Celebrate National Coming Out Day with these 13 LGBTQ+ hosted podcasts

Happy National Coming Out Day! Born from the brains of Robert Eichburg and Jean O’Leary in 1988, October 11 was chosen as National Coming Out Day, as it was the anniversary of the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. Instead of a defensive response to anti-LGBTQ action, they were met with positivity and celebration. After a media push in 1990, this day was observed in all 50 states and seven other countries.

Education is important, and there are plenty of podcasts out there focused on teaching the history of the queer community and going beyond hetero-sex education we get in school. But not all LGBTQ+ things need to revolve around being LGBTQ+. We just want to sit back and let LGBTQIA+ podcasters talk about, well, whatever they want! As poignantly stated by Brooklyn 99‘s Captain Holt, “Every time someone steps up and says who they truly are, the world becomes a better, more interesting place.” Here are some of our favorite podcasts hosted by LGBTQ+ podcasters.

Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

Actors and comedians Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers are your culture consultants on “Las Culturistas.” They are tuning into the hottest pop culture moments of the day and looking back at the formative pop culture moments that have made them who they are. They’ve had a number of Bowen’s SNL costars on the pod, like Aidy Bryant and Cecily Strong, and other hard-hitting guests like Alan Cumming, Busy Phillips, D’Arcy Carden, and more.

LGBTQ&A

Jeffrey Masters / The Advocate present interviews with interesting folks from the LGBTQ+ community in weekly episodes. Tune in to hear from guests from all lines of work from activism to education and the entertainment industry. Previous interviews have included Laverne Cox, Pete Buttigieg, Roxane Gay, and Brandi Carlile.

The Read

Bloggers Kid Fury and Crissle cover hip-hop and pop culture’s most vexing stars in “The Read.” Both are engaging, intelligent, opinionated, and hilarious with incredible chemistry behind the mix. They give advice, criticize those who need it, and always share their opinions. Don’t skip “The Read” on this list.

Being TRANS

Lemonada’s “Being TRANS” is a reality TV show for your ears following 4 real trans people’s lives in Los Angeles. This season, we’ll meet the cast and hear their compelling stories. Jeffrey is a transgender man and stand-up comedian navigating his relationship with his partner, Emma. Mariana is a transwoman who left Guatemala to seek asylum. Chloe recently moved to LA and works at a local LGBTQ+ center with Mariana. Sy is a nonbinary transgender legal assistant navigating new dynamics with their husband and new baby. Tune into this unique and authentic series, now streaming.

Life Out Loud with LZ Granderson

From award-winning journalist LZ Granderson, “Life Out Loud” draws from his own experience as a gay, Black father to have conversations with the most influential people in the LGBTQ+ community. A previous episode of this ABC News podcast featured Shangela, breakout star and contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race and host of the hit HBO series We’re Here. From growing up queer in small-town America to becoming one of the most successful drag queens of all time, listen to her journey here. In another episode, hear author and podcaster Dan Savage unpack terms like heteronormativity and non-monogamy.

Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness

The lovable Queer Eye star has one of the most popular podcasts of all time with “Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness.” Van Ness interviews new people every week on whatever their expertise may be: figure skating, medical patents, Bring It On (Gabrielle Union was on an episode, but it was actually about allyship, transparency, and activism). If you’re curious about something, why not go right to the people who do it best?

Let’s Go There with Shira & Ryan

“Let’s Go There with Shira & Ryan” from Audacy’s Channel Q is a daily review of trending news in pop culture and politics. Every day, Shira and Ryan are tackling the news topics that other people avoid with honest and irreverent takes on it all. From Hollywood strikes to pandemic trauma, rogue wedding photographers and the newest shows – whatever is happening in the world, they definitely want to go there.

Queery with Cameron Esposito

Earwolf’s “Queery with Cameron Esposito” invites luminaries from the LGBTQ+ family to share their stories in conversations less than an hour each. Hear guests’ stories of personality, identity, gender, sexuality, civil rights, and more in weekly episodes. Comedian Cameron chatted with poet Andrea Gibson, singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile, writer Ijeoma Oluo, and chef Christina Wilson, just to name a few amazing guests.

Never Before with Janet Mock

“Never Before with Janet Mock” is having fiercely intriguing conversations with stars like you’ve never heard before. “What kind of stars?” you ask. Oh, just Ms. Tina Knowle-Lawson, Beyoncé and Solange’s mother and mentor. Guests have also included Kris Jenner, Maxine Waters, Crissle West, and more. While there’s only one season of this Pineapple Street Studios podcast, the director/writer/producer of shows like Pose, Hollywood and The Politician can’t seem to stop making incredible content.

We’re Having Gay Sex

Comedian Ashley Gavin traded in 10-years of serial monogamy to sleep around and report back about it. Aided by her two friends “Cancel Coach” and “Youth in the Soundbooth,” they interview people from across the gender and sexuality spectrum on their sex lives. What’s hot, what’s not, and what’s far too unbearable to revisit, “We’re Having Gay Sex” is laugh-out-loud funny, raunchy, and just the slightest bit unhinged.

The Bald and the Beautiful with Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamo

Drag queens Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolodchikova host “The Bald and the Beautiful,” a podcast focused on makeup, fashion, and what makes someone beautiful. Well, it’s focused on that most of the time. But they’ve had on incredibly gorgeous guests like Bob the Drag Queen, Brittany “Kombucha Girl” Broski, Gigi Gorgeous, and even Trixie’s mom, to talk about what it takes to be beautiful.

Making Gay History

“Making Gay History” is an incredible podcast about prominent moments, movements, and figures in the LGBTQ+ community. This podcast features first-hand witnesses from rare archival interviews, painting personal portraits of those who fought in the name of progress. A recent season is “Coming of Age During the AIDS Crisis,” an often-overlooked time period in world history.

Bad in Bed

Sex educators and journalists Bobby Box (he/him) and Gabrielle Kassel (she/her) host “Bad in Bed: The Queer Sex Podcast” are chatting about topics like decriminalizing sex work, accessible sex toys, the medicalization of trans bodies, and even astrology. Guests from across the board are here to educate. Make sure to check out 20+ episodes of “Bad in Bed.”