Gay culture is not jt an affectatn. It is an exprsn of difference through style — a way of rvg out space for an alternate way of life.
Contents:
- THE IMPACT OF DIS ON THE GAY SUBCULTURE THE 1970S
- DANCE PRI: THE GAY ORIGS OF DANCE MIC
- THE SURPRISG STORY OF HOW ABBA BEME BELOVED GAY INS
THE IMPACT OF DIS ON THE GAY SUBCULTURE THE 1970S
It gave a powerful platform to artists of lour who were often female or gay – perhaps that’s why attracted such hostily, wr Arwa Hair. * disco and gay culture *
Behd velvet rop, blacks, Latos, and wh, women and men, rich and poor, gays and straights were enuraged to wear whatever they wanted, kiss whoever they wanted and — of urse — dance however they wanted. The movement really began wh the Stonewall Rts of 1969, the first major cint which gay men took a llective and forceful stand agast police btaly. Donna Summer simulated asms songs and the Village People would flg off police uniforms, nstctn hats, and wboy outfs a celebratn of gay culture.
DANCE PRI: THE GAY ORIGS OF DANCE MIC
Anyone uld tell you the “typil” dis tras: the synthizer, the twirlg ball, and the funky pants—but fewer know the te origs of dis, which emerged om the gay unrground of New York. * disco and gay culture *
The dis movement, as origally was, end the ’80s, as the AIDS epimic stormed through the gay muny and fear settled over the formerly jubilant clubs. But vtig rema: Velvet rop still part for the chict outf, style mavens still fill gay clubs and paras, and mic trends ntue to transcend race and sexualy.
(Image cred: Alamy)It gave a powerful platform to artists of lour who were often female or gay – perhaps that’s why attracted such hostily, wr Arwa was never signed to grow old gracefully – stead, has endured wh brilliant fiance.
It ntu to spire mic, movi and fashn, as well as events like London’s Brixton Dis Ftival (28 April); the aren’t retro trips but a regnn that dis still do somethg for backlash was anti-gay, but also anti-women and anti-lour – Nicky SianoDis stemmed om a seri of epiphani and muni, rather than a sgle birthplace; key New York nightspots ranged om David Manco’s open-hearted hoe party The Loft (early ‘70s), to the late ‘70s exclive-chic of Stud 54 and the dancefloor hedonism of Paradise Garage.
THE SURPRISG STORY OF HOW ABBA BEME BELOVED GAY INS
Durg the early to mid-70s, gay rights advanced more quickly than had durg the prr two s bed; many stat, sodomy laws were repealed, and * disco and gay culture *
Pneerg DJ/producer Nicky Siano rells beg a gay Brooklyn youth, drawn to the “social and affirmg” atmosphere of Greenwich Village; he was 18 when he found Manhattan’s The Gallery (where stars like Grace Jon buted), and he later beme a Stud 54 rint.
’”Promiscuo and omnivoro, dis accelerated the transnatnal flow of mil ias – Alice EcholsDis enabled female, gay, black and Lat artists to fe their inti creasgly fluid ways.