God is Gay

Asher O’Briant
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Sexuality
  • Updated Semiweekly

What happens when a philosopher and a comedian walk into a podcast? Everything comes out! Asher O’Briant and Liz Bein discuss queer themes within all religions. Researching and serving up stories within art, history, spirituality, & pop culture that have been swept under the rug. The show’s akin to “Drunk History” but with gay tea instead. With a tone that somewhere between meditative and tabloid gossip, “God is Gay” is certain to offend at least one person at every dinner party!

  1. Speaking in Tongue & Cheek

    15h ago

    Speaking in Tongue & Cheek

    Episode 16: She can talk the talk, but can she walk the walk in high heels? An exploration of comedian Meg Stalter and where preaching meets performance.

    27 min
  2. The Purple One

    May 28

    The Purple One

    Episode 15: Poet, rockstar, fashion icon, and possibly the second coming of Jesus? The life and legend behind Prince Rogers Nelson and how he reshaped gender norms within the pop-culture and religion! Source material: Analyzing the lyrics: Queer Music themes in Rock | School of Rock. (n.d.-a). https://www.schoolofrock.com/resources/music-education/analyzing-the-lyrics-queer-themes-in-rock-music  BYU scholarsarchive. (n.d.-b). https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1244&context=studiaantiqua&httpsredir=1  Ellen G. White | adventist.org. (n.d.-c). https://adventist.org/identity/history/ellen-white  Gender in plants: Sex chromosomes are emerging from the fog - sciencedirect. (n.d.-d). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168952504001568 Gnosticism: Religion and philosophy: Research starters: EBSCO research. EBSCO. (n.d.-a). https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/religion-and-philosophy/gnosticism  Grundy, P. (n.d.). Why beards are not allowed for jehovah’s witnesses. Clothing Guidelines for Jehovah’s Witnesses. https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/clothing-attire-jehovahs-witnesses.php  The roles of women in the Seventh-day Adventist church significance of Ellen G. White counsels | biblical research institute. (n.d.-e).https://adventistbiblicalresearch.org/articles/the-roles-of-women-in-the-seventh-day-adventist-church-significance-of-ellen-g-white-counsels  Rolling Stone. (2023, October 6). Prince and his Fashion Revolution. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-lists/prince-and-his-fashion-revolution-10940/  Sussex Publishers. (n.d.). What does “agnostic” mean? Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-secular-life/201906/what-does-agnostic-mean

    32 min
  3. Liz has a Philosophy Degree?

    May 24

    Liz has a Philosophy Degree?

    Episode 14: Are Trad-wives just Christian Nationalist Drag Queens? This week we explore the world of Tradwives through the lense of transcendence. Trigger Warning: existentialism.  Source material: ​Gatti Tussin, Katie. “Https://Www.diabolicalliespod.com/P/Evie-Magazine-Ballerina-Farm-And?Utm_source=Share&Utm_medium=Android&R=1zjjqb&TriedRedirect=True.”Substack.com, 2026, open.substack.com/pub/diabolicallies/p/evie-magazine-ballerina-farm-and?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1zjjqb. Accessed 3 May 2026.​burke, caro claire, and Katie Gatti Tassin. “Blonde Highlights Are Gender-Affirming Care.” Substack.com, Diabolical Lies, 8 Aug. 2024, substack.com/@caroclaireburke/note/p-147481988?r=1zjjqb. Accessed 3 May 2026.​BBC. “The Fabulous History of Drag.” BBC Bitesize, BBC, 5 Sept. 2019, www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zbkmkmn.​Claire Burke, Caro. “Yesteryear”. Alfred A. Knopf New York, April 2026​Gandhi, Lakshmi. “NPR Choice Page.” Npr.org, 2020, www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2013/12/23/256566647/the-extraordinary-story-of-why-a-cakewalk-wasnt-always-easy.​Hodges , Emerson . “Drag Played a Crucial Role in Challenging White Supremacy.” Southern Poverty Law Center, 23 July 2025, www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/drag-and-black-resilience/.​Satre, Jean Paul. “Being and Nothingness”. 1943.

    39 min
  4. Offending Ofrendas

    May 17

    Offending Ofrendas

    Episode 13: The discovery, the recovery, and the re-discovery of the Moche civilization's ofrendas - also known as "sex pots". Words cannot do them justice, but damn do we try! Source material: Development, P. (2018, September 15). Queer as fact. Moche Sex Pots. https://queerasfact.podbean.com/e/moche-sex-pots/  Gillan, J. (1970, September 1). The Moche uncensored! 15 surprising erotic ceramics of Peru. Ancient Origins Reconstructing the story of humanity’s past. https://www.ancient-origins.net/artifacts-other-artifacts/moche-pottery-images-0017314  Object of intrigue: Moche sex pots - atlas obscura. (n.d.-a). https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/object-of-intrigue-moche-sex-pots  Projects: Huaca De La Luna. Huaca de la Luna. (n.d.). https://www.wmf.org/projects/huaca-de-la-luna  Roller, S. (2020, November 24). The Moche temples. History Hit. https://www.historyhit.com/locations/the-moche-temples/  Sodomites, Siamese twins, and scholars: Same‐sex relationships in Moche art - wołoszyn - 2015 - american anthropologist - wiley online library. (n.d.-b). https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aman.12250  Wikimedia Foundation. (2026, May 12). Moche culture. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moche_culture

    35 min
  5. Get Thee to a Nunnery

    May 10

    Get Thee to a Nunnery

    Episode 12: Retelling of the amazing love of Joanie Lindenmeyer and Carol Tierheimer. Both women were called by God to serve him as nuns in the  catholic church-- or so they thought. Turns out God can be a meticulous the matchmaker! Source material: Lindenmeyer, J., & Tierheimer, C. (2023). Nun better: An amazing love story. Atkins & Greenspan Publishing. Breaking the habit: ‘Nun Better’ tells story of nuns who fell in love - Ashland News - Community-Supported, NonProfit NewsBy Bert Etling Year: 2023 Container: Ashland News - Community-Supported, NonProfit News URL: https://ashland.news/breaking-the-habit-nun-better-tells-story-of-nuns-who-fell-in-love/

    32 min
  6. Behind Back Doors

    May 3

    Behind Back Doors

    Episode 11: How a bookstore operating by a straight Jewish couple became a safe haven for gay pornography during the HIV crisis. These allies took on the LAPD, the FBI, and the United States President! Source material: ​Held, R. S. (n.d.). Loving our neighbor. Hadar Institute. https://www.hadar.org/torah-tefillah/resources/loving-our-neighbor ​History. Circus of Books. (n.d.). https://circusofbooks.com/pages/history ​Los Angeles Times. (2020, April 21). Review: What was a nice jewish couple doing in a business like this?. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-04-21/circus-of-books-review-netflix-lgbtq ​Scheinerman, R. (2025, March 14). The seven genders in the Talmud. My Jewish Learning. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/the-eight-genders-in-the-talmud/ ​Wikimedia Foundation. (2026a, March 22). Circus of Books. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_of_Books ​Wikimedia Foundation. (2026b, April 2). Chi Chi LaRue. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_Chi_LaRue

    21 min
  7. Unsung Heroes w/ Guest

    Apr 26

    Unsung Heroes w/ Guest

    Episode 10: Three way conversation with special guest Elizabeth Joan Harris. Swapping stories of the history behind castrati and the science behind THICC vocal folds that make up the "gay voice". ELIZABETH JOAN HARRIS, BELLA FIGLIA, IS A MULTIDISCIPLINARY, GENRE- FLUID ARTIST AND SOUND DESIGNER. bella figlia extracts the divinity from the mundane, fuses the grotesque to the holy, and finds the sensual in the spiritual. When she’s not making her own work, she runs her own business FEEL IMAGINE GENERATE helping creatives find their voice through music therapy, music lessons, creative coaching, audio production and songwriting, and trans voice alteration. @feelimaginegenerate @bellafiglia777 Source material: ​The church and the Baroque · V&A. Victoria and Albert Museum. (n.d.). https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/the-church-and-the-baroque?srsltid=AfmBOooGHlET62CU9pS9aUPMmmuWAY8x9MUJ140TYV7C6qfeKYM8Wx9D ​McCormack on Trans Identity and castrati roles. Haymarket Opera Company. (n.d.-a). http://www.haymarketopera.org/mccormack-on-trans-identity-and-castrati-roles ​Portrait of a castrato. (n.d.-a). https://assets.cambridge.org/97805218/85218/excerpt/9780521885218_excerpt.pdf ​Theology of the odd body: The castrati, the church, and the transgender moment | free inquiry. (n.d.-a). https://secularhumanism.org/2015/07/cont-theology-of-the-odd-body-the-castrati-the-church-and-the-transgender-m/ ​What a queer institution was the castrati - the gay & lesbian review. (n.d.-b). https://glreview.org/article/what-a-queer-institution-was-the-castrati/ ​The eroticism of emasculation: Confronting the baroque body of the castrato. (n.d.-b). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249977612_The_Eroticism_of_Emasculation_Confronting_the_Baroque_Body_of_the_Castrato ​Handel, sarrasine - göttingen. Forum Opéra. (2024, May 16). https://www.forumopera.com/spectacle/handel-sarrasine-gottingen/ ​Leight, E. (2021, February 12). A teenage Tevin Campbell didn’t feel ready to sing prince’s songs. now, he’s glad he did. Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/tevin-campbell-interview-im-ready-prince-1125830/ ​The male soprano - believer magazine. (n.d.-c). https://www.thebeliever.net/the-male-soprano/ ​OperaWireAdmin2. (2024, May 28). Göttingen International Händel Festival 2024 Review: Sarrasine. OperaWire. https://operawire.com/gottingen-international-handel-festival-2024-review-sarrasine/ ​O’Brien, K. (2022, September 9). “who cares what gender I am?” inside the extravagant world of a rare male soprano. The Age. https://www.theage.com.au/culture/music/who-cares-what-gender-i-am-inside-the-extravagant-world-of-a-rare-male-soprano-20220906-p5bfst.html ​Privilege, possibility, and perversion: Rethinking the study of early modern sexuality | request PDF. (n.d.-a). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249157492_Privilege_Possibility_and_Perversion_Rethinking_the_Study_of_Early_Modern_Sexuality ​YouTube. (n.d.-a). https://youtu.be/IudnowP8ZNg?si=jqwCguMUWVvkC2IZ ​YouTube. (n.d.-b). https://youtu.be/BeBovcbVeQ4?si=keGmeU7y8iKEFPgv ​YouTube. (n.d.-c). https://youtu.be/dkDwl2EJJXw?si=HuUFpQfLZNmQSP7T ​YouTube. (n.d.-d). https://youtu.be/mlufdXGZB_M?si=amsOL6374R-NBgdc ​YouTube. (n.d.-e). https://youtu.be/HcOoVrXwprA?si=9rOCSg_NbgVr6Pot

    45 min
  8. Splish Splash in the Bath House

    Apr 19

    Splish Splash in the Bath House

    Episode 9: Where did bath houses begin and how did they become a staple of gay cruising? Wear your rain boots cause it’s gonna get WET! Source Material: ​Beside, L. W. (2019, May 13). The secret gay history of islam. LGBT World Beside. https://www.lgbtworldbeside.org/ru/post/the-secret-gay-history-of-islam ​Homosexuality in the halls of the islamic caliphate | by Rami Zahra | Medium. (n.d.-a). https://medium.com/@rami_zahra/homosexuality-in-the-halls-of-the-islamic-caliphate-fd0743dddeda ​Sadiq, T. (2019, September 21). The legend of abu nuwas – homo-eroticism and Arabic poetry. Dariya Ke Us Paar. https://dariyakeuspaar.wordpress.com/2019/09/21/the-legend-of-abu-nuwas-homo-eroticism-and-arabic-poetry/ ​Sood, S. (2022, February 24). The origins of bathhouse culture around the world. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20121129-the-origins-of-bathhouse-culture-around-the-world ​Stroozas, S. (2026, April 8). As Minneapolis reconsiders its adult bathhouse ban, here’s what to know about the history. MPR News. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/04/08/minneapolis-bathhouse-ban-history ​The undeniably homoerotic nature of a traditional hammam - gaycities. (n.d.-b). https://www.gaycities.com/articles/97405/the-undeniably-homoerotic-nature-of-a-traditional-hammam/

    33 min
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About

What happens when a philosopher and a comedian walk into a podcast? Everything comes out! Asher O’Briant and Liz Bein discuss queer themes within all religions. Researching and serving up stories within art, history, spirituality, & pop culture that have been swept under the rug. The show’s akin to “Drunk History” but with gay tea instead. With a tone that somewhere between meditative and tabloid gossip, “God is Gay” is certain to offend at least one person at every dinner party!

Information

  • Creator
    Asher O’Briant
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Asher O’Briant
  • Show Website
    God is Gay