Welcome to Word of The Gay, a weekly podcast dissecting common words in the queer lexicon. Hosts Brendy and Leni will tackle a new word every week, taking a deep dive into its origin, contemporary usage, how it’s used in pop culture and how its perceived by different members of our community.
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This week we’re looking at sex slurs for queer women, from muff diver to pussy puncher to bean flicker. Leni and Brendy discuss the implications these terms have on queer sex, how the terms get power from societies patriarchal structures and segue into a discussion about queer sex education in schools. Word of the Gay records fortnightly at Castaway Studios in Melbourne, Australia. Subscribe (for free!), rate and review Word of the Gay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Follow Word ...
This episode dissects "gaydar," the intuitive ability to identify someone's sexuality. Leni and Brendy delve into how it relies on both blatant stereotypes and subtle cues, sharing personal anecdotes about its accuracy and challenges, especially concerning bisexual and pansexual individuals. They also touch upon the evolving nature of queer visibility, media representation, and the personal comfort with being perceived as gay, reflecting on its importance for community connection.
The use of she/her pronouns by cis gay men - words like "girl" or “ honey” - is an increasingly visible trend, not to mention calling one another by traditionally female names. Leni and Brendy discuss the practice of switching gender pronouns as a way of embracing femininity and creating a shared culture around names like Mary, Nancy and Nellie, to name only a few. Word of the Gay records fortnightly at Castaway Studios in Melbourne, Australia. Subscribe (for free!), rate and review Word of the ...
If there’s a woman on TV having relationship problems, you better believe there's a sassy gay stereotype giving her wise and insightful advice. In the early naughties, the gay best friend almost became a sign of status for the cultured, inner-city lady. Leni and Brendy break down how the GBF stereotype has changed from an accessory to the staring role and the importance of the gay male & straight female friendship when "coming out”. Word of the Gay records fortnightly at Castaway Studios in ...
We’re so excited to be joined by Mary and Morgan from the Oh Dear podcast to discuss ‘daddy, a slang term referring to a typically older man that's sexually involved in a relationship or wanting sex with a younger person. Word of the Gay records fortnightly at Castaway Studios in Melbourne, Australia. Subscribe (for free!), rate and review Word of the Gay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Follow Word of the Gay on Twitter at @wordofthegaypod, Facebook at Word of the Gay & Insta...
Lesbian Bed Death refers to the so-called phenomena that happens in lesbian relationships where sex declines and then ceases to exist completely. Leni and Brendy discuss reasons sex in long-term relationships may stop, how the theory frames lesbian sex and how it differs from sex with men. Word of the Gay records fortnightly at Castaway Studios in Melbourne, Australia. Subscribe (for free!), rate and review Word of the Gay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Follow Word of the Gay on...
There has been a lot of discussion about what an LGBT+ ally is and isn’t, but to most people, an LGBT+ ally is a heterosexual person who supports equal rights, gender equality, queer social movements, and tries to challenge all the phobias when they see it occurring. Leni and Brendy discuss iconic LGBT+ allies throughout history, queer-baiting by pop stars, and whether an extra ‘A’ should be added to the acronym. Word of the Gay records fortnightly at Castaway Studios in Melbourne, Australia. Su...
This week we take on various slang words attributed to bisexual people, including LUG, switch hitter, hasbian, bihet and gillette blade. Word of the Gay records fortnightly at Castaway Studios in Melbourne, Australia. Subscribe (for free!), rate and review Word of the Gay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Follow Word of the Gay on Twitter at @wordofthegaypod, Facebook at Word of the Gay & Instagram @wordofthegaypod. Send word suggestions and other correspondence to wordofthegay...
Chemsex is a term for when people take drugs and have sex, oftentimes used to facilitate a better or more heightened sexual experience. Leni and Brendy chat about why LGBT+ engage in chemsex, how ‘chillout' parties are arranged through apps, and the likely consequences of too much puff n play. Word of the Gay records fortnightly at Castaway Studios in Melbourne, Australia. Subscribe (for free!), rate and review Word of the Gay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Follow Word of the Ga...
Warning: this episode discusses sexual assault. A gay bathhouse or sauna is usually a commercial, sex-on-premises venue, not just used for 'bathing’. Leni and Brendy discuss the history of bathhouses, their police raids and closures during the AIDS epidemic, sauna etiquette, lesbian saunas and how Bette Midler became the Divine Miss M at one of New York's most famous establishments. Word of the Gay records fortnightly at Castaway Studios in Melbourne, Australia. Subscribe (for free!), rate and r...
Leni and Brendy dissect the word "closet," tracing its historical metaphor for LGBT+ self-disclosure. They discuss societal, religious, and personal factors that keep individuals closeted, alongside the unique "glass closet" phenomenon faced by celebrities, exemplified by figures like Ellen DeGeneres. The hosts share their candid personal coming out stories, highlighting family reactions and the challenges of dating a closeted partner, concluding with reflections on cultural impact and workplace visibility.
This episode we're dissecting three words popularised by RuPaul's Drag Race and often originating from queer African American and Latin communities. Leni and Brendy examine the words ‘hunty', ‘realness' and ‘fish’ in the first episode of Word of the Gay’s drag vocab series. Word of the Gay records fortnightly at Castaway Studios in Melbourne, Australia. Subscribe (for free!), rate and review Word of the Gay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Follow Word of the Gay on Twitter at @wor...
A dopplebanger is when two people in a relationship look spookily alike. Leni and Brendy examine this whole new type of self love and ask: what’s sexier than dating yourself? Word of the Gay records fortnightly at Castaway Studios in Melbourne, Australia. Subscribe (for free!), rate and review Word of the Gay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts. Follow Word of the Gay on Twitter at @wordofthegaypod, Facebook at Word of the Gay & Instagram @wordofthegaypod. Send word suggestions an...
Poppers, or 'amyl' to many Australians, is a slang term given broadly to the chemical class called alkyl nitrites. Poppers comes in the form of little bottles of liquid, inhaled for recreational drug use and during sex, popular in the gay community for their ability to act as a muscle relaxant. Leni and Brendy chat about poppers usage (and risks), its popularity in the disco dance scene of the seventies, it's controversial links with HIV/AIDS and the recent proposed banning of amyl in Australia....
A 'poof' is a slur for a male homosexual, but can extend to any man whose manner or behaviour doesn't conform to what is conventionally regarded as masculine, and the word 'Poofta' made it's way into Australian slang and spread like wildfire, thanks to our homophobic Aussie forefathers. Leni and Brendy discuss the prevalence of use in Australian politics and sport and it's reclamation in places like Poof Doof (where we can't help but discuss their recent photo brief crisis too). Word of the Gay ...
People have used the word 'lipstick' to describe a lesbian with a greater amount of feminine gender attributes compared to other gender expressions. Leni and Brendy discuss lipstick's rise in media portrayals of queer women in the 90s, its relation to third wave feminism and analyse a slew of judgements 'lipstick lesbians' face. Word of the Gay records at Castaway Studios in Melbourne, Australia. Subscribe (for free!), rate and review Word of the Gay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts a...
A commitment ceremony is usually a non-formal, public declaration of a couple’s life-long dedication to one another. This kind of ceremony is usually conducted when a couple aren't able to get married legally, too often the case for many same sex couples around the world. Leni and Brendy compare commitment ceremonies to legal weddings, discuss how LGBT+ people conceptualise commitment and plan their dream ceremonies. Subscribe (for free!), rate and review Word of the Gay on Apple Podcasts, Spoti...
Shade is a subtle expression of contempt for someone, thrown rather than simply spoken. Leni and Brendy talk about shade as a skilful backhanded compliment adopted by members of the LGBT+ community, it’s origin with queers of colour during vogue balls in the 80’s and how shade is often misused in pop culture today. Subscribe (for free!), rate and review Word of the Gay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Stitcher. Follow Word of the Gay on Twitter at @wordofthegaypod, Facebook at Wor...
It’s 2019: we’re here, queer and massive bottoms. A bottom is usually the receptive partner during sexual penetration, with links to submission for both men and women. Leni and Brendy bust stereotypes about bottoming being a strictly “feminine” trait, discuss topping practises most liked by bottoms, and possible genetic explanations for being a big ‘ol pillow princess. Subscribe (for free!), rate and review Word of the Gay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Stitcher. Follow Word of ...
Deck the halls with pink champagne, it’s Gay Christmas! Whether it be Halloween, Mardi Gras or just a regular Saturday night, members of the LGBT+ seek moments they can come together with their chosen family in the same way Christmas promotes, without all that heteronormative shit. Leni and Brendy chat about what’s like for LGBT+ people to celebrate a religious holiday, Mariah Carey’s Christmas anthem, and their favourite Christmas carols and films. Word of the Gay will be back on Sunday 13th of...
PrEP is an acronym for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, a HIV prevention strategy where HIV negative people take a little blue pill to reduce their risk of becoming infected. Leni and Brendy discuss PrEP as one means of preventing HIV infection, HIV stigma and discrimination, a perceived rise in STI's as a result of reduced condom use when on PrEP and it's rate of effectiveness so far. Subscribe (for free!), rate and review Word of the Gay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and Stitcher. Follo...
A beard describes a person who is used to conceal another person's sexual orientation, a common practise in the golden age of Hollywood for celebrities considered 'a little bit queer'. Leni and Brendy discuss famous cases of bearding among high-profile members of the LGBT+ community, how internalised homophobia and the effects of a heteronormative society played a role in bearding and what beard arrangements look like today. This episode of Word of the Gay is sponsored by Koala. Visit koala.com ...
Right now drag is enjoying an unprecidented level of mainstream success, and is still largely performed by gay men. But bio(logical) women are knocking at the door asking to be included; aren't they born naked just like the rest of us? Leni and Brendy discuss how bio queens aren't offen accepted in traditional drag environments, how they're subverting and telling new stories about gender, and how RuPaul feels about women competing in Drag Race. This episode of Word of the Gay is sponsored by Koa...
A 'kiki' is a term used to describe when LGBT+ people get together to socialise, gossip and giggle. It's also long been connected to queers of colour that take part in Kiki Balls, celebrating gender non-conformity, racial diversity and sexual openness. So lock the doors, lower the blinds, and let Leni and Brendy guide you from its ball-origins through to its mainstream use by the Scissor Sisters. This episode of Word of the Gay is sponsored by Koala. Visit koala.com for $150 off purchases over $...
Camp is usually used to describe an effeminate gay man, but can also be used to describe art and entertainment that is lively, cheesy or theatrical. Leni and Brendy deconstruct camp as a way of looking at the world through a love of the exaggerated and anything over-the-top. This episode of Word of the Gay is sponsored by Koala. Visit koala.com for $150 off purchases over $1000 using code 'wordofthegay' at checkout. This episode of Word of the Gay is also sponsored by the Wine Gallery. Visit the...
Dyke originated as a derogatory label for masculine or butch lesbians, but has come to apply to any lesbian that is easily identifiable. The word has been reclaimed by many groups, including the Dykes on Bikes who open most pride parades around the world. Leni and Brendy dissect the word's journey from the demise of dyke bars, dyke separatist groups and Zoe Leonard's 'I want a dyke for president' poem. This episode of Word of the Gay is sponsored by Koala. Visit koala.com for $150 off purchases ...
Homosexual panic is a legal defence used when a non-violent advance from a homosexual person can cause a heterosexual person to panic and respond with fatal violence. Leni and Brendy talk about it's use in trials throughout the 20th century up until last year in Australia, how it's used to downgrade murder to manslaughter and why we should replace the word 'homophobia'. This episode of Word of the Gay is sponsored by Koala. Visit koala.com for $150 off purchases over $1000 using code 'wordoftheg...
A fetish is a sexual fixation on a non-living (or living in some cases) object, with over 500 different known fetishes. From the arousal of body parts to the weird and wacky, like outdoor crevises or house furniture, Leni and Brendy discuss it's proposed relation to childhood trauma, the difference between male and female fetishes and how fetishes are often celebrated in the LGBTIQ+ community. Subscribe (for free!), rate and review Word of the Gay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and ...
Originally an old British term for strange or odd, the word queer became a slur for people that didn't subscribe to standard heterosexual norms. It's now reclaimed by many in the LGBT+ community, Leni and Brendy discuss how the word is used in modern day times, both as an umbrella term for diverse sexual and gender expression, and how it's been used in pop culture, from Queer as Folk to Queer Eye. Subscribe (for free!), rate and review Word of the Gay on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts ...
Pink Dollar is what economists use to describe LGBT+ buying power. Leni and Brendy discuss the profits that can be made from the communities by targeting them through rainbows, representation in advertisements and sponsoring and appearing in their pride parades, from Absolut Vodka (and the moral issues associated with alcohol sponsorship), GAYTM's and even pop stars. Is it ethical marketing or exploitation? This is Word of the Gay. Subscribe (for free!), rate and review Word of the Gay on Apple ...
