The Gay 50's
From fifties
Contents |
[edit] Political Climate
The political climate of the 1950's was reflective of the medical opinions of the time- that homosexuality was a perversion to be feared and abhorred. McCarthyites perpetuated the image of the homosexual as a traitor to their country under the premise that they "violated the acceptable standards of morality." The ACLU even decided that homosexual rights were not within their jurisdiction.
[edit] Employment of Homosexuals And Other Sex Perverts In The U.S. Government (1950)
A document that exposed the findings of an investigation into the employment by the Government of homosexuals and other "sex perverts."
"Overt acts of over sex perversion, including acts of homosexuality, constitute a crime under our Federal, State, and municipal states and persons who commit such acts are law violators."
This document defined the types of homosexuals, including the "active, aggressive or male types and the submissive, passive or female type."
"The lack of emotional instability which is found in most sex perverts and the weakness of their moral fiber, makes them susceptible to the blandishments of the foriegn espionage agent."
Meaning, that "sex perverts" are more susceptible to blackmail attempts by Communists.
The document identifies sex perverts as security risks, the extent of sex perversion in government, how to handle the problem, how to prevent/remove sex perverts from obtaining government employment.
[edit] The Wolfenden Report (1957)
This report reflects an increase in concern by modern governments about homosexuals as security risks during the Cold War, as well as recognizes the decline in effective legal regulation of sexual morality.
The document examines the extent of the "problem" of homosexuality socially, as well as identifies the intricacies of homosexual offenses.
[edit] Homosexuality and Civil Liberties (1957)
The document issued by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) which basically turned its back on homosexuals.
"The ACLU has previously decided that homosexuality is a valid consideration in evaluating the security risk factor in sensitive positions."
[edit] Medical Thought
In 1952, the APA; the American Psychiatric Association, published the first DSM. The DSM is the acronym for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This American handbook listed categories of mental disorders and the criteria for the diagnoses. The compendium was used by mental health professionals as a tool for uniform statistical data for psychaitric hospitals. It was also used by other agencies such as the Bureau of Census and the United States military. In the first edition, the DSM listed homosexuality under a category of mental disorder. The treatment for curing homosexuality included Aversion Therapy through the use of electrical shock delivered to patient's genitals if they showed signs of sexual arousal from same sex images. Other therapies such as Psychoanalysis, Hormone Therapy, Lobotomies, Religious Therapy, and Beauty Therapy were also used. The seventh printing of the DSM II in 1974 marked the first time that homosexuality was removed as a mental disorder. This was due to protests from from homosexual within the APA in conferences from 1970-1973, but also from the research conducted by Dr. Alfred Kinsey and Dr. Evelyn Hooker. For more information about Dr. Kinsey and Dr. Hooker see the links below. Also to hear an interview with Dr John Fryer, the Philadelphia psychiatrist credited for the removal of homosexuality from the DSM see the link below. 
[edit] Popular Culture
Out of this oppressive climate was borne the need for gay and lesbian outlets. Among the most prominent organizations were ONE Magazine and The Ladder. Ann Bannon wrote a series of lesbian pulp fiction novels known as The Beebo Brinker Chronicles.
Gay author James Baldwin wrote frankly about homosexual relationships in his novels, including Giovanni's Room, and Another Country.
[edit] The Ladder Magazine
This was the first nationally distributed lesbian magazine in the U.S. It was published by the Daughters of Bilitis, 1955, considered to be the first lesbian rights organization in America. The group was formed by Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon.
[edit] Ann Bannon
Bannon was a young housewife coming to terms with her own sexuality when she wrote her first novel out of a series of six, The Beebo Brinker Chronicles. Beebo Brinker was the name of the main character, who came to represent the "butch" lesbian."
[edit] ONE Magazine
In 1958, the United States Supreme Court handed down its first ruling on a case involving homosexuality. Given the anti-homosexual climate in the 1950's, the Supreme Court decision to hear the case was surprising enough. But even more surprising was the actual ruling.The case was One, Inc. v. Olesen. "One" magazine was a magazine for homosexuals. The founders held their first meeting in Los Angeles in 1952. The publication featured articles, book reviews, poetry and fiction. It was sold from newstands and by subscriptions through the mail. The U.S. Postal Service tried to prevent the distribution of the magazine through legal means by declaring the contents were obscene under the Comstock Act of 1873. The magazine had already lost two lower court suits, the first in 1956, the second in 1957. The Supreme Court issued a their decision without hearing oral arguements and overturned the lower courts' ruling thereby limiting the power of the Comstock Act and expanding the freedom of speech and press. In effect their ruling was that pro-homosexual writing is not obscene.
[edit] Links
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/kinsey/index.html
http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/hooker.html
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1175377
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/theater/30blank.html?fta=y
http://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=4964
[edit] Bibliography
Hooker, Evelyn. "The Adjustment of the Overt Male Homosexual"; 1957.
Kinsey, Alfred. "Sexual Behavior in the Human Male"; 1948.
"Sexual Behavior in th Human Female"; 1953.
Witt, Lynn. Thomas, Sherry. Marcus, Eric. "Out in All Directions"; 1995.
