Customer Reviews

Rough News, Daring Views: 1950S' Pioneer Gay Press Journalism (Haworth Gay & Lesbian Studies)

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Jim Kepner was one of that group of Pioneers in the gay rights movement, including Harry Hay, Dorr Legg and others, centered in Los Angeles, who helped raise the consciousness of the community and paved the way for the Stonewall Rebellion. He singlehandedly amassed the amazing collection that became the International Gay and Lesbian Archive, currently housed at USC. This book is a collection of his writing, starting in the early 50's, for the Mattachine Review, One Magazine, the One Institute Quarterly Review and other such publications. He comments on events and people of the time, and discusses the issues relating to homosexual people and their position in U.S. society. He wrote in an engaging, literate, intelligent style, and these articles together will give you some idea what the world was like for gay people 50 years ago. For devotees of our history within the larger frame of American history, this is an invaluable collection, a window on our past.

The late Jim Kepner both capsulizes and comments on the news of interest to gays (mostly) and lesbians during the 1950's. He was not only a clear writer, but he also anticipated most of the best arguments that have been put forward since for tolerance and acceptance of homosexuality as natural. A good reminder that gay activism didn't just start with Stonewall.