When I work on the chapter for the book version of the Project that explains the various models of sex and gender, one of the hard parts is sorting out the chronology. Every author who works on this subject appears to have their own notion of when the changes happened and how they were promulgated in society. The simple fact is that social theories overlap each other, with multiple contradictory ideas of how human beings function occurring in parallel, even believed by the same people.
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Usually I make an effort to make an LHMP post of some sort every day during Pride Month. That may be a bit trickier this year than usual given that (as noted in the most recent podcast) I have a broken arm, which slows down typing considerably. As with the subject of today's article, gardens were involved. Specifically my strawberry bed, where I was working when I tripped over my own feet and fell on the concrete walkway. I now have a titanium plate and nine screws in my left arm. But recovery is proceeding.
Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 343 – Salt for the Unmarried by Khayelihle Benghu - transcript
(Originally aired 2026/05/30)
Before introducing the episode, I have a logistical announcement. I recently broke my arm, which is going to get in the way of extensive typing for a couple of months. Therefore I’m going to be re-running some favorite episodes from the past until I’m back in action. I hope that will tide you over in the mean time.
Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 341 - On the Shelf for May 2026 - Transcript
(Originally aired 2026/05/02)
Welcome to On the Shelf for May 2026.
This article was a little less interesting than I thought it might be, but it added some data to my "vocabulary of lesbianism" database supporting the use of "inseparables" as a dog-whistle for lesbians.
You know that guy in your field who everyone cites but every time you read one of their articles you constantly mutter, "But you're ignoring X and you're redefining Y solely in order to support your pet theory, and you're simply wrong about Z"? Yeah, one of those guys. There are several on my list and Hitchcock is one of them.
Usually when France Apsley's name comes up in lesbian-relevant history, it's in connection with the future Queen Anne, but this article focuses more on her correspondence with Anne's sister Mary. Or rather, on Mary's corresopndence with her, as we only have one side of the letters.
From one angle, this article is of only passing relevance to the Project--imputing same-sex bonds on fragile evidence. From a different angle, the entire lesson of the play being studied could be "men are trash; they'll betray you and get you killed; stick to your girlfriend for happiness." I doubt that's the lesson that Restoration audiencese took from it, though.
I frequently comment on the somewhat chaotic order in which I encounter material for the Project. The closest I come to any deliberate program is when I seek out (or prioritize) publications on a topic I want to cover in the podcast. So it's often happened that, after blogging a book, I find myself encountering the author's earlier work that went into that book.
Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast - Episode 342 – A Guide to the Sapphic Regency - transcript
(Originally aired 2026/05/16)
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