Description
Book SynopsisSexuality researcher, Jane Fleishman, shares the stories of nine fearless elders in the LGBTQ community who came of age around the time of Stonewall. In candid interviews, they lay bare their struggles, their strengths, their activism and their sexual liberation in the context of the political movements of the 1960s, 1970s and today. Each has spent a lifetime fighting for liberation, for the right to live, love and be free. Each has faced challenges arising from their sexual orientation, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, politics, disabilities, kinkiness, nonmonogamy and other identities. With unflinching directness, the elders interviewed explore their struggles within the LGBTQ community: Were they the "right" kind of lesbians or gay men? Were they scrutinised more critically because they came out as bi? Was there insidious racism or classism keeping them down just when they thought they'd finally come home? Were they called names or looked down upon for choosing to be paid for sex, for being fat, for having kinky sexual practices? Were their political credentials dissected when they wore the "wrong" kinds of clothes or lived in the "wrong" kinds of places? What political movements made an impact on them? How did their sexual lives as young people inform their sexual lives as adults? These are the stories of those whose lives were changed forever by Stonewall and who became agents of change themselves. We need to hear these voices.
Trade Review“The Stonewall Generation offers a compelling intervention to two facets of anti-LGBTQ oppression that have been ignored for too long: the erasure of our elders and the dispossession of our history. These oral histories offer candor, charisma, and caution to illuminate hidden pasts and inform our movement’s future. A must read.” —Alok Vaid-Menon, Trans Writer & Performance Artist
“The Stonewall Generation is a critical addition to LGBTQ history and sociology. Generous, thoughtful, diverse—these stories brought on many memories. Reading this book reminds me how glad I am I came out and got to be part of our history.” —Kate Clinton, comedian and author of Don’t Get Me Started and I Told You So
“The Stonewall Generation is a gem of a book, with interviews that illuminate different aspects of LGBTQ life in the United States and how aging intersects with identity, activism, and sex. Jane Fleishman’s thoughtful commentary and historical notes make it perfect for people who may be less familiar with LGBTQ history, and I think everyone will find something surprising or inspiring in these pages.” —Tim Johnston, Senior Director of National Projects at SAGE, author of Welcoming LGBT Residents: A Practical Guide for Senior Living Staff
“The Stonewall Generationis essential reading for educators, allies, and everyone in queer and trans communities, who deserve a rich and storied relationship to their elders.” —Jules Gill-Peterson, Associate Professor of English, University of Pittsburgh, and author of Histories of the Transgender Child
“Jane Fleishman’s The Stonewall Generation captures the thoughts, voices, and experiences of older folks across the LGBTQIAA+ spectrum in a way that both humanizes and glorifies them, honoring their lives and their legacies, who they are and how they fought for the freedoms we might not otherwise have today. In particular, Fleishman is adept at candidly discussing elder LGBTQIAA+ ,sex, not just bsexual identity. Too often, what we identify as is given primacy, and what we do in the bedroom is glossed over—particularly when discussing the lives of elders. This creates different, but no less destructive silences. The Stonewall Generation fills these gaps in our collective knowledge with the joyful, tearful, and always heartfelt reminiscences of a group of brave—and unflappable—elders.” —Hugh Ryan, author When Brooklyn Was Queer
“The Stonewall Generationis a wonderful read, full of the vibrant and distinct life experiences of these LGBT older adults and Jane Fleishman anchors them all with the question ‘where were you on June 28, 1969?’ This is living history—from a few who were in the Stonewall Bar that evening to those who weren’t even aware of it. Each voice tells a unique story that blends together with the others and offers us the history of our oppression and the resiliency of our community. What better way to honor and appreciate this generation of LGBT older adults?” —Lisa Krinsky, Director of the LGBT Aging Project, The Fenway Institute
“This is a stunning book that gives voice and visibility to people who have been largely ignored by our society. It’s time to listen to them.” —Joan Price, advocate for ageless sexuality, author of the award-winning Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Loud About Senior Sex
“Jane Fleishman’s intimate and uncensored personal histories provide unique accounts of LGBTQ life in the sixties and seventies. The dynamic personal reflections expand understanding and empathy and are a welcome and much-needed resource.” —Melanie Davis, PhD, Co-President, Sexuality and Aging Consortium at Widener University
Table of ContentsForeword by Kate Bornstein and Barbara Carrellas
A Note on Language
Introduction
Chapter 1: Sex Workers Struggles
Chapter 2: Fighting Back
Chapter 3: The Power of One
Chapter 4: A Life in Leather
Chapter 5: Sex at a Later Age
Chapter 6: Love, Loss, and Laughter
Chapter 7: Finding Strength
Chapter 8: Postscript: Working With Elders in the Community
Chapter 9: Continuing Their Legacies
Resources
Acknowledgements
Index
