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In this episode, OA contributor Logan Scherer returns to a topic that has been his persistent curiosity for nearly a decade: romantic male friendships. Grappling with how to define his own relationship with his best friend, Logan explores the archives and accounts of 19th century men who clasped hands, hugged, shared tears, wrote deeply intimate letters to one another, and shared beds. Logan conducts new interviews with Dr. Anya Jabour, Dr. Sergio Lussana, and writer Brontez Purnell to explore the unique history of bedfellows who are, for him, “queerer…than any form of intimacy…in the twenty-first-century.”

To read Logan’s essay, “Bedfellows Forever” and to find excerpts and images of nineteenth century male romantic friendships visit our website.

This episode was produced by Sara A. Lewis, Logan Scherer, Noah Britton, Christian Brown, and Alice Berry, with Christian Leus and Patrick McDermott. Adam Forrester and Sydney Nichols are our Points South interns. Thanks to Brontez Purnell and Doctors Anya Jabour and Sergio Lussana.  Letters from William Wirt are accessible via the Library of Virginia. Additional recording done by WEAREPRODUCERS in Berlin, Germany, University of Montana Missoula, Outset Studios in London, and Skyline Studios in Oakland. Post-production by Curtis Fye and Trey Pollard of Spacebomb.

This episode is supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Hear more Points South and see bonus content at https://oxfordamerican.org/pointssouth.