ABSTRACT

This book tells the stories of 11 American gay men who tried to make sense of their identities in the years before the modern gay movement began. In their own words, these men recollect fascinating accounts of what it was like negotiate their desires within a social and psychological context in which homosexuality was marginalized. The editors carefully situate the lifestories in US culture before Stonewall and skillfully raises the issues and problems in presenting such stories.

chapter |4 pages

Introduction

part I|58 pages

Growing up before Stonewall

chapter Chapter 2|20 pages

Interview with Morris Kight

chapter Chapter 3|11 pages

Gay men and psychiatry

A professional and personal account

chapter Chapter 4|17 pages

Interview with Judd Marmor, M.D.

part II|111 pages

Life stories of some gay men

chapter Chapter 5|5 pages

An introduction to the interviews

chapter Chapter 6|12 pages

Andrew

Sexual childhood and separate bedrooms

chapter Chapter 7|10 pages

Bennett

Sissy boy, teenage crushes, and choices

chapter Chapter 8|7 pages

Carl

Speakeasy bars and a monogamous May–December relationship

chapter Chapter 9|13 pages

Danny

All-American with girlfriends, and a first date/lover

chapter Chapter 10|12 pages

Ed

Immigrant, late bloomer, and independently single

chapter Chapter 11|9 pages

Frank

Father of four and closeted

chapter Chapter 12|14 pages

George and Harold

Twenty-five years and monogamous

chapter Chapter 13|8 pages

Jim

Sissy, flappers, and a long-term roommate

chapter Chapter 14|6 pages

Kevin

Ex-seminarian with a priest-lover

chapter Chapter 15|14 pages

Louis

Two lovers, many lives