138.) The Pansy Craze: An Unprecedented Era of Queer Acceptance in the 1920s

With the LGBT+ Branch of the 988 Help Line being shut down, if you or someone you know needs help or just someone to talk to, The Trevor Project is available 24/7 year-round. You can reach them by phone at 1 866 488 7386 or through Chat at TheTrevorProject.org/Get-HelpRemember there are people out there who care and want to help you.

They dazzled onstage in feathers and pearls and then vanished under police raids and moral panic.

For a brief, glittering moment, drag queens were the toast of Prohibition-era nightlife… until they became public enemy number one.

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, America’s biggest cities erupted in what came to be known as the Pansy Craze a cultural explosion where openly queer performers headlined clubs, captivated audiences, and redefined gender expression under the glare of the spotlight. But behind the applause lurked danger. As the nation’s tolerance gave way to censorship and crackdowns, the very performers who once symbolized freedom were driven back into the shadows. In this episode, we explore the rise and fall of this forgotten chapter in queer history and what it reveals about the cost of visibility.

If you're craving a queer history podcast that unearths lost legacies and buried truths, Beers With Queers delivers stories that are bold, emotional, and overdue.

Hosted by Jordi and Brad, Beers With Queers brings chilling crimes, queer stories, and twisted justice to light all with a cold one in hand.

Press play, grab a drink, and join us as we uncover the darkest corners of LGBTQ+ history.

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