A survey of 200 matchbooks om a bygone era of L.A.'s gay bar scene at the downtown Central Library.
Contents:
- WILL WE SURVIVE THE 1980S? A SNAPSHOT OF A GAY CULTURAL MILI
- AS A GAY MAN, THE '80S CRIPPLED MY INTY
- SF GAY HISTORY
- HISTORY OF GAY BARS
- A HISTORY OF L.A.’S GAY BAR SCENE, TOLD MATCHBOOKS
WILL WE SURVIVE THE 1980S? A SNAPSHOT OF A GAY CULTURAL MILI
While there have, undoubtedly, been signifint ton LGBT history earlier s, I believe the Eighti was a particularly important perd. That saw a major shift towards the emergence of a global gay culture. The gay genie me right out of s ltle pk bottle and to the streets (and the * were there gay clubs in the 80s *
The gay genie me right out of s ltle pk bottle and to the streets (and the media…and polics…and the arts…).
For example, the US, the Court of Appeal led that there was no ‘fundamental right’ to be gay.
AS A GAY MAN, THE '80S CRIPPLED MY INTY
In the followg excerpt om Betiful Aliens: A Steve Abbott Rear, Abbott offered a snapshot of the gay cultural i of the 1980s * were there gay clubs in the 80s *
In the UK, the Thatcher ernment created Sectn 28 of the Lol Government Act, makg illegal for lol thori to support anythg that might promote homosexual relatnships as a viable alternative to heterosexual ‘fay life’. In 1986 Pope John Pl II labelled “evil” and orred the Church to whdraw all support om gay Catholic anisatns. And even the US Army, who had clared homosexualy to be “patible wh ary service” 1982, were forced to adm 1989 that gay recs were “jt as good or better” than heterosexuals.
However, there were still storms ahead for the battle of equaly seen amongst gay rights. The tholic church ntued their attack on the gays and legislatn plac like the UK and US surely didn’t help. For example, the UK’s ernment add Sectn 28 to their Lol Government Act that ma illegal for lol thori to support anythg that promoted homosexual relatnships as an alternative to a heterosexual “fay life”.
Furthermore, 1986 Pope John Pl II labelled beg gay as “evil” and orred the Church to whdraw all support om gay Catholic anizatns.
SF GAY HISTORY
Rememberg the Lost Gay Bars of NYC Like The Vlt Me Shaft Nth Circle * were there gay clubs in the 80s *
This era also marked the emergence of HIV and AIDS and the epimic was monly lked to gay men. Bee no one really knew anythg about AIDS when spread like wildfire the 80s, many referred to as the “gay plague” and many wanted this to lead to a ban on homosexualy. Sensatnal reportg the prs beme creasgly homophobic and much of the media monized the LGBTQ muny.
HISTORY OF GAY BARS
Reverenced Jerry Falwell once argued that “AIDS is not jt God’s punishment for homosexuals; is God’s punishment for the society that tolerat homosexuals”. Eric Jimenez-Ldmeier shar his experience growg up as a closeted teen the 80s: “Beg gay the 80s meant beg isolated om an inty. There was no discsn of homosexualy school… not even our year long “Health and Sexualy” class, even though we were the middle of the AIDS crisis”.
A HISTORY OF L.A.’S GAY BAR SCENE, TOLD MATCHBOOKS
Jimenez-Ldmeier shar more of his experience: “Worse yet, the 80’s no one talked about actually beg gay. One was picked on relentlsly for his “gay-soundg” voice, lack of sports abili, and unwillgns to stand up to his bulli”. In 1980 the Uned Stat, Gay activists won support om the Democratic Party the party add to s platform a nondiscrimatn clse that clud sexual orientatn.