UNCLOSETED with Spencer Macnaughton

Spencer Macnaughton

UNCLOSETED with Spencer Macnaughton is a podcast that investigates the people, money and power behind anti-LGBTQ ecosystems. Join Spencer twice a month as he interviews newsmakers about the most pressing issues facing the LGBTQ community today. From highlighting the voices of people fighting back against systems of injustice to challenging the forces attempting to undermine queer rights, UNCLOSETED with Spencer Macnaughton offers a perspective on LGBTQ issues you don’t find anywhere else. Spencer Macnaughton is a Gracie Award-winning and Emmy-nominated journalist. He has written and produced for 60 Minutes, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Vice, Vox, Time, NBC News, The Guardian, and Rolling Stone, and he teaches LGBTQ journalism at New York University. He founded Uncloseted Media, a nonprofit news publication focused on investigative journalism, in 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 5d ago

    'Hand Jobs, Oral Sex and Anal': Pete Hegseth's Pastor Wants Gay Men Prosecuted for These Acts

    In February, Doug Wilson made headlines after giving a sermon at the Pentagon as part of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s monthly Christian worship service. Wilson, the lead pastor at Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, holds a number of controversial views: He believes the U.S. should become a Christian theocracy, married women shouldn’t have the right to vote and gay sex should be illegal.  In his first interview with an LGBTQ publication, Wilson talks about his connections to Hegseth and others in the Trump administration. He estimates that 10 to 20 people in the government are aligned with his radical ideology. He explains that he thinks trans people are “sad,” certain elements of his idea of “homosexual behavior” should be punished by execution and in certain cases of marital rape, both parties should be disciplined.   “UNCLOSETED with Spencer Macnaughton” is a new podcast by Uncloseted Media, an investigative LGBTQ-focused nonprofit news publication. Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. YouTube // Spotify // Apple Host: Spencer Macnaughton Reporting: Hope Pisoni Audio Production Intern: Bella Sayegh Editor: Sean Robinson Social producer/Design: Sophie Holland Special thanks: Jennifer Moroz and Leital Molad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    'Hand Jobs, Oral Sex and Anal': Pete Hegseth's Pastor Wants Gay Men Prosecuted for These Acts

  2. Jul 16

    A Proud Boy and Former KKK Member Speaks Out as Patriot Front Makes Headlines

    Brien James, who joined the Ku Klux Klan as a teenager, speaks with Uncloseted Media about far-right extremists’ views on LGBTQ people in 2026. For my newsletter this week, I wanted to take a deeper look into Patriot Front, the white nationalist group that made headlines last weekend with huge rallies across Washington, D.C. One photo, taken by a Reuters journalist, displayed a Black woman on the subway surrounded by dozens of anonymous Patriot Front members. As I read into what happened, it made me think of my years of reporting on far-right extremism. What are they thinking right now? And how has the landscape of far-right extremism and white supremacy changed in the last 10 years? I opened my phone, searched through my contacts and found “Brien KKK.” James says he joined the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) in his teens after attending a high school that was “80% Black.” According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, he then co-founded the Vinlanders Social Club, a coalition of regional skinhead groups known for racist violence. He also participated in numerous white nationalist rallies over his multiple decades in the far-right movement. And in the summer of 2011, the Vinlanders held a white power concert, entitled “Plunder and Pillage,” which reportedly drew more than 50 skinheads to Ohio from around the country. While James no longer considers himself a white nationalist or a skinhead and has since left the KKK, he is still a member of the Proud Boys, a far-right militia group most infamous for being one of the biggest players in the Jan. 6 attacks on the U.S. Capitol. James makes it clear that the Proud Boys and Patriot Front have different ideologies: The former denies that it is a white supremacist group, for example. Still, both groups have been known to organize and attend protests, often violent ones, against pride and drag events. In this interview with Uncloseted Media’s Editor in Chief Spencer Macnaughton, James offers insight into where far-right extremism in America is today and how those following the ideology view the LGBTQ community. “UNCLOSETED with Spencer Macnaughton” is a new podcast by Uncloseted Media, an investigative LGBTQ-focused nonprofit news publication. Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Host: Spencer Macnaughton Editor: Izzy Stokes and Laury Peyssonnerie Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    A Proud Boy and Former KKK Member Speaks Out as Patriot Front Makes Headlines

  3. Jul 7

    Drag Race Legend Silky Nutmeg Ganache Speaks on Sex and Dating, Gender, Politics and Her Weight Loss Journey.

    After appearing on the 11th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, the first season of Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. the World, the sixth season of RuPaul’s All Stars and now the 11th season of All Stars, Silky Nutmeg Ganache, known by many as the Reverend, is undoubtedly a legend.  Born and raised in Moss Point, Mississippi, Ganache bears all in this episode of “UNCLOSETED with Spencer Macnaughton.” She speaks about her relationship with gender, her 100-pound weight loss, what it’s like living as a queer person of color in a red state and why she’s calling on allies to stand up for the trans community.  “UNCLOSETED with Spencer Macnaughton” is a new podcast by Uncloseted Media, an investigative LGBTQ-focused nonprofit news publication. Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. YouTube // Spotify // Apple Host: Spencer Macnaughton Audio Production Intern: Bella Sayegh Editor: Izzy Stokes Social producer/Design: Sophie Holland Special thanks: Jennifer Moroz and Leital Molad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Drag Race Legend Silky Nutmeg Ganache Speaks on Sex and Dating, Gender, Politics and Her Weight Loss Journey.

  4. Jun 23

    Bryon Noem’s Dominatrix Speaks With Uncloseted Media

    In April, dominatrix and sex worker Shy Sotomayor revealed that she had had a nine-year professional relationship with Bryon Noem, the husband of former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Following reports in March that Bryon Noem had allegedly engaged in feminization and “bimbofication” fetishes with other sex workers, Sotomayor is sharing more details about his interest in trans identities.  These interests represent a stark contrast to his wife’s anti-trans record. As Governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem signed bills into law that allow businesses to use religious refusal to deny service to LGBTQ people; ban gender-affirming care for trans youth; and ban trans women and girls from competing on women’s and girls’ sports teams. Through all of this, Bryon Noem never denounced his wife’s policies.  In addition, experts have raised concerns about Bryon Noem’s relationship with sex workers from a national security standpoint. “If a media organization can find this out, you can assume with a high degree of confidence that a hostile intelligence service knows this as well,” Marc Polymeropoulos, a former CIA officer, told the Daily Mail. “Damaging information like this can be a tantalizing lead for a hostile intelligence service.” In this episode of “UNCLOSETED, with Spencer Macnaughton,” Sotomayor speaks about her nine-year online relationship with Bryon Noem and describes the terrifying moment where she was almost caught by Kristi, who at the time was one of the country’s most powerful intelligence officers. “UNCLOSETED, with Spencer Macnaughton” is a new podcast by Uncloseted Media, an investigative LGBTQ-focused nonprofit news publication. Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. YouTube // Spotify // Apple Note: If you are questioning your gender identity and don’t feel safe reaching out to anyone you know, The Trevor Project has a handbook on how to navigate this as well as 24/7 crisis support via calls and messaging with counselors. Host: Spencer Macnaughton Editor: Sean Robinson Social producer/Design: Sophie Holland Additional Reporting: Hope Pisoni Special thanks: Jennifer Moroz and Leital Molad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Bryon Noem’s Dominatrix Speaks With Uncloseted Media

  5. Jun 9

    Canadian Porn Star Milo Miles Was Banned From the US for 10 Years. Now, He's Speaking Out.

    “UNCLOSETED, with Spencer Macnaughton” is a new podcast by Uncloseted Media, an investigative LGBTQ-focused nonprofit news publication. Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. YouTube // Spotify // Apple Milo Miles, a Toronto-based adult film actor, was recently banned from entering the United States for the next 10 years after he says he was detained and questioned by Customs and Border Protection agents over the course of two days.  Miles, who was trying to fly to Las Vegas from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, says he had never faced significant issues at the border ahead of this instance.  While U.S. Customs does have the right to deny entry to people they believe have engaged in sex work, Miles says he was questioned for upwards of eight hours, often about his sexual orientation. He says one agent asked him why he has so many “gay clothes” and if he was “sick” upon seeing his PrEP medication and his fiber pills.  In this episode of “UNCLOSETED, with Spencer Macnaughton,” Miles sits down for his first on-camera interview to explain his experience, what he thinks Prime Minister Mark Carney should do in response to this treatment and why he believes all LGBTQ travelers should avoid the U.S. right now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Canadian Porn Star Milo Miles Was Banned From the US for 10 Years. Now, He's Speaking Out.

  6. May 26

    Peppermint Made Her Mark on Drag Race. Now, Her Advocacy Is Front and Center

    “UNCLOSETED, with Spencer Macnaughton” is a new podcast by Uncloseted Media, an investigative LGBTQ-focused nonprofit news publication. Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. YouTube // Spotify // Apple You may know Peppermint as a runner-up on season 9 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Or for her stint as the first trans competitor on the runaway hit “The Traitors.” Or for her relentless activism at a time when the Trump administration is waging an unprecedented attack on the LGBTQ community.   Now, Peppermint is getting set to be one of New York City Pride’s official grand marshals. And she’s doing that while upholding the legacy of the trans women of color who were at the Stonewall Uprising in 1969.  In this episode of “UNCLOSTED, with Spencer Macnaughton,” Spencer sits down with Peppermint to hear about what it means to be a Black trans woman at the forefront of the LGBTQ movement during the second Trump administration. Host: Spencer Macnaughton Audio Production Intern: Bella Sayegh Editor: Laury Peyssonnerie Social producer/Design: Sophie Holland Special thanks: Jennifer Moroz and Leital Molad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Peppermint Made Her Mark on Drag Race. Now, Her Advocacy Is Front and Center

  7. May 20

    White Supremacists and Lone Wolves Are Absent From Trump's Counterterrorism Strategies. Why?

    On May 6, the Trump administration released their new counterterrorism strategy. It delineated three “major types of terror groups,” including “narcoterrorists and transnational gangs,” “legacy Islamist terrorists” and “violent left-wing extremists, including anarchists and anti-fascists.” In a glaring departure from the Biden administration’s strategy focused on far-right extremists and white supremacists, the Trump administration is cracking down on ideology that they call “anti-American, radically pro-transgender, and anarchist.”  In this episode of “UNCLOSETED, with Spencer Macnaughton,” Spencer talks with Jon Lewis, a researcher at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, as well as University of Maryland distinguished psychology professor Arie Kruglanski, to learn about what this new characterization of terrorism means for the safety of LGBTQ people and the security of all Americans.  “UNCLOSETED, with Spencer Macnaughton” is a new podcast by Uncloseted Media, an investigative LGBTQ-focused nonprofit news publication. Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. YouTube // Spotify // Apple. CREDITS: Host: Spencer Macnaughton Audio Production Intern: Bella Sayegh Editor: Izzy Stokes Social producer/Design: Sophie Holland Special thanks: Jennifer Moroz and Leital Molad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    White Supremacists and Lone Wolves Are Absent From Trump's Counterterrorism Strategies. Why?

  8. May 13

    Our Journalist Spoke to Four Trans Foster Kids Who All Attempted Suicide. Why?

    LGBTQ kids make up a third of the American foster care system and transgender kids enter it at five times the rate of the general population. But in 2026, there are few legal protections for LGBTQ youth in the system. Uncloseted Media’s Sam Donndelinger spoke with case workers, advocates and survivors of the foster care system and uncovered why it’s failing trans kids. In this episode of “UNCLOSETED, with Spencer Macnaughton,” Spencer sits down with Sam and breaks down the story’s key findings.  “UNCLOSETED, with Spencer Macnaughton” is a new podcast by Uncloseted Media, an investigative LGBTQ-focused nonprofit news publication. Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. YouTube // Spotify // Apple CREDITS: Host: Spencer Macnaughton Audio Production Intern: Bella Sayegh Editor: Taya Strauss Social producer/Design: Sophie Holland Special thanks: Jennifer Moroz and Leital Molad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Our Journalist Spoke to Four Trans Foster Kids Who All Attempted Suicide. Why?
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About

UNCLOSETED with Spencer Macnaughton is a podcast that investigates the people, money and power behind anti-LGBTQ ecosystems. Join Spencer twice a month as he interviews newsmakers about the most pressing issues facing the LGBTQ community today. From highlighting the voices of people fighting back against systems of injustice to challenging the forces attempting to undermine queer rights, UNCLOSETED with Spencer Macnaughton offers a perspective on LGBTQ issues you don’t find anywhere else. Spencer Macnaughton is a Gracie Award-winning and Emmy-nominated journalist. He has written and produced for 60 Minutes, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Vice, Vox, Time, NBC News, The Guardian, and Rolling Stone, and he teaches LGBTQ journalism at New York University. He founded Uncloseted Media, a nonprofit news publication focused on investigative journalism, in 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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