The LGBT history you probably didn't learn in school

[CellarDweller]

The LGBT history you probably didn't learn in school

By Michael Baggs

There's a lot of LGBT history many of us don't know. Partly because it wasn't covered in school, partly because so much of it happened in secret.

"Even in the 19th century, it's very difficult to talk about gay or lesbian identity," says Harry Cocks, associate history professor at the University of Nottingham.

"It didn't really exist, there wasn't really any such thing."

Of course, everyone was still at it. The existence of Molly Houses in the 18th century, pubs or coffee-houses (although some just think they were brothels) where men would meet, is well known. It's just that many men who visited them went back to their wives and families afterwards.

"People have always challenged gender norms and sexual norms," Prof Cocks adds.

"The idea that you can organise the world around the kinds of desires that you have, I think, is a very recent idea."



Justin Bengry, senior lecturer in queer history at Goldsmiths University of London, says it's important to present LGBT history as "being part of the ordinary fabric of modern - and not so modern - life".

Because so much LGBT history took place behind closed doors, Justin says new stories are being uncovered all the time.

Which means there's plenty that could make its way into mainstream education.




https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-57176199

[Karl Rand]

CellarDwellerThe LGBT history you probably didn't learn in school

By Michael Baggs

There's a lot of LGBT history many of us don't know. Partly because it wasn't covered in school, partly because so much of it happened in secret.

"Even in the 19th century, it's very difficult to talk about gay or lesbian identity," says Harry Cocks, associate history professor at the University of Nottingham.

"It didn't really exist, there wasn't really any such thing."

Of course, everyone was still at it. The existence of Molly Houses in the 18th century, pubs or coffee-houses (although some just think they were brothels) where men would meet, is well known. It's just that many men who visited them went back to their wives and families afterwards.

"People have always challenged gender norms and sexual norms," Prof Cocks adds.

"The idea that you can organise the world around the kinds of desires that you have, I think, is a very recent idea."



Justin Bengry, senior lecturer in queer history at Goldsmiths University of London, says it's important to present LGBT history as "being part of the ordinary fabric of modern - and not so modern - life".

Because so much LGBT history took place behind closed doors, Justin says new stories are being uncovered all the time.

Which means there's plenty that could make its way into mainstream education.




https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-57176199
Down in Oz :- https://theconversation.com/friday-essay...ion-155964?
   

https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt9qfcm0
https://books.google.com.au/books?id=SHG...&q&f=false