QueerAF explained

QueerAF is a British online podcast and newsletter covering LGBTQ topics.

The podcast was created by Jamie Wareham in June 2016 and has won multiple awards since its inception.

The organization formally incorporated as a Community Interest Company in 2021, dedicating its assets to support the LGBTQ community.

Podcast

The first episode of the QueerAF podcast aired on 20 June 2016 with creator Jamie Wareham and Hatti Smart hosting transgender activist Charlie Craggs. At its creation, the podcast ran as the National Student Pride podcast.^[1]

The podcast changed its name after four seasons which ran from 2016-2020 to the now current name QueerAF for its fifth season that started in 2024 and being hosted by Acast.^[2]

The podcast has received a series of awards and recognitions since its inception for its coverage on LGBTQ topics.

Spin-off podcasts

What The Pox?

In 2022, QueerAF published a special series called What The Pox discussing Monkeypox, hosted by British Commedian Martin Joseph who detailed his own experience of contracting it.^[3] The podcast was recognized by the World Health Organization in its efforts to help raise awareness for Monkeypox.^[4]

The Other Blue Pill

In May 2024, QueerAF launched a special series spin-off podcast titled The Other Blue Pill, in reference to the color of the common Pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention (PrEP) pill. The podcast discusses the history of HIV prevention in the UK. The series is hosted by Phil Samba and was released as six episodes between May 2024 and July 2024, with a seventh special live episode that aired in September 2024.^[5]

Organization and online newsletter

The organization incorporated as a Community Interest Company in 2021, dedicating its assets to the public interest supporting the LGBTQ community, with founder Jamie Wareham acting as its director.^{[6] [7] [8]}

Through the incorporation, QueerAF is funding emerging and underrepresented queer creatives, and support them as their careers grow and launched its weekly newsletter in addition to the existing podcast.^[8]

QueerAF formed a partnership with Inclusive Journalism Cymru in July 2023 to commission articles for QueerAF's newsletter and support LGBTQ writers in Wales through mentorship and publishing of commissioned newsletter articles.^[9]

Trans+ History Week

In May 2024, QueerAF started the first Trans+ History Week, observed for the week of 6 May 2024 – 12 May 2024 to celebrate the history of transgender, non-binary, gender-nonconforming, and intersex people. The organization hosted billboards across the UK with the slogan "Always been here. Always will be."

Marty Davies, the founder of Trans+ History Week, told Pink News they got the idea after learning about the Nazi book burnings that targeted trans texts on 6 May 1933 after a raid on the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft in Berlin.^{[10] [11]}

Along with banners and online promotions, the organization released a series of educational materials on their website on transgender history.^{[12] [13] [10]}

Awards and recognitions

Awards

• In 2020, the QueerAF podcast was a bronze winner for the Moment Of The Year category of the British Podcast Awards.^[14]
• In 2021, QueerAF was shortlisted for an Impact Award by the British Audio and Radio Industry Awards.^[15]
• In 2022, QueerAF won an award for Best Equalities publication by the British Independent Media Association.^[16]

Recognitions

• In 2020, the podcast was featured in a list by the British Attitude magazine titled "The best LGBTQ, gay and queer podcasts to listen to during #Queerantine".^[17]
• In 2021, the podcast was featured in a list of "10 LGBTQ Podcasts For Anyone Who's Currently The Q (Questioning) In LGBTQ" by Buzzfeed.^[18]
• In 2022, the podcast was featured in a list of "13 LGBTQ Podcasts You Should Be Listening To" by PR Newswire.^[19]
• In 2024, the QueerAF podcast was recognizes by Cosmopolitan as one best LGBTQ podcasts to listen to.^[20]

Notes and References

1. What is it like to transition, and deal with daily transphobia? - Charlie Craggs. 20 June 2016. 13 October 2024. Apple Podcasts.
2. Web site: QueerAF Podcast. 13 October 2024. Apple Podcasts.
3. Web site: What The Pox?. 13 October 2024. Apple Podcasts.
4. Web site: Putting monkeypox front and centre: two journalists explain the importance of continuing to talk about the outbreak. 27 November 2022. 13 October 2024. World Health Organization.
5. Web site: The Other Blue Pill. 13 October 2024. Apple Podcasts.
6. Web site: QUEERAF CIC. 13 October 2024. gov.uk.
7. Web site: What is QueerAF?. 13 October 2024. QueerAF. 14 October 2020 .
8. Web site: QueerAF launches with aim to 'shift narrative on being LGBTQ+ in UK'. 25 January 2022. 13 October 2024. sportsmedialgbt.com.
9. Web site: Opportunities for LGBTQIA+ Writers through our QueerAF Collaboration. 19 July 2023. 13 October 2024. Inclusive Journalism Cymru.
10. Web site: Billboards placed across UK to honor trans history: "Always been here. Always will be.". 6 May 2024. 13 October 2024. LGBTQ Nation.
11. Web site: Trans+ History Week founder says 'we've always been here'. 6 May 2024. 13 October 2024. Pinknews. 16 July 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240716103744/https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/05/06/trans-history-week-marty-davies/. live.
12. Web site: Why do we need Trans+ History Week?. 2 May 2024. 13 October 2024. Stonewall.
13. Web site: Trans+ History Week - The History Lesson We Never Had. 13 October 2024. QueerAF. 21 November 2023. 17 September 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240917220746/https://www.wearequeeraf.com/transhistoryweek/. live.
14. Web site: Winners 2020 - British Podcast Awards. 2020. 13 October 2024. British Podcast Awards. 12 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211212232531/https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/winners-2020. live.
15. Web site: The ARIAS - Nominees - Radio Academy. 2021. 13 October 2024. ARIAS. 17 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240817053713/https://www.radioacademy.org/arias/winners/. live.
16. Web site: The Prisma wins International Reporting of the Year award. 28 March 2022. 13 October 2024. The Prisma.
17. Web site: The best LGBTQ, gay and queer podcasts to listen to during #Queerantine. 26 March 2020. 13 October 2024. Attitude. 21 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240621084106/https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/sexuality/the-best-lgbtq-gay-and-queer-podcasts-to-listen-to-during-queerantine-301040/. live.
18. Web site: 10 LGBTQ Podcasts For Anyone Who's Currently The Q (Questioning) In LGBTQ. 29 June 2021. 13 October 2024. Buzzfeed. 29 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210629111851/https://www.buzzfeed.com/sydrobinson1/best-lgbtq-podcasts-for-people-questioning-sexuality. live.
19. Web site: 13 LGBTQ Podcasts You Should Be Listening To. 22 June 2022. 13 October 2024. PR Newswire. 16 July 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240716205726/https://mediablog.prnewswire.com/2022/06/22/lgbtq-podcasts/. live.
20. Web site: Best LGBTQ+ podcasts everyone should listen to. 19 January 2024. 13 October 2024. Cosmopolitan. 10 September 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240910060031/https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/love-sex/g22032333/lgbtq-podcasts/?slide=18. live.