James Justen Recalls Growing Up Gay In The 1950's

The sources answer the question of how has society adapted it’s the view of gay rights over time. The sources show how in the early 1900’s, society was not accepting at all of homosexual individuals. The source “Havelock Ellis on Gay Life in the American City (1915)” talks about how homosexual people were called sexually inverse, and how they were viewed as sexual predators. It describes how many, who wear the red neckties of the inverse, are also male prostitutes. As the 20th century progressed, some movement towards acceptance was made. In the source “James Justen Recalls Growing Up Gay in the 1950s”, Justen tells of how he remained closeted throughout high school, and then came out to his parents after. He was lucky, his parents were very
accepting, but many others didn’t have the same positive experience. Throughout the 20th century, many people experienced anti-gay discrimination, in the workforce, as well as in daily life. So, while strides were made to have gay rights increase overtime, often, steps back were also taken.