Untold Stories of Gay Men in World War II - Hidden History Revealed

Apr 12, 2026 | Discover the hidden stories of gay men in World War II and the power of oral history with Stephen Bourne, author of Fighting Proud.

In this exclusive interview, historian Stephen Bourne reveals why the experiences of gay men during the world wars have long been overlooked, and how his acclaimed book, Fighting Proud, uncovers these powerful untold stories. Learn about figures like RAF hero Ian Glee and the touching love letters between Montague Glover and Ralph Hall, which survived wartime censorship. Stephen discusses the challenges of publishing gay history, the surprising acceptance some men found among their comrades, and the importance of recording oral histories, especially from marginalized communities.

You'll also hear about the evolution of Stephen's research, including his upcoming book on black women in Britain from the war years through the Windrush era and the birth of the NHS. Gain insight into why mainstream history has often ignored these narratives, and why sharing hidden voices from the past is vital for empowering communities today. If you're interested in LGBTQ+ history, diversity in the armed forces, or the value of oral history, this interview is a must-watch.

This video cannot be embedded on external websites; it must be viewed on YouTube itself. Here is a link to the interview.

Gay Life and The Enlightenment | Sir Noel Malcolm: The History of Homosexuality (4/4)

Jan 28, 2025 | In this lecture, Sir Noel Malcom makes the case that there was not a sudden surge in homosexuality after The Enlightenment, instead it was a continuation of practises which had always existed. Historians should consider the history of Europe and sexual exploration outside of Florence, as the focus on this area to the determent of others has led to many having been misled.

Sir Noel Malcolm is a British historian and author, known for his work in early modern history and the relationship between Europe and the Islamic world. He's a Senior Research Fellow at All Souls College, Oxford, and has written extensively on Thomas Hobbes, among other subjects. Knighted in 2014, he's also a Fellow of the British Academy and the Royal Society of Literature.

His book upon which these lectures were based, has been nominated for the 2025 The Duff Cooper Prize. It can be purchased here.

The first three parts of this lecture series can be found here: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

Effeminate versus Masculine Gay Men | Sir Noel Malcolm: The History of Homosexuality (3/4)

Jan 21, 2025 | Homosexual sexuality was not the same in every European country. In Western Europe, men could grow beards and tried to be stereotypically masculine to appeal to the same sex. In the Mediterranean, they would try to look as feminine as possible: shaving and trying to maintain a slender physique. In this lecture, Sir Noel Malcolm tracks these differences.

Sir Noel Malcolm is a British historian and author, known for his work in early modern history and the relationship between Europe and the Islamic world. He's a Senior Research Fellow at All Souls College, Oxford, and has written extensively on Thomas Hobbes, among other subjects. Knighted in 2014, he's also a Fellow of the British Academy and the Royal Society of Literature


Parts 1 & 2 here.

The History of Christianity and Homophobia | Sir Noel Malcolm: The History of Homosexuality (2/4)

Jan 16, 2025 | How has Judaism and Christianity understood and treated homosexuality throughout history? Throughout this fascinating lecture, learn how the answer is that it was radically different and varied across time and place. Discover the influence theology has had in the development of how various romantic acts were legally categorised.

Sir Noel Malcolm is a British historian and author, known for his work in early modern history and the relationship between Europe and the Islamic world. He's a Senior Research Fellow at All Souls College, Oxford, and has written extensively on Thomas Hobbes, among other subjects. Knighted in 2014, he's also a Fellow of the British Academy and the Royal Society of Literature


Part 1 of this lecture is to be found here.

How Historians Study Gay History | Sir Noel Malcolm: The History of Homosexuality (1/4)

Jan 14, 2025 | The same romantic behaviours have been categoried in radically different ways by varying cultures throughout history. This has created numerous issues for professional historians when trying to understand the historical homosexuality. In this lecture, these issues are covered as well as the stark differences in who was considered sexually 'deviant' in the High Islamic Age as well as The Renaissance Mediterranean.

Sir Noel Malcolm is a British historian and author, known for his work in early modern history and the relationship between Europe and the Islamic world. He's a Senior Research Fellow at All Souls College, Oxford, and has written extensively on Thomas Hobbes, among other subjects. Knighted in 2014, he's also a Fellow of the British Academy and the Royal Society of Literature