Netflix Announces New LGBTQ+ Podcast

Streaming giant Netflix doesn't just offer movies and TV shows; it offers podcasts, too, including the newly-announced, LGBTQ+-themed "The Gay Agenda," slated to premiered Jan. 10.

The 45-minute podcast "will look at the lives of LGBTQ+ creatives at the top of their fields across different industries," Variety reported. "The goal, the streaming service says, is to be celebratory, championing success stories 'through a loving and humorous lens.' "

Variety noted that "The Gay Agenda" "will be produced by Most, which is Netflix's banner for its LGBTQ+ storytelling," and that the show is the creation of "lesbian actress, singer/songwriter and podcaster Jasmin Savoy Brown, who appears in the buzzy new hit 'Yellowjackets' and the upcoming 'Scream' reboot."

Brown will serve as co-host, along with "producer and nonbinary actor, comic and playwright Liv Hewson," who is also Brown's co-star on "Yellowjackets," in which the two play high school athletes in a same-sex relationship.

"Interviewing guests this season made me a better person," the article quoted Brown as saying. "Hearing people's unique stories and perspectives on life and happiness was a learning experience and I don't take that for granted."

"Part of the impetus behind this podcast was creating a space to talk about being LGBTQ in entertainment that centered on something other than pain," Hewson added. "The pain is there of course, but the joy is too! We want to live in joy."

Netflix has courted LGBTQ+ viewers with inclusive programming, including as the docuseries "Coming Out Colton," the reality program "Queer Eye," and a number of Ryan Murphy-produced series and films. But viewers might be surprised to learn that the streamer also has a years-long history with the podcasting medium. "Netflix has launched over 40 podcasts since it formed a division devoted to the medium in 2018," Variety recalled, noting that " 'The Gay Agenda' marks the company's first LGBTQ+ podcast and comes as Netflix has moved much more aggressively into the audio space."

Netflix described the first two episodes in a media release email sent out to journalists on Jan. 4. "The first episode, launching January 10, kicks off with co-hosts Brown and Hewson expressing the importance of celebrating queer joy and welcomes nonbinary actor Bex Taylor-Klaus (they/them), who proudly and humorously identifies as a 'problem'," the release detailed.

"Episode 2, launches on January 17 with director, writer, actor Natalie Morales (she/they, Director of 'Language Lessons'), who waxes nostalgically about the various queer characters they have portrayed including an asexual axolotl on 'BoJack Horseman,' their religious mother's deep friendships with gay men, along with a spirited bonus rapid-fire game of Gender This!" the release added.

Season One will comprise eight episodes, and is set to welcome a roster of other LGBTQ+ guests, the release said, including "Ally Beardsley (they/them), actor Javicia Leslie (she/her), comedian Caleb Hearon (he/him), author Carmen Maria Machado (she/her), actor Leo Sheng (he/him), and writer/comedian/actor Fortune Feimster (she/her)."