Queer life in Georgian Britain

Welcome to the History Extra podcast, fascinating historical conversations from the makers of BBC History magazine. How did same-sex couples in the Georgian era express their love in the face of the law? Class, sex or race impact how someone could express their true identity? And just what was the so-called third sex? Dr.

Anthony Delaney answers these questions and more in conversation with Isabel King in today's podcast, discussing his new book, Queer Georgians. Anthony, you've recently written a wonderful book all about the lives and loves of several interesting and important people during the Georgian period. We'll get into discussing the lives of these characters soon, but before we do, I just wanted to take some time to address the use of some terms when discussing same-sex relationships in the past. In the title of your book, you use the word queer. Why was this your chosen term?

And to what extent do you think that we can place modern day labels onto people's sexualities or gender identities in the past? I think one of the most important things that we can do, regardless of the terminology that we're using, is talk about and tell these histories. I think that is first and foremost. The second thing I would say about the use of the word queer, which was in use in the 18th century, but not necessarily in the same context that we use it today, is that I've had conversations with people about the title, queer Georgians.

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