88: Rumor Has It pt.1: Duel Interests

Grant Thomas
Jan 15
2 min read

Updated: Aug 8

This week, Grant asks a big question, "what is a chaos bisexual?". In our quest for an answer, we meet a swashbuckling, gossip-soaked tour of 17th-century icon Julie d’Aubigny—La Maupin—whose résumé reads: sword champion, opera sensation, probable convent-torcher, and certified “chaos bisexual.” He and Maia tease apart legend versus ledger, probing why the historical record keeps misplacing women this unruly and queer. But did she really commit arson in the name of love? Rumor has it, we try to find the truth in the drama.

Chapters/Key takeaways to listen for

[00:00:00] Catch-Up
[00:22:24] Duel Interests: The concept of a "chaos bisexual" and identifying traits in their friends and acquaintances
[00:32:18] Meet La Maupin: Introduction to Julie d'Aubigny, a legendary French opera singer known for her wild lifestyle and multiple lovers
[00:41:22] Teenage Rebellion: La Maupin's early life, including her fencing skills, cross-dressing, and first romantic entanglements
[01:02:35] Nunnery Escape: The controversial story of La Maupin escaping a convent by potentially staging a dramatic body-burning escape
[01:35:23] Ballroom Chaos: La Maupin's infamous moment of kissing a noblewoman at a ball and subsequently dueling three men who took offense
[02:15:46] Queer History and Propaganda: How historical narratives about queer individuals were often manipulated to shame or discredit them
[02:27:42] Legacy and Celebration: La Maupin's significance as a symbol of queer and female empowerment throughout history
[02:38:58] Modern Queer Perspectives: Observations about the openness of younger generations in discussing sexuality and identity

Quotes:

"Queer people in history rarely get to control our stories and how we're remembered." - Grant Thomas
"Communities are most successful when individuals have the most economic freedom."- Grant Thomas

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