On this episode of Swerve South, Jaime and Theresa follow up the last episode’s discussion of proto-feminist 1970s television with a conversation about the surprising outpouring of queer representation in 1980s pop culture. While the ’80s—a decade defined by the conservatism of the Reagan administration and the devastation of the AIDS crisis—is typically viewed as a low point for LGBTQ acceptance, this episode celebrates the many expressions of queerness in 1980s music, film, television, sports, and more. From mainstream offerings like Personal Best (1982) and Culture Club to more underground, alternative fare like Atlanta’s public access variety show The American Music Show and the cult films of John Waters, this episode chips away at the conservative veneer of the ’80s and anticipates the explosion of queer culture to come in the 1990s.

Show notes and extras: https://sarahisomcenter.org/swerve-south/2021/2/1/the-queer-80s-season-3-episode-2