Netflix launched its first gay podcast, The Gay Agenda, on January 10th. The Gay Agenda, produced by Most and Multitude, “takes an entertaining and honest look into the lives of LGBTQ+ creatives at the top of their fields across different industries and celebrates their success stories in the community through a loving and humorous lens.”
I’m unsure whether the series refers to “the gay agenda” in irony or as a legitimate movement. It seems to be the latter and I just never got the memo. Gabriella Korn, Netflix Editorial & Publishing Manager for MOST said, “With our first foray into the podcast space, MOST is entering a new era — one where the gay agenda continues to expand into all corners of our audience’s lives, making it easier and more fun than ever to discover Netflix’s LGBTQ+ talent, titles, and storytelling. I love this podcast so much; it’s truly a joy to listen to, and I hope it brings that same joy to our followers.”
The podcast promises to be a real reflection of the community. Jasmin Savoy Brown, lesbian actress, singer/songwriter and the podcast’s creator, said, “I’m proud of The Gay Agenda. It’s joyful, it’s inquisitive, it’s welcoming. I think it’s a real reflection of the LGBTQ+ community and I hope our listeners feel the same. Interviewing guests this season made me a better person. Hearing people’s unique stories and perspectives on life and happiness was a learning experience and I don’t take that for granted.”
The show’s “agenda” is to celebrate as well as commiserate; to acknowledge the pain while centering joy. Co-host, producer, actor, comic and playright, Liv Hewson, said, “The first item on The Gay Agenda is, of course, for our guests to have fun and be themselves. There’s room for all of it, for connection and healing and for irreverence and silliness. it’s serious and it isn’t. We contain multitudes! 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. The pain is there of course, but the joy is too! We want to live in joy.”
The first season has 45-minute episodes released over eight weeks. The first episode kicked off with Brown and Hewson discussing “Shakespeare and Tegan and Sara, softball and growing up queer and Jewish in the South” with actor Bex Taylor-Klaus. The second episode will feature director, writer and actor, Natalie Morales, and will explore Natalie’s portrayal of LGBT characters, religious mother’s deep friendships with gay men, and a rapid-fire game.
Guests for future episodes include Ally Beardsley, Javicia Leslie, Caleb Hearon, Carmen Maria Machado, Leo Sheng, and Fortune Feimster.
