about queer people. Dads are little league coaches, the leaders of prayers, the final word in family debates, trusted voices of wisdom who guide their children through adolescence and prepare them for adulthood. Join Dave as he introduces a chorus of…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Lorraine Segato and the Unexpected Queer Anthem: Rise Up
19:15
19:15
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:15
Meet Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter, social justice activist and Member of the Order of Canada, Lorraine Segato in episode 17 of Queer Legends. As co-founder of The Parachute Club, Segato and her 1980s bandmates struck a chord with Canadians with their top 10 hit Rise Up, which helped inspire a generation of human rights and other activism du…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S5E1 - Origins Vol.1: Families & Hometowns
1:18:42
1:18:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:18:42
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify. Welcome to Season 5 and a new episode format! Instead of just one person’s story, Season 5 episodes will present a variety of different stories and anecdotes from the Fruitbowl archive centered around a common theme. In this inaugural episode we focus on stories about families and hometowns. Adam describe…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Margaret Cho: Comedian, actor, activist and inspiration!
17:42
17:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
17:42
It was an honour to be invited by the Canadian Labour Congress to host a 'fire-side chat' with comedian, actor, writer and human rights activist, Margaret Cho at their #CLC2023 conference! Hear about Margaret's connection to the labour movement, 2SLGBTQ+ rights, her involvement in anti-racism campaigns and the fight for a more equitable future. “Ev…
…
continue reading
On April 15th of 2023, we lost one of Newark’s dearest LGBTQ+ leaders, James Credle. In this episode, you will get to hear James talk about growing up in the Jim Crow South and what it was like to move North to Newark, his time serving as a medic in Vietnam, living through the AIDS epidemic, and becoming a dean at Rutgers-Newark, where he provided …
…
continue reading
In 2002, Saundra Toby-Heath and Alicia Heath-Toby joined the fight for marriage equality in the state of New Jersey with six other same-sex couples. Represented by Lambda Legal, they filed a lawsuit, Lewis v. Harris, to demand their constitutional right to marry. Their case made it all the way to the New Jersey Supreme Court in 2006 where they ulti…
…
continue reading
This Queer Legends Quickie introduces you to Sarah Worthman, founder of the Newfoundland and Labrador Queer Research Initiative. Worthman is investigating the persecution of 2SLGBTQ soldiers during the First World War by the Government of Canada and she has uncovered some amazing things. This story is the about a young, queer Canadian hero from Bra…
…
continue reading
In this episode of Queer Legends: An Oral History Podcast we're looking back at the legendary people and moments of 2022! Featuring queer activists, artists and community historians on what will be remembered about the “queer that was.” My guests include: Public health expert Michael Kwag, journalist Mel Woods, historian and author Hugh Ryan, recen…
…
continue reading
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Breona is a professional sex therapist and author who lives not far from her hometown of Mt. Vernon, WA: home to the annual tulip festival. Growing up, Breona didn’t have many resources to answer her questions about sex. An early investigation of online porn was discovered by her parents and inspired her m…
…
continue reading
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify John C. has had an unpredictable professional career and sexual history. He grew up in the deep south with racist family members and neighbors. Sexual experimentation with a friend happened early on, but, later, in college, things got complicated when a coworker raped John after a night of drugs and drinki…
…
continue reading
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify When I was preparing to record my intro to Zachery’s episode, I started to compose a long reflection on the recent tragedy in Colorado Springs where a 22 year old monster with a rife decided to murder 5 innocent people in a gay bar, but every attempt I made trying to articulate my rage and sadness seemed t…
…
continue reading
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Fruitbowl’s creator and producer, Dave Quantic, provides his first full-length Fruitbowl interview in this “very special” episode hosted by editor Ryan Weadon. Dave’s sexual orientation came into focus early on while growing up in small-town, suburban Kansas in the late eighties, but the only place he coul…
…
continue reading
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Steven grew up in his “shit-kicking” town of Tucson, AZ and even though it was liberal compared to the rest of the state, he was still a target for bullies because of his lisp and his habit of staring at other guys in the locker room. But summer adventures with his Dad in Ojai, CA taught him that a wondrou…
…
continue reading
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Lizzie grew up in super-liberal Seattle with super-cool, neo-hippie parents who had lots of queer friends and didn’t bat an eye when Lizzie let them know that she was … not straight. Lizzie took the lead when it came to her first time with a guy and you’ll enjoy hearing about her other adventures with a gi…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
The amazing Barbada From Barbados drag story!
27:26
27:26
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:26
This self-made black queen has one of the most fascinating origine stories you've ever heard. "Barbada de Barbades" has been exciting drag and comedy show audiences across Quebec for nearly two decades. She co-hosts Call me Mother across Canada on OUTtv, is always booked for drag story hour and is currently popping up in online French advertising o…
…
continue reading
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify On this special Getting Fresh episode of Fruitbowl editor Ryan Weadon takes the reins as host and introduces a conversation Dave had with Eric, a medical assistant and Monkeypox survivor who lives in Portland with his partner Dave. Eric describes what it’s been like dealing with the virus and the challenge…
…
continue reading
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Andrew was a self-described baby drag queen when he was little, putting on makeup and heels and performing for his parents. So when he told his mom at age 10 he was gay, her reaction was, “I know. Do you still wanna go to the mall?” But just because Andrew was out didn’t mean adolescence was a walk in the …
…
continue reading
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify Mike had a lot of variables to balance while coming of age in the 70s and 80s: the sexual revolution & liberation, drug culture, AIDS, social stigma and intimacy. And being out wasn’t an option while he was working on Wall Street for 15 years. Through all of it, Mike tried to stay true to himself while fig…
…
continue reading
Originally from a small town in Alabama, Puddin’s coming of age was divided in two. Outwardly, he was a devout Christian of the Pentecostal tradition and aspired to be a church leader. During sermons, homosexuality was always used as an example of the worst kind of sin. Privately, though, he struggled with his sexuality and was the target of abuse …
…
continue reading
You might assume you don’t have much in common with a 71 year old lesbian, but consider these three points: 1. Debra came of age at the dawn of the sexual revolution; 2. She’s a legend in the lesbian kink community and has some really fun kink play stories; 3. She is a total badass and a one of a kind human. Growing up in famously liberal Palo Alto…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Police Revenge After The 'Sex Garage' Protests
9:17
9:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:17
Did you know? After the community protests against the violent 1990 raid of the queer loft party 'Sex Garage' (listen to episode 1 for details), Montreal police continued to harass protesters. Linda Dawn Hammond's photos put police brutality against 2SLGBTQ+ Montrealers in the headlines and that made her a police target afterwards. This episode's s…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
S4E7 - Getting Fresh with Gayish - ORGIES
56:45
56:45
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
56:45
In this Getting Fresh episode, Dave welcomes his in-studio guests: the creators of the Seattle-based Gayish podcast, Kyle and Mike and asks them about their podcast’s origin and its unique format: unpacking gay stereotypes one episode at a time. Then we listen to a listener-submitted story that describes the writer’s first time at an orgy and we di…
…
continue reading
Did Canada already have its first gay Prime Minister? In Canada's capital, there's a romantic statue of Sir Galahad on Parliament Hill. It was created in 1905 by then future prime minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King, in memory of a heroic act by his dearest friend. Former Member of Parliament, Bill Siksay, the first openly gay man to be elected t…
…
continue reading
Kenny is the definition of a survivor. After experiencing abuse by a family member and getting kicked out of the house by his single mom while still in high school, Kenny lived in his car until he decided to move in with his first boyfriend. A move to Chicago for a job seemed like an opportunity to start fresh until he was laid off and had to turn …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Disrupting The 5th International AIDS Conference in 1989
11:26
11:26
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:26
Montréal, Québec recenlty hosted the 24th International AIDS Conference. It was more inclusive and 'hopeful' and a lot different than the fifth international AIDS conference in Montréal in 1989. In this episode it was a pleasure to speak with athiest-AIDS-activist turned Concordia University professor, Karen Herland, who takes you behind-the-scenes…
…
continue reading
Lilian grew up in Sedalia Colorado, a small community outside of Denver. Growing up, Lilian was a good little straight boy who judged other kids for having pre-marital sex. It wasn’t until college in LA that Lilian began her journey into becoming a self-described non-binary, genderfluid transgender woman who is a solo-polyamorous, relationship-anar…
…
continue reading
Growing up in a small California town in the late 90s, Drew didn’t have any exposure to queer people or culture except for the brief mentions on broadcast sitcoms. NBC’s “Must See TV” was a particularly rich source of information. A secret relationship with another guy in his high school confirmed Drew’s budding sexuality but it wasn’t until colleg…
…
continue reading
Ari grew up in Milwaukee until age 10 when his family moved to Tucson, AZ. The new environment brought him out of his shell in spite of being raised in a religious family. Raised as a girl, Ari had the most difficulty with his mom when it came to his family’s acceptance of his identity first as a lesbian, then as a trans man. Ultimately, Ari had to…
…
continue reading