In this episode of South Sound Sapphic, we take you on a journey through the history of queerness—where we’ve been, who we’ve lost, how we’ve survived, and how we keep resisting. From Boston marriages and the hidden lives of sapphic ancestors, to the defiance of Compton’s Cafeteria and the terror of the Lavender Scare, to the ways queerness continues to challenge systems of power today—you’ll hear the stories that built our present and continue to shape our future.

This episode isn’t just history. It’s an invitation to learn, reflect and hopefully, connect. To honor the people who came before us and to imagine the world we are still fighting to create.

What does it mean to be queer? Where did the word come from? How has queerness shaped—and been shaped by—resistance, survival, and defiance? We explore the deep, complicated, and beautiful history of queerness. We trace its meaning from the 1500s to today. We honor the lives of sapphic people who loved in the shadows, fought back against oppression, and dared to imagine something different.

We’ll talk about:

• The hidden histories of Boston marriages and Wellesley marriages
• The riot at Compton’s Cafeteria (1966) and early trans and drag resistance
• The terror of the Lavender Scare and the cost of being queer in mid-century America
• How queer identity today resists patriarchy, white supremacy, and capitalism
• Why queer joy, mutual aid, art, and chosen family are acts of defiance

This is an episode for everyone who has felt othered. For everyone who has fought to exist. For everyone dreaming of a world where queerness is not just accepted, but celebrated.

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