In thinking about this topic, it is interesting how difficult it is to even begin the discussion. What should the title be? Should it include bisexuals and transvestites in the heading? Should it be entitled the "queer" political movement? Language has been an issue during this history of this debate, and actually since the origins of the modern political movement dealing with homosexuality. Non heterosexuals have been called by many names, mostly pejorative, including Uranians, inverts, queers, faggots, dykes, gays, and homosexuals. The contemporary political movement, which includes lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transvestites, and transsexuals, and any others that might be defined as an alternative sexuality is a story about language and definition and community. The intention in the following pages is to look at some elements of the "non heterosexual" political movement in this century.
Stonewall is not the beginning of the gay political movement, or the gay power movement, as it was earlier called. There have been many attempts to improve the position of lesbians and gay men, both in this country and in other countries. In particular, early 20th century Europe, including Germany and France, saw a birth of lesbian and gay artistic visibility, if not exactly political power and legal rights. Yet, there was movement in that direction.
At the same time, the situation of most lesbians and gay men was more tragic. Radclyffe Hall described the feeling of many lesbians of that time in her book, The Well of Loneliness. To be a lesbian, or an invert, as she thought of it, was to be isolated from other people and to be the source of pain to oneself and to those one loved. Tragedy was the predictable result. There was no expectation of mutual intimacy accepted by the community and blessed with happiness and comfort.
Yet there was community, and there were communities of lesbians long before Stonewall. Hall herself actua...