Manchester University Press
1 Politics and culture
Abstract
This chapter provides an overview of reactions to homosexuality across a broad spectrum of the Left from the late 1940s to just before the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967. During this time, we can see an increase in public discussion of homosexuality and we can also see that the social, cultural and economic changes in post-war Britain had marked implications for the Left. The working class seemed to be blurring with the middle class, and the age of affluence had unsteadied traditional alliances. The Labour Party and Communist Party both negotiated youth as a political category, but, were not able to countenance a left-wing politics of sexuality. World War II changed the ways in which many men experienced their homosexuality. This chapter also looks at the lives of two contrasting figures within the Labour Party, Tom Driberg and George Brinham. It then examines how the Trotskyite movement influenced the gay liberation movement, and later gay activism. Finally, it discusses entryism among the Left.
Abstract
This chapter provides an overview of reactions to homosexuality across a broad spectrum of the Left from the late 1940s to just before the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967. During this time, we can see an increase in public discussion of homosexuality and we can also see that the social, cultural and economic changes in post-war Britain had marked implications for the Left. The working class seemed to be blurring with the middle class, and the age of affluence had unsteadied traditional alliances. The Labour Party and Communist Party both negotiated youth as a political category, but, were not able to countenance a left-wing politics of sexuality. World War II changed the ways in which many men experienced their homosexuality. This chapter also looks at the lives of two contrasting figures within the Labour Party, Tom Driberg and George Brinham. It then examines how the Trotskyite movement influenced the gay liberation movement, and later gay activism. Finally, it discusses entryism among the Left.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Series editors’ foreword viii
- Acknowledgements ix
- List of abbreviations x
- Introduction 1
- 1 Politics and culture 10
- 2 Reporting change 35
- 3 Gay liberation 1969–73 65
- 4 The Left gets personal 93
- 5 The next big thing 123
- 6 Confronting Thatcher 154
- Conclusion 185
- Select bibliography 197
- Index 211
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Dedication v
- Contents vii
- Series editors’ foreword viii
- Acknowledgements ix
- List of abbreviations x
- Introduction 1
- 1 Politics and culture 10
- 2 Reporting change 35
- 3 Gay liberation 1969–73 65
- 4 The Left gets personal 93
- 5 The next big thing 123
- 6 Confronting Thatcher 154
- Conclusion 185
- Select bibliography 197
- Index 211
