Welcome to the History Extra podcast, fascinating historical conversations from the makers of BBC History Magazine.

How did same-sex couples in the Georgian era express their love in the face of the law?

Did class, sex or race impact how someone could

express their true identity? And just what was the so-called third sex? Dr Anthony Delaney

answers these questions and more in conversation with Isabel King in today's podcast, Discussing his new book, Queer Georgians.

Anthony, you've recently written a wonderful book all about the lives and loves of several

interesting and important people during the Georgian period.

We'll get into discussing the lives of these characters soon, but before we do, I just wanted

to take some time to address the use of some characters soon, but before we do, I just wanted to take

some time to address the use of some terms when discussing same-sex relationships in the past.

In the title of your book, you use the word queer. Why was this your chosen term? And to what

extent do you think that we can place modern day labels onto people's sexualities or gender identities in the

past? I think one of the most important things that we can do, regardless of the terminology

that we're using, is talk about and tell these histories. I think that is first and foremost.

The second thing I would say about the use of the word queer,

which was used in the 18th century,

but not necessarily in the same context that we use it today,

is that I've had conversations with people about the title,

queer Georgians, and people often say to me,

so why queer?

Obviously, queer is not a word that they were using in this

context in the 18th century, but nobody ever says, why have you used the word Georgians? They wouldn't

...