Panel 4: Constructed Space: The Creation of “Environments”

Location

Campus Center Conference Room 2545, UMass Boston

Start Date

9-3-2013 11:00 AM

End Date

9-3-2013 12:15 PM

Description

The Alpine County Project, a climactic event in the gay liberation movement when activists took steps to create a self-governing separatist community in a remote region of rural California, is a largely forgotten topic of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) history. Though historical scholarship treated the project marginally within broader conceptual or regional contexts of gay liberation, the project had not been examined comprehensively in its own right. When approaching the topic, the initial historical problem to resolve was determining whether the project was a hoax staged to generate publicity or part of a genuine gay and lesbian separatist movement.

Topical study consisted of archival research and an extensive literature review. The literature review included but was not limited to such seminal works as Sexual Politics, Sexual Communities: The Making of a Homosexual Minority in the United States 1940-1970 by John D’Emilio, and Gay American History: Lesbians and Gay Men in the U.S.A. by Jonathan Katz, as well as more recent interdisciplinary works such as Scott Herring’s, Another Country: Queer Anti-Urbanism and Jamie Russell’s, Queer Burroughs. Research indicated that: 1) The present LGBT historical narrative of a linear march from oppression toward equality is largely an urban capitalist construct and 2) The present LGBT historiography which is focused mostly on urban LGBT population centers is incomplete because non-urban segments are not included.

The study revealed that the Alpine vision was genuine and not a well conspired hoax. Of greater significance, the study demonstrated that the LGBT historical narrative marginalizes gay liberation’s radicalism, all but excludes the separatist movement, and does not adequately examine the differences that existed between opposing factions within the movement. Further interdisciplinary examination of these neglected areas will contribute to a more complete understanding of the history of the LGBT people and their experiences.

Comments

Panel 4 of the 2013 Graduate History Conference features presentations and papers under the topic of "Constructed Space: The Creation of 'Environments.'"

Jacob Carter's presentation is the first in this panel.

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Mar 9th, 11:00 AM Mar 9th, 12:15 PM

Researching Stonewall Nation: Interdisciplinary Considerations for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Research

Campus Center Conference Room 2545, UMass Boston

The Alpine County Project, a climactic event in the gay liberation movement when activists took steps to create a self-governing separatist community in a remote region of rural California, is a largely forgotten topic of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) history. Though historical scholarship treated the project marginally within broader conceptual or regional contexts of gay liberation, the project had not been examined comprehensively in its own right. When approaching the topic, the initial historical problem to resolve was determining whether the project was a hoax staged to generate publicity or part of a genuine gay and lesbian separatist movement.

Topical study consisted of archival research and an extensive literature review. The literature review included but was not limited to such seminal works as Sexual Politics, Sexual Communities: The Making of a Homosexual Minority in the United States 1940-1970 by John D’Emilio, and Gay American History: Lesbians and Gay Men in the U.S.A. by Jonathan Katz, as well as more recent interdisciplinary works such as Scott Herring’s, Another Country: Queer Anti-Urbanism and Jamie Russell’s, Queer Burroughs. Research indicated that: 1) The present LGBT historical narrative of a linear march from oppression toward equality is largely an urban capitalist construct and 2) The present LGBT historiography which is focused mostly on urban LGBT population centers is incomplete because non-urban segments are not included.

The study revealed that the Alpine vision was genuine and not a well conspired hoax. Of greater significance, the study demonstrated that the LGBT historical narrative marginalizes gay liberation’s radicalism, all but excludes the separatist movement, and does not adequately examine the differences that existed between opposing factions within the movement. Further interdisciplinary examination of these neglected areas will contribute to a more complete understanding of the history of the LGBT people and their experiences.

 

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