Susan Stryker: Trump's War on Transgender People, A Historian's View

Susan Stryker: Trump's War on Transgender People, A Historian's View

Author: Jeffrey Masters April 26, 2025 Duration: 44:52

Why is the world so threatened by the existence of trans people? Historian Susan Stryker joins us to break it all down. She talks about how she's thinking about the onslaught of attacks targeting the trans community, her time with the activist group Transgender Nation, and why she views transness as "a practice of freedom". 

This is a part of our special series, The LGBTQ+ Elders Project. ⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠ to listen to our new interview with Edmund White.

⁠LGBTQ&A⁠ is an independent, listener-supported podcast. ⁠Click here⁠ to check out our Substack and learn more about how to support our work.

LGBTQ&A features interviews with the most interesting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people in the world. Hosted and produced by Jeffrey Masters. ⁠⁠@jeffmasters1⁠


Each week, LGBTQ&A presents a conversation that feels more like a deep, personal discussion than a formal interview. Host Jeffrey Masters guides these talks, creating a space where guests can share not just their achievements, but the real stories and experiences that shaped them. You’ll hear from a wide spectrum of voices within the community, from celebrated artists and politicians to groundbreaking activists and thinkers, all of whom offer unique perspectives on identity, culture, and the ongoing fight for equality. The roster speaks for itself, featuring illuminating talks with figures like Laverne Cox on visibility, Janelle Monáe on artistry and autonomy, Pete Buttigieg on public service, and the powerful insights of Angela Davis. What sets this podcast apart is its commitment to the nuanced, human narrative behind each public persona. It’s not about quick soundbites; it’s about understanding the journeys, the challenges, and the joys that define contemporary LGBTQ+ life. Tuning in means connecting with intimate, often surprising stories that you won’t find anywhere else, all framed by Jeffrey’s thoughtful and engaged questioning. This is a weekly invitation to listen, learn, and feel a deeper connection to the vibrant and diverse community it represents.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

LGBTQ&A
Podcast Episodes
Carmelita Tropicana: The Accidental Queen of Downtown Performance Art [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:17
Carmelita Tropicana was created almost by accident: a made-up name, blurted out at a radio broadcast in the 1980s. But Carmelita, and the woman behind the character, Alina Troyano, went on to become one of the pillars of…
Karla Jay: The Lesbian Stonewall That History Forgot [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:31
Longtime activist Karla Jay recalls the early days of the Gay Liberation Front, the all-women's dance that ended in a mafia raid, and the Lavender Menace's 1970 takeover of the Second Congress to Unite Women that produce…
Alan Shayne: At 100, Looking Back on a Gay Life in Hollywood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:06
At 100 years old, Alan Shayne's life has spanned the entirety of the modern LGBTQ rights movement. He got his start acting on Broadway in the 1940s, then became a casting director (casting Barbra Streisand, Diane Keaton,…
Barney Frank: We Are Change Agents (1940-2026) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:38
Rep. Barney Frank, the Massachusetts Congressman who served in the U.S. House of Representatives for over thirty years, died at the age of 86. The first member of Congress to voluntarily come out as gay, Frank became one…
Robert Suttle: The Case for Ending HIV Criminalization [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:58
Across 32 states, outdated HIV criminalization laws continue to punish people living with HIV. Robert Suttle shares his story of being prosecuted in Louisiana after a former partner accused him of not disclosing his stat…