Welcome to a journey through LGBTQ history! Join E3 Radio’s own Anna DeShawn and Amanda W. Timpson of Yesterqueers as they share the powerful and often overlooked stories of groundbreaking LGBTQ+ people throughout history.
This compelling series features long-form and short videos, each dedicated to celebrating the lives and legacies of LGBTQ history-makers. Anna and Amanda bring their unique perspectives and passion for intersectional storytelling to these narratives, uncovering the resilience, activism, and artistry of these remarkable individuals.
LGBTQ+ stories must be told so history can’t erase us!
During Women’s History Month, Anna & Amanda will celebrate Isabell Pell, Ma Rainey, Jeanne Cordova, and Bobbie Lea Bennett. You can watch the stories every Wednesday on E3 Radio’s YouTube channel or listen every Friday on the Queer News podcast.
We hope you enjoy the series and share the stories with your community.
Our March 2025 Queer Women’s History Series
Episode One
Meet Isabel Pell: Lesbian Socialite and Hero of the French Resistance
In this episode, Anna & Amanda uncover the untold story of Isabel Pell—Raised among New York’s elite, she ditched high society, defied expectations, and ultimately joined the fight against the Nazis in France.This bold and rebellious queer woman defied expectations, loved who she wanted, and risked her life by joining the French Resistance during WWII.
In this episode you’ll discover:
✅ How she was banished from NYC’s elite for breaking all the rules
✅ The dramatic queer love affair that ended in a crash over the North Sea
✅ Why she risked it all to join the French Resistance in WWII
Episode Two
Ma Rainey Drops Wednesday, March 12th
In this episode, Anna & Amanda dive deep into the story of Gertrude ‘Ma’ Rainey, the Mother of the Blues. Born and raised in Alabama, she first took to the stage around the age of 12 and never looked back. Over the course of her nearly 40-year career Ma Rainey subverted every expectation with style and changed the face of American music.
In this episode you’ll discover:
✅ How Ma Rainey got her name
✅ Who once said that “after performing and working with Ma Rainey there was nowhere to go but to the Lord”
✅ Why Bessie Smith once had to bail Ma Rainey out of jail
This is Queer History Done Right.
Extra Extra: The Brister English Project: https://bristerep.org
Episode Three
Meet Jeanne Cordova: Mother of the West Coast LGBTQ Movement
In this episode, Anna & Amanda have a wide-ranging conversation about Jeanne Córdova and what lessons from her work are most relevant today. Born in Germany and raised in Los Angeles, Jeanne Córdova was the mother of the West Coast LGBTQ movement.
In this episode you’ll discover:
✅ Why entering a convent helped her realize she was a lesbian
✅ How she became a millionaire
✅ What a lifetime of activism taught her about gender and identity
This is Queer History Done Right.
Extra Extra: ‘When We Were Outlaws:’ https://bookshop.org/a/86770/9781935226512
Episode Four
Meet Bobbie Lea Bennett: Trans Disability Rights Activist
In this episode, Anna & Amanda discuss the life and activism of Bobbie Lea Bennett, the first person with a disability ever to receive gender affirming surgery in the United States.
In this episode you’ll discover:
✅ Why Bobbie drove from San Diego to Washington D.C. to confront President Carter.
✅ What Bobbie did to celebrate her 1974 acceptance into a gender care clinic.
✅ Who referred to Bobbie as “Bionic Woman.”
This is Queer History Done Right.
Undead Voice: https://undeadvoice.com