Gay L.A.: A History of Sexual Outlaws, Power Politics, and Lipstick Lesbians

Lillian Faderman has done it again. She has done her research well and has written a very readable history of gays in LA.

Too often San Francisco is noted as being the leader in the contemporary Gay/Lesbian movement in California. This book, GAY L.A., proves that there was and is more than one large city in our fine State that has played a significant role in the gay movement. Succinct and fascinating, Gay L.A. is a must read!

GO WEST Faderman, Lillian and Timmons, Stuart, "Gay L.A.: A History of Sexual Outlaws, Power Politics, and Lipstick Lesbians". Basic Books, 2006. Amos Lassen We so badly need a sense of history and Lillian Faderman and Stuart Timmons give a bit of one in their sprawling study of "Gay L.A." Los Angeles is responsible for much of what we know of as gay life today, so it is fitting that the history of gay L.A. parallels the history of gay America. Beginning in the 188os gay culture took root in Los Angeles and it really has not moved from there. So much of what is part of gay American history happened in Tinseltown that L.A. rightfully deserves to wear the crown designating her "The Queen City". This is not the first book about L.A. and there have been other books that have claimed that gay life really began inside of their borders but after reading this book it is hard to imagine anywhere else holding title to the term of the city that began the modern gay world. Style, image and politics of the modern gay liberation movement began there and flourish there to this day. The history of gay L.A, was formulated by the authors who interviewed over 300 people--some famous and some just regular people. It is from what they heard in these interviews that the authors claim that L.A, and her suburbs ultimately launched the modern age of gay life. By using this as a basis for their book, they provide a new way of looking at our history and our culture which gives L.A. the designation she so rightfully has earned and deserves. Looking at his book as part of our historical heritage, I am forced as well as pleased to call it definitive. The writers are well grounded in their fields and write with authority. The information presented is endless and the book makes you want to go on and do more research yourself. Beginning in the early history of our country that take us back to pre-America where we learn of gender roles among the Indians and Spanish missionaries. As they move into the modern age they bring us up to date with all of our history on the West coast. Perhaps the work is not academic or scholarly but it presents so many facts that are just amazing to read. It is a wonderful study of a wonderful place where we, quite early in our history, were allowed to be who we are. Here is both a necessary and essential contribution to our history. Most important of all the book shows how we, the gay community, developed a political conscience. There is so much information here that other books will pale in comparison. The fact that Los Angeles was an important place in the struggle for us to gain equal rights is emphasized and often drawn upon. Faderman and Stout include information that other writers have omitted or for some reason decided not to write about. This is the story of what was good in L.A. as well as what was not. It is an important book because in order to understand the mindsets of today's gays and lesbians we must know the past. Keep in mind

Gay L.A." is an important, very comprehensive and inspiring book--one that we've all been waiting for! It is packed with two-centuries worth of fascinating information, but it doesn't read like a boring history book at all. I was intrigued by all stuff I didn't know: the role of gay people in the city's early formation and especially the decades of corrupt oppression that were to follow. There is also a lot of new information about the Hollywood-studio era and the beginnings of the gay liberation movement in Los Angeles. This book really held my interest throughout. The Los Angeles Times gave it a full-page rave review, which "Gay L.A." certainly deserves.

I read about gay rights in the news every week, but never knew much about the background of this movement. Gay L.A. is a great read and opens up a new world of activism, secret lives, and entire underground societies. It's easy to think that New York and San Francisco were responsible for all the gay breakthroughs, but Los Angeles has an amazing story. This book also tells the story of gay women as well as gay men, which is fascinating. This book is carefully footnoted, but is written like an epic novel, reaching back into the 1800s. It's free of the political dogma and academic jargon that can weigh down similar books. Like it or not, L.A. is one of America's major cities, and what's so interesting is that it's a bunch of small towns, beaches, immigrants and Hollywood all rolled into one. You learn so much about the city itself as well as the gay world, which had to be hidden until recently. I strongly recommend it.