Stonewall Library unveils new exhibit

By MATT COMER

Beginning Wednesday, Jan. 5 and continuing through the month of February, the Stonewall Library and Archives will present “The Other Gay ’90s: Coming Out with America,” which will look at all aspects of gay life in the ’90s.

In the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, there was very little gay life visible to the country. People coming out would have to go to a bar or club (sometimes illegally) to find out what coming out as a homosexual was all about. There were no role models, no realistic gay characters in television shows and many were too young to attend a gay-themed movies in theaters, which were quite often considered for “adults only.”

This all changed in the ’90s when a wealth of information, both positive and negative, about the homosexual lifestyle became widely available. In politics, gay rights issues took center stage in our culture wars. In pop culture, gay stories and celebrities asked America to accept this suddenly, very visible minority. And the advent of the Internet enabled the youths to interact and to explore the meaning of their sexuality together, even if they were thousand of miles away from each other.

“Everywhere you turned, it seemed like the whole world was turning gay,” said Jack Rutland, executive director of the Stonewall Library and Archives.“It was the first post-AIDS generation because of the introduction of [life sustaining] drugs in the early part of the decade.”

It was the decade of “Will & Grace,” Pedro Zamora, the Advocate and Out Magazine, advertisers noticing the “gay dollar,” openly gay politicians and television personalities, first televised kiss between two women on TV, the beginning of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the Defense of Marriage Act and Andrew Cunanan.

The exhibition starts with an opening reception on Wednesday, Jan. 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is open to the public. Tours of the exhibit will be conducted by the curator.