Lesbians in the Civil Rights Movement: Gay and African-American Struggles in the Civil Rights Era
Joan Nestle is a white Northern homosexual woman. Through the letter she wrote/minor to have an account of something that was life changing for her. This letter seems to be written around the time the Civil Rights Moment was taken place. She participated in the movement helping aid the fight for all men, women, gay, straight or transgender. In her efforts to help the movement she had to some what form a double life, those that her friends and family knew and the activist that wanted equality. During this time period it wasn't odd for white women to enter the protest for Civil Rights, but it seemed she wanted to keep the two lives separate, maybe to ensure she wouldn't lose the friends or family that she may have had during this time period.
Throughout Nestle’s memoir she does suggest there is some commonalities between the struggle for equality between African Americans and gay and lesbian Americans. And according to the readings and the letter itself, there seems to be some similarities in how they were treated and the struggle they went through to get acknowledgment from the states and government to get the same basic right that others have. According to the chapter, gay and lesbians began to speak out for their own rights to live their lives as that wanted; without risking harassment or arrest (695). Although gays and lesbians didn't have to go through the same extremes as Africans Americans, but they did have to deal with some unfair treatment because of their preference in life. It didn't seem like it was an easy life for most Americans if they didn't fit the mold of the stereotypical white women, middle or upper class everyone else seems to have to fight for equality in some way or another. The gay and lesbian Americans also did protests to get their voice out to be heard. “A widely publicized riot took place on June 28, 1969, when a police raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City’s Greenwich Village neighborhood. Instead of enduring the harassment as they had in the past, the two patrons decided to take a stand and began hurdling insults and debris at the police (695).” Once enough people come together for the same cause it can become a movement that can help change the views, rule and policies that is the true issue.
When referring to the “double mask” it seems to be a metaphor for living a double life. Some of the thing that she may have used as a white woman to conceal the fact that she is also a lesbian woman could be not paying attention to the things that are happening around her. Being a white possibly middle aged women during the 1960s could also aid in her favor of what the normal white woman was. During that time the assumption was that most, if not all white women was heterosexual and that they should be married leading the stereotypical life of a married woman. But this wasn’t uncommon for those that were gay, lesbian, or transgender they didn’t usually call it having a double mask may people call it “being in the closet”, “which mean they are hiding they true sexual identities from almost everyone (695).” This is something that is still happening in today’s society, some of the reasons are sham, judgment, guilt or feeling like they may not be accepted, by their family, peers, or society. It wasn’t until 1960 when many homosexuals began to speak out and express their true sexuality (695), even people began speaking out that doesn’t speak to everyone that was/is homosexual. Joan Nestle is an example of those that chose to hide/conceal their sexual identities from others, the reason are unknown of her reasons but it wasn’t uncommon for many to practice this life style it’s like having a secret identity.
Referring to her lesbianism as “little thing” may have been her way of justifying the reason she was hiding her true self from those around her. Another reason it could have been described as such was because of all of the things that was happening during that time. There was a war and protests about that and the Civil Rights movement and women fighting for equality and the gay and lesbians fighting for equality as well. Maybe she thought that her problem wouldn’t be considered as important as others that was taken place. Or this could have been her way of explaining why she didn’t say any, she may have felt because of the bigger problems in the world people would push her to the side as if it wasn’t important to others. Maybe people conceal big issues by telling themselves that they are smaller then what they are or not important to mask the true feeling.
Although though Joan Nestle lived a somewhat normal life to what was going on during this time frame she had a complex side to her and her life. She was the definition of a double life by day; a white woman just trying to make it through life, and an activist and lesbian standing up for something that she believes in. Even though she couldn’t be completely true to who she was or what was going on in her life she did what was best for her. Nestle’s memoir is important to the understanding of the topic of Modern Feminism and the American Society, because her story explains that there is more to those that take a stand for a cause. Everyone has a back story and a part of their life that isn’t captured, although Nestle didn’t lead the most fascinating life, it’s the life that she chose to live. Her memoir is the back story and the back ground noise to the main event which was a woman that was standing up for equality and equal rights with everyone everywhere. She is important to the history of women in America as a whole because she demonstrated that everyone doesn’t have to be a hero or be a significantly amazing individual to make a difference; with the emphasis that all women that decided to take a stand and stand up for something is a woman that is important to anything historical. She is the definition of the normal woman, she has different sides to her life like any other woman.
From Joan Nestle, A restricted Country (New York: Firebrand Books, 1987), 51-53
Throughout Nestle’s memoir she does suggest there is some commonalities between the struggle for equality between African Americans and gay and lesbian Americans. And according to the readings and the letter itself, there seems to be some similarities in how they were treated and the struggle they went through to get acknowledgment from the states and government to get the same basic right that others have. According to the chapter, gay and lesbians began to speak out for their own rights to live their lives as that wanted; without risking harassment or arrest (695). Although gays and lesbians didn't have to go through the same extremes as Africans Americans, but they did have to deal with some unfair treatment because of their preference in life. It didn't seem like it was an easy life for most Americans if they didn't fit the mold of the stereotypical white women, middle or upper class everyone else seems to have to fight for equality in some way or another. The gay and lesbian Americans also did protests to get their voice out to be heard. “A widely publicized riot took place on June 28, 1969, when a police raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City’s Greenwich Village neighborhood. Instead of enduring the harassment as they had in the past, the two patrons decided to take a stand and began hurdling insults and debris at the police (695).” Once enough people come together for the same cause it can become a movement that can help change the views, rule and policies that is the true issue.
When referring to the “double mask” it seems to be a metaphor for living a double life. Some of the thing that she may have used as a white woman to conceal the fact that she is also a lesbian woman could be not paying attention to the things that are happening around her. Being a white possibly middle aged women during the 1960s could also aid in her favor of what the normal white woman was. During that time the assumption was that most, if not all white women was heterosexual and that they should be married leading the stereotypical life of a married woman. But this wasn’t uncommon for those that were gay, lesbian, or transgender they didn’t usually call it having a double mask may people call it “being in the closet”, “which mean they are hiding they true sexual identities from almost everyone (695).” This is something that is still happening in today’s society, some of the reasons are sham, judgment, guilt or feeling like they may not be accepted, by their family, peers, or society. It wasn’t until 1960 when many homosexuals began to speak out and express their true sexuality (695), even people began speaking out that doesn’t speak to everyone that was/is homosexual. Joan Nestle is an example of those that chose to hide/conceal their sexual identities from others, the reason are unknown of her reasons but it wasn’t uncommon for many to practice this life style it’s like having a secret identity.
Referring to her lesbianism as “little thing” may have been her way of justifying the reason she was hiding her true self from those around her. Another reason it could have been described as such was because of all of the things that was happening during that time. There was a war and protests about that and the Civil Rights movement and women fighting for equality and the gay and lesbians fighting for equality as well. Maybe she thought that her problem wouldn’t be considered as important as others that was taken place. Or this could have been her way of explaining why she didn’t say any, she may have felt because of the bigger problems in the world people would push her to the side as if it wasn’t important to others. Maybe people conceal big issues by telling themselves that they are smaller then what they are or not important to mask the true feeling.
Although though Joan Nestle lived a somewhat normal life to what was going on during this time frame she had a complex side to her and her life. She was the definition of a double life by day; a white woman just trying to make it through life, and an activist and lesbian standing up for something that she believes in. Even though she couldn’t be completely true to who she was or what was going on in her life she did what was best for her. Nestle’s memoir is important to the understanding of the topic of Modern Feminism and the American Society, because her story explains that there is more to those that take a stand for a cause. Everyone has a back story and a part of their life that isn’t captured, although Nestle didn’t lead the most fascinating life, it’s the life that she chose to live. Her memoir is the back story and the back ground noise to the main event which was a woman that was standing up for equality and equal rights with everyone everywhere. She is important to the history of women in America as a whole because she demonstrated that everyone doesn’t have to be a hero or be a significantly amazing individual to make a difference; with the emphasis that all women that decided to take a stand and stand up for something is a woman that is important to anything historical. She is the definition of the normal woman, she has different sides to her life like any other woman.
From Joan Nestle, A restricted Country (New York: Firebrand Books, 1987), 51-53
Quote
“Gender preference does not define you. Your spirit defines you.”
P.C. Cast, Awakened
This quote speaks for all the people that took a stand and was willing to fight for what they believed in. Because a person is gay, lesbian, transgender or straight as long as the person is happy with their choice that should be the important factor. Although the author remained to stay in the closet and wear her "double mask", that's what she chose to do. Throughout Joan Nestle experience during the 1960's she took bold stands against what society thought and that shows her spirit and where she stands. It doesn't matter what race, gender or particular class a person is in, as long as they are happy and their spirits are high that should be the only determining factor.
P.C. Cast, Awakened
This quote speaks for all the people that took a stand and was willing to fight for what they believed in. Because a person is gay, lesbian, transgender or straight as long as the person is happy with their choice that should be the important factor. Although the author remained to stay in the closet and wear her "double mask", that's what she chose to do. Throughout Joan Nestle experience during the 1960's she took bold stands against what society thought and that shows her spirit and where she stands. It doesn't matter what race, gender or particular class a person is in, as long as they are happy and their spirits are high that should be the only determining factor.