People think of Paris as a romantic city, but what they don’t always realize is that it has a long history as a specifically LGBTQ+ city. First of all, France made homosexuality *legal* in 1791: all sodomy laws were eliminated from the law code during the Revolution, 113 years before the Supreme Court did that in the USA.
That doesn’t mean it was a paradise of LGBTQ+ freedom, of course. Cross-dressing remained illegal until the 1970s, for instance. But it was much freer than anywhere else!
This is why Oscar Wilde went to live in France after he was released from prison in 1895. And it is why a long list of famous American and British lesbians lived in Paris. Two examples are Gertrude Stein, who ran a literary salon in Paris where she fostered talents like Picasso and Hemingway, and Sylvia Beach, who founded the famous bookstore Shakespeare & Co., where she published James Joyce’s Ulysses, which was too scandalous to appear in print in the USA or UK. James Baldwin also wrote his first novel in Paris and set his groundbreaking gay novel Giovanni’s Room there. He went to Paris partly to escape the racial segregation that was then in force in the USA, but also undoubtedly partly because of France’s greater degree of sexual freedom.
Explore The Fascinating LGBTQ+ History of Paris
www.oscarwildetours.com/the-fascinat...
18.02.2025 20:16 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Discover the roots of PRIDE. Join us on our 2025 Gay Greece Art History Tour. #gaygreece #lgbtqia #PRIDE #reelsfypシ #gaytravel #gayvacations #gayover50
www.oscarwildetours.com/gay-greece-t...
Download the itinerary here tinyurl.com/4uveu2a3
23.01.2025 04:23 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
#homophobia #lgbtq
07.01.2025 23:32 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
The scandalous life of the French author and #queer icon #Colette. 🌈
#paris #lesbian
03.01.2025 03:50 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
#deathinvenice #thomasmann #queerliterature #fypviralシ #fyp #queerhistory
31.12.2024 16:46 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Imagine seeing Donald Trump or anyone from his administration in a book store. Would NEVER happen! lol
02.12.2024 12:14 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
There are whole books on psychology that don't get anywhere near this paragraph from #Dostoevsky
02.12.2024 12:13 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
YouTube video by Oscar Wilde Tours
The Gay Genius Behind Disney’s Most Iconic Songs: The Legacy of Howard Ashman
Did You Know? A gay man helped shape Disney's most iconic songs! Howard Ashman, the genius behind The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin, used his unique lyric style to bring deep emotion to Disney classics we still love today.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJJz...
01.12.2024 23:32 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Oscar Wilde Tours is exploring South Africa. Now in Kruger Park! And that, my friends, is what they call a tusker!
01.12.2024 23:26 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Wayland Flowers was a pioneering gay entertainer who created Madame as more than just a puppet; she was a channel for queer expression during a time of scarce representation. Emerging in the 1960s and 70s, Flowers used Madame to infuse camp humor into mainstream culture, tackling risqué topics with biting wit. Madame's glamorous persona and confidence mirrored the boldness of drag, allowing Flowers to explore gender performance and challenge societal norms.
Their act blurred the lines between performer and puppet, giving Flowers a voice to address controversial topics that might not have been accepted if he spoke directly. Madame’s humor resonated deeply with queer audiences, offering sharp critiques of social norms and celebrating individuality. Through her audacity, Flowers provided rare visibility for LGBTQ+ culture on stage and screen.
The success of Wayland Flowers and Madame laid crucial groundwork for future queer representation in entertainment. At a time when queerness was often invisible or stereotyped, they showcased the power of humor to challenge norms and bring LGBTQ+ themes to a wider audience. Madame’s legacy as a queer icon endures, reminding us how creativity can transform constraints into opportunities for visibility and connection.
Wayland Flowers was a pioneering gay entertainer who created Madame as more than just a puppet; she was a channel for queer expression during a time of scarce representation. Emerging in the 1960s and 70s, Flowers used Madame to infuse camp humor into mainstream culture, tackling risqué topics.
01.12.2024 23:12 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
🎨 Just came across "Y.M.C.A. Locker Room, 1933" by Paul Cadmus. The locker room setting, filled with figures in various states of undress, speaks to themes of vulnerability and community.
What are your thoughts on how Cadmus portrays this scene? #ArtHistory #PaulCadmus #AmericanArt #1930sArt
29.11.2024 14:43 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Same here! What a breath of fresh air!
29.11.2024 13:46 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Totally agree! Well said.
29.11.2024 13:45 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
