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100+ Years of Gay Couples: Part One 1875-1955

While browsing around I stumbled across some old photos of gay couples and have been able to find a few that go back as far as the 1875(!). This two part post is dedicated to the pioneers of the GLBT community who have made the world a more accepting place today and remind us that homosexuality has been around forever.All pictures have been found at Flickr and gaytwogether.com and are the property of their owners.

An adorable couple in love. England, 1875

Unknown location, 1880's

During the  turn of the century there was a burst of gay activism sparked by the Women's Rights Movement

New York, 1900

Unknown early 1900's

 Somewhere in Europe, 1906

New York, 1907

Unknown, 1912

Rare picture of a WWI couple, no DADT back then. England, sometime between 1914-1918

California, 1923

Wonderfully photogenic couple. Unknown, 1925

First gay granted legal rights to adopt children, Hollow Falls, VA late 1920's

The following images were found at andrejkoymasky.com

Couple in Posen, Germany. Mid 1920's

Berlin, Germany 1930

London, England 1932

Long Island, NY, 1941

Somewhere in America 1943

Somewhere in America, mid 1940's

Somewhere in America, mid 1940's 

(Same couple as above?) Somewhere in America, 1945

VJ Day, London, England, 1945 (a great gay version of this pic)

Beautiful couple. New England (Massachusetts or New Hampshire?),1948

Somewhere in America, Late 1940's

Bronx, New York, 1951

Yes it is

Unknown (America or Europe), 1950's 

(Rare picture of lesbian couple from this era)

Hollywood California, 1950's

(Hollywood's least known couple during the time, Rock Hudson and Michael Butler)

Somewhere in America, 1954

Old Lyme, New York 1955

Caldwell, Idaho, 1955 (this ain't your typical Leave It to Beaver 1950's :)

Part II (1955- Present)

More coming up next time

All is Full of Love

New Armani Exchange Ad reminds us of equality

The Science of Gaydar

Does gaydar exist? I think so because I have seen mine at work in a few cases. Though is there a science to it?

Until now the scientists and social researchers have been trying to figure out how gay men can determine how is and isn't- or how anyone can determine someone's sexuality. New, interesting research has been conducted on that very premise.

Researcher's have studied the swirl of men's hair, the length of ringfingers among other physical traits and say these can be factors that determine someones sexual orientation. It's not always accurate as their are more nuanced factors ay work with gaydar. Still, a very interesting study with interesting results.

Eye Flirting and How Not to Come On too Strong

Today I was on the subway and I noticed a guy around my age sitting across from me was giving me sultry looks. At first I was flattered as I had rushed onto the train and was a bit frazzled from running for the train, finding an available seat, not to mention tired after a long day at work- and he thought I was still flirting material. After a bit of back and forth eye flirting he got off.

I then realized his gaze was different than other guys who were eye flirting- it was longer and more intense. And he didn't seem to have a bag or seem to be coming from work. Was he cruising?

Quite possibly. His gazed seemed to give hookup vibes after I thought it over. I was a bit embarrassed at entertaining him as that's not what I'm after.

This is where coming on too strongly can work against you not in your favor. A general rule I use is looking quickly (one or two seconds) 3 times to see if he does the same. If noting happens after the third time I stop. I don't tend to look at someone on the street for too long either as that makes almost anyone uncomfortable, including myself (the setting where this happens also determines the appropriateness of eye flirting) Not to mention it can be creepy if you hold your gaze for too long and do it in the wrong manner at the wrong person.

Was that the subway an appropriate setting for this man to do that? Was he an expert at eye flirting or just looking for something else? (kinda of creepy if it's the latter on a crowded subway train) I don't know and probably never will, though it did give me some more useful experience.

Making of Me: John Barrowman Documentrary

With the passage of gay marriage legalization in Iowa (yes Iowa) and Vermont I'm returning with a recovering spirit. More about that in another post.

I'm watching the documentary about John Barrowman's quest to scientifically prove people are born with their sexuality and disprove myths about "becoming" one thing or another.

It's an interesting documentary but there was one part that I don't really agree with. In one segment John goes to a home of a family to give an example of gender non-conformity in childern as a early sign of someone being born lesbian or gay (or bi).

He introduces us to a 12 year old boy who is very much into Care Bares, Barbie dolls and other stereotypically girl things. He make the point that gay men show signs of liking things that girls like at an early age and vice versa for lesbians. Though, what about gay men who were into cars as little boys and still are? What about the guys who didn't experience gender non-conformity? What about bisexuals? How are they supposed to "act."

I know he wasn't trying to stereotype but some viewers might think we're all "like that" and paint us with the same brush.

Anyway it's still a good documentary and worth a watch.

Iowa Makes History

Iowa is allowing gay marriages. I thought it would be New York or New Jersey or another state in New England but Iowa??

Apparently so. This is one great step (and unexpected) in the gay right movement. Here's to hoping the other states will follow suit soon.

A snippet from the official documents of the ruling:

"In a unanimous decision, the Iowa Supreme Court
today held that the Iowa statute limiting civil marriage to a union between a man and a woman violates the equal protection clause of the Iowa Constitution.

The decision strikes the language from Iowa Code section 595.2 limiting civil
marriage to a man and a woman. It further directs that the remaining statutory
language be interpreted and applied in a manner allowing gay and lesbian
people full access to the institution of civil marriage."

Read about the historical ruling here and here.