Seeking Stories of Queer California: A Hidden Histories Online Exhibit

Gay men

Men who self-identify as gay and belong to gay communities. Predominately used to describe men who are exclusively or primarily romantically and/or sexually attracted to other men, though "gay" is sometimes used as an identifier by people of all genders or as a collective term. Seen and unseen, gay men have made significant contributions to society, through activism, advocacy, art, science, and culture. Though gay men are sometimes the face of the queer community, they are far from a monolith. They have unique journeys of self-discovery, navigating societal expectations, stereotypes, and discrimination to be seen and understood.

Collection Information

For more information on the materials in this gallery, see their holding institutions.

ASU FIDM Museum
Blue Check suit by Gilbert Adrian
Designer Rudi Gernreich in his office
Gown by Gilbert Adrian
Tan Suit Ensemble by James Galanos

California Historical Society
Lesbians and Gay Men the Grand Jury's in Town

California History Section, California State Library
Data Boy, Issue 136: Film
Don't Give Him Anything but Love
Magpie of California

Gerth Archives & Special Collections, California State University Dominguez Hills
Gay Sunshine no. 6
Lavender Godzilla: Voices of the Gay Asian Pacific Alliance

Historical Society of Long Beach
Membership card to the 1350 Club
Painted Rocks by Ray Lowen

The Huntington Library
Don Bachardy, portrait of Stephen Spender
Don Bachardy, portrait of Truman Capote
The Gay Times, interview with Joseph Hansen titled “Simple Lessons”
Joseph Hansen, “Why I wrote Early Graves”
Newspaper clipping from photograph album showing Christopher Isherwood and W.H. Auden
Photo of William Haines at his holiday home
Photo booth photographs of Don Bachardy and Christopher Isherwood
Souvenir featuring Don Bachardy from a party thrown by producer Allan Carr in honor of Truman Capote

LAPL Photograph Collections
Gay Dating Service Head
Gay Fathers Group
Gay Marriage Case

Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences
Charles Pierce and Virginia Grey
Flier advertising A Different Light bookstore's 1989 Gay Writer Series events
Gregg Araki
Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome
Kenneth Anger
My Beautiful Launderette
Poster and Call sheet for Making Love
Rock Hudson
Salome
Tea and Sympathy
The Word is Out

The Outwords Archive
Miguel Criado Oral History

Santa Monica History Museum
Crystal Beach bathhouse
Golden Bull
Mr. Muscle Beach Contest

Self Help Graphics & Art
Butch/Top
Intertwined
Y Que

University of California Riverside Special Collections & University Archives
Cover of manual for "Civil Rights for Lesbians and Gay Men: A Reference Manual for City and County Officials"
Excerpt from Sketchbook 11, Morris Scott Dollens
The World Book of Naders

William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
Portrait of Harrison Post
Portrait of William Andrews Clark

Workman & Temple Family Homestead Museum
Ramon Novarro

This page has paths:

  1. Seeking Stories in Queer California Beth McDonald

This page has tags:

  1. Galleries Beth McDonald

Contents of this tag:

  1. Rock Hudson
  2. Blue check women's suit by Gilbert Adrian, 1946-48
  3. Lavender Godzilla: Voices of the Gay Asian Pacific Alliance, April 2003
  4. The Golden Bull, 2023
  5. Portrait of Morris Kight by Don Bachardy, 1980
  6. Poster and Call sheet for Making Love, 1981-1982
  7. Membership card to the 1350 Club, 1981
  8. Matlovich for Supervisor, undated
  9. My Beautiful Laundrette, circa 1985
  10. Ron Douglas (left) and Jack Wilson cut their wedding cake at the private marriage ceremony, 1970
  11. Kenneth Anger, undated
  12. Tan Suit Ensemble by James Galanos, 1962
  13. Joseph Hansen, “Why I wrote Early Graves,” circa 1987
  14. Dorr Legg at drafting table, circa 1936-1942
  15. The Gay Times, interview with Joseph Hansen titled “Simple Lessons,” January 1987
  16. Gay Men's Chorus 25th Anniversary concert poster, 2004
  17. Gay Dating Service Head, 1982
  18. Jeff Horton, Larry Pickens and their son at Los Angeles gay pride, 1995
  19. A celebration of adult Bar and Bat Mitvahs at Congregation Kol Ami, 2000
  20. Robert Arthur, Ivy Bottini, Quentin Crisp, Morris Kight, and Patricia Nell Warren, 1994
  21. Photo of William Haines at his holiday home, taken by Ruth Harriet Louise for Metro Goldwyn Mayer, circa 1925
  22. Asian Pacific group at the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation, 1993
  23. Flier advertising A Different Light bookstore's 1989 Gay Writer Series events
  24. Designer Rudi Gernreich in His Office, 1969
  25. Painted Rocks by Ray Lowen, undated
  26. Intertwined, 2007
  27. Charles Pierce and Virginia Grey
  28. Butch/Top, 2007
  29. Mr. Muscle Beach Contest, 1950
  30. Salome, 1922
  31. Gown by Gilbert Adrian, 1948
  32. Photo booth photographs of Don Bachardy and Christopher Isherwood, March 30, 1953
  33. Y Que, 2007
  34. Crystal Beach Bathhouse, 1943
  35. Lesbians and Gay Men The Grand Jury's In Town, 1979
  36. Newspaper clipping from photograph album showing Christopher Isherwood and W.H. Auden, ca. 1930s
  37. The World Book of Naders, undated
  38. The Word is Out, 1977
  39. Don't Give Him Anything But Love, 1973
  40. Ramon Novarro, circa 1920s
  41. Souvenir featuring Don Bachardy from a party thrown by producer Allan Carr in honor of Truman Capote, December 13, 1979
  42. Excerpt from Sketchbook 11, Morris Scott Dollens, undated
  43. Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome, circa 1954
  44. Data Boy, Issue 136: Film, January 1976
  45. Don Bachardy, portrait of Truman Capote, June 26, 1961
  46. Cover of manual for "Civil Rights for Lesbians and Gay Men: A Reference Manual for City and County Officials", 1990
  47. Tea and Sympathy, 1953-1956
  48. Magpie of California, May 1969
  49. Gay Fathers Group, 1981
  50. Don Bachardy, portrait of Stephen Spender, June 21, 1976
  51. Portrait of William Andrews Clark, Jr., 1925
  52. Miguel Criado Outwords profile
  53. Gregg Araki
  54. Gay Sunshine no. 6, March 1971,
  55. Gay Marriage Case in Court, 1979
  56. Portrait of Harrison Post, 1920