To be a gay man in the 19th century was to live in the shadows. And to be openly homosexual meant almost certain alienation from family and friends. But how does this compare to the 20th century, a period of great social and legal change? Three men whose lives span the majority of the 20th century discuss their lives, while the author of “Strangers: Homosexual Love in the 19th Century” looks at that century’s highs and lows. By comparing the two we can see how social attitudes and norms have changed – perhaps not quite as much as we may think.
Producer: Chris Chambers
Broadcast: February 23, 2005