#1960s gays

[dallasgallant]

Is it okay if I ask about how being gay was viewed in the 50-60s? I feel it it’s obviously not very accepted, but I’m curious to hear an in-depth explanation. And what are some common terms used back them for queer people? And if you can, I’d like to see it relate back to the outsiders, lol.

Yes! This one may take a minute as I don’t know too too much off the top of my head, but would be glad to give you a low down.

Something particular to note is that being gay was technically illegal, well having gay sex anyway and Homosexuality was classified as a mental disorder until 1973.

There was work on decriminalizing gay relationships that did start in the 60s but the last few states officially overturned the statute in 2003! This isn’t to say there was no community or anyone out of the closet mind you, just highlights way so many were. ( not everyone was in instant prison or institutionalized)

there was a lot of coding and language and such like that, that people use today in a detached way or misinterpreted way. As a lot of it was localized both for secrecy but also the technology of the time.

Views varied! Not everyone was abjectly against in a mustache twirling away, more that they’d see it as “deviant” or misguided. Those more neutral would just quietly go about their lives with friends, loved ones who were

Terms:

Gay would be coming into use but “Homosexual” was more common. As back in the day “gay” was happy -> like “you’ll have a gay old time/ “don we now our gay apparel”

queer (derogatory) fairy , nance , pansy , punk (very different from punk rock movement, derogatory term), fruit, queen , pretty boy, sissy -> these are all derogatory mind you. May bring in some in group terminology in the actual post.

[bobdylan-n-jonimitchell]

Joan Baez & guest, Newport Folk Festival, 1964 © Gai Terrell.

[k-wame]

JACOB FORTUNE-LLOYD & ED SPELEERS ↳ Midas Man (2024) dir. Joe Stephenson

[normasshearer]

I never lose. Not really.

LE SAMOURAÏ 1967, dir. Jean-Pierre Melville

[kitsunetsuki]

Mario Casilli - Gay Collier (Playboy 1965)

[lucy-in-the-skiess]

John Lennon and Paul McCartney on the set of ‘Help!’ (1965)

[spirk-trek]

Captain James T. Kirk Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-69) · ˚ ⊹ ⋆ . ✧ ˚ ⊹ ⋆ . ˚ . ✧

[efemmera-archive]

Pages from Come Out! newspaper, published 1969-1972 by the Gay Liberation Front

Full archive here

[mylostdog]

Happy pride month to Joan Baez reading an adult magazine

[omgthatdress]

The Queen is a 1968 documentary film that follows the drag queen Flawless Sabrina as she struggles to put on a drag pageant. It is a unique film that captures a moment in time: the sixties. The sexual revolution has planted the seeds of what will become the gay rights movement, but before Stonewall.

The Queen actually captures a pivotal moment in drag history. After losing to a waifish blonde girl, Crystal LaBeija throws an epic temper tantrum.

What looks like a moment of pure bitchiness was actually years of pent-up frustration over losing to pretty, skinny, young, and WHITE contestants. In pageants, she was regularly expected to lighten her skin, and was criticized for not masking her "negroid" features.

After losing, Crystal would go on to form the immensely influential House of LaBeija, which is still active today, and then, more importantly, to start organizing balls and pageants that were exclusively for Black and Latinx drag queens. This is the birth of the ballrooms that would create modern drag culture.

[k-wame]

JACOB FORTUNE-LLOYD & ED SPELEERS ↳ Midas Man (2024) dir. Joe Stephenson

[la-cocotte-de-paris]

A lesson in the lustful female Gayze™: LA RELIGIEUSE / THE NUN (1966), dir. Jacques Rivette

[battydeville]

CULT OF THE BLOOD NYMPHS 🩸🦇 They lust for blood, and your everlasting love…

IG: Battydeville

[spirk-trek]

Arlene Martel as T'Pring, S2E1 of Star Trek, 1967

[lucy-in-the-skiess]

John and Paul at the premiere of ‘A Hard Day’s Night’