From Canada funding Pride safety to Nevada enshrining same-sex marriage in its constitution, and the Supreme Court denying Kim Davis’ attempt to revisit marriage equality, 2025 proves that LGBTQ+ progress is real — but the fight isn’t over. HOT AIR breaks down the wins, frustrations, and ongoing battles with wit, sarcasm, and honesty.

When a name slip-up became a catalyst for a bigger lesson — host Joshua takes you behind the scenes of a mispronunciation, the backlash, and the real work of understanding microaggressions. Expect humor, humility, and actionable takeaways.

From New York to California, and all the way to the Netherlands — progressive leaders are rewriting the political playbook. In this episode of Hot Air, host Joshua Robert dives deep into how figures like Zohran Mamdani, Rob Jetten, Mikie Sherrill, and Abigail Spanberger are redefining leadership, defeating extremism, and proving that compassion and inclusivity win.

Joshua unpacks how California’s Prop 50 reshapes electoral fairness, how the Netherlands prepares for its first-ever gay prime minister, and how the Human Rights Campaign–backed gubernatorial victories in New Jersey and Virginia signal a cultural and political shift away from MAGA extremism..

Discover how Mel Robbins’ Let Them Theory can help you embrace the grey areas in life and relationships. Josh shares therapy insights, personal stories, and practical advice for letting go, navigating friendships, and finding peace in the in-between.

Dive into the supernatural with Hot Air’s Halloween special: haunted gay bars across the U.S., the cosmic mystery of 3I/Atlas, the ghost of Oscar Wilde, and a chilling listener’s haunted childhood letter. Queer hauntings, cosmic enigmas, and ghost stories you won’t forget.

Explore the queerest corners of horror and sci-fi with HOT AIR! Joshua MacLean counts down the Top 10 queer icons — from Buffy and Elvira to Catwoman and Mystique — and dives into why LGBTQ+ audiences have always loved monsters, misfits, and final girls.

Your LGBTQ+ news roundup is here. Kim Davis, rainbow crosswalks, Kitchener Pride cancellations, Snoop Dogg, church apologies, LGBTQ+ youth mental health, and EuroPride 2028—HOT AIR has the stories you need to know.

An eye-opening deep dive into the wild world of LGBTQ+ conspiracy theories—from gay aliens building the pyramids to rainbows controlling minds. Learn how fear turned into fabulousness and why queer culture always has the last laugh.

Explore the Supreme Court’s potential decisions on conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth in this HOT AIR episode. Joshua Robert breaks down the issue, shares critical insights, and provides resources for support.

In this episode of HOT AIR, Joshua Robert dives into three explosive stories shaking the nation. We break down the Trey Reed case, exploring the shocking new autopsy results funded by Colin Kaepernick and the ongoing fight for racial justice and transparency. Next, we examine Liberty Counsel’s decades-long campaign to overturn marriage equality, revealing the strategies this conservative legal group uses to challenge LGBTQ+ rights. Finally, we expose the disturbing conviction of Robert Morris, former pastor and spiritual advisor to Donald Trump, who pled guilty to sexually abusing a child. From racial injustice to attacks on civil rights and religious abuse, this episode uncovers the systems that protect power and punish the vulnerable.

Explore the queer legacy of Scream (1996)! Kevin Williamson’s gay influence, Ghostface, Billy & Stu, and why this slasher is a queer cult classic.

A masculine gay man’s first drag experience reveals freedom, self-expression, and embracing both masculine and feminine sides.

Join HOT AIR as we sit down with the host of The Necessary Conversation, Chad Kultgen, to explore family, MAGA parents, generational divides, and LGBTQ+ rights. Discover how hard conversations about politics, culture, and queer issues shape their podcast and real-life family dynamics.

Stay up-to-date with the latest LGBTQ+ news in this week’s Hot Air podcast episode. We cover the shocking Tampa Pride 2026 cancellation, LUSH’s trans flag bath bomb supporting TransHub, the controversial Department of Education partnership with Turning Point USA, a bipartisan bill to reinstate the LGBTQ+ youth suicide hotline, and reports of the FBI considering labeling transgender people as “nihilistic violent extremists.” Get all the details, context, and hot takes in one place — perfect for anyone following LGBTQ+ rights, queer news, and trans advocacy.

In this episode, we dive into the state of free speech in 2025, exploring how it’s classified, how corporations and political pressure silence voices, and why LGBTQ+ creators and activists are on the front lines of this fight. From Jimmy Kimmel’s controversial suspension to examples of censorship in schools, libraries, and social media platforms, we break down how media, money, and political influence shape the stories you see—and don’t see. Learn why it’s crucial to get your news from multiple sources, amplify marginalized voices, and question the narratives presented by mainstream outlets.

This episode explores the legacy of racial violence in the South, the long history of Black men found hanging and dismissed as suicide, and the ways corrupt police systems and complicit media keep these stories out of the headlines. Joshua breaks down why the lack of transparency, the silence from officials, and the limited news coverage are not accidents—they are part of a broader pattern of erasure in America’s fight against equality.

In this week’s Hot Air, Joshua Robert dives into three shocking LGBTQ+ stories & news that reveal just how far rights, visibility, and safety are still under attack. From Indonesia, where two men were publicly caned for hugging and kissing, to Yosemite National Park, where a nonbinary ranger was fired for flying the trans pride flag, and finally inside U.S. intelligence agencies, where LGBTQ+ employees faced mass firings and policy changes that could threaten gender-diverse individuals — this episode covers it all.

We break down the facts, the laws, and the controversies, giving you context, clarity, and the real story behind the headlines. If you want to stay informed on global LGBTQ+ rights, government policies, and stories that matter to queer communities, this episode is a must-listen.

We’re featuring a listener letter from a young Black gay man who shares his coming out story and the unique challenges of being queer in a Black community. While his family has been supportive, his experience navigating cultural expectations, homophobia, and the pressures placed on Black men offers a raw, honest look at how identity, race, and sexuality intersect.

In this week’s Hot Air, Joshua Robert dives into three shocking LGBTQ+ stories & news that reveal just how far rights, visibility, and safety are still under attack. From Indonesia, where two men were publicly caned for hugging and kissing, to Yosemite National Park, where a nonbinary ranger was fired for flying the trans pride flag, and finally inside U.S. intelligence agencies, where LGBTQ+ employees faced mass firings and policy changes that could threaten gender-diverse individuals — this episode covers it all.

We break down the facts, the laws, and the controversies, giving you context, clarity, and the real story behind the headlines. If you want to stay informed on global LGBTQ+ rights, government policies, and stories that matter to queer communities, this episode is a must-listen.

First, we hear from a newly out trans woman who takes us through her journey of growing up not understanding her feelings, discovering the word “transgender” for the first time in high school, and finally beginning her transition nearly a year ago. She opens up about her fears in today’s political climate, the resilience it takes to live authentically, and the courage it takes to be true to herself despite anti-trans rhetoric.

Then, we hear from a father of a transgender child who admits he didn’t understand at first. In his raw and honest letter, he shares what it’s like to learn how to support his kid, the challenges they’ve faced with school and small-town bias, and the realization that being a parent isn’t about “getting it”—it’s about unconditional love and showing up every day.