Gay and Lesbian, Then and Now: Australian Stories from a Social Revolution

by Robert Reynolds, Shirleene Robinson

Over seventy years, Australia has quietly undergone one of the biggest social revolutions in its history. Once viewed as criminals, sinners or sick, lesbians and gay men are increasingly accepted as equal, and the majority of Australians support same-sex marriage. This rapid transformation in social attitudes has widened the space for lesbians and gays to live ordinary and visible lives in ways that were once barely imaginable.

Through the intimate life stories of thirteen gay and lesbian Australians ranging in age from twenty to eighty, Gay and Lesbian, Then and Now reveals the remarkable shifts from one generation to the next. From the underground beats of 1950s Brisbane and illicit relationships in the armed services, to Grindr, foster parenting and weddings in the twenty-first century, Robert Reynolds and Shirleene Robinson trace the intimate personal impact of this quiet revolution in social attitudes.

Gay and Lesbian, Then and Now reveals the legacies of homophobia, the personal struggles and triumphs involved in coming out, the inconsistent state of social progress, and the many different ways of being gay or lesbian in Australia – then and now.

Genres: Nonfiction, Lesbian, LGBT, History

288 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2016

About the author

Robert Reynolds

Reviews

[B.P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this social history book gives a really good sense of how attitudes have changed in Australia, and how how some things haven't - being LGBTIQ in regional Australia for example. This book was a fascinating read, but would have benefitted from further editing - to avoid repetition and to create a less meandering read in one or two parts.

[han⚢ · Rating 3 out of 5]

would be SO interested in a feminist breakdown of this book, as i believe, while this is an important, necessary book, some of the assumptions it makes on the women within are quite rooted in misogyny. would still recommend this however, as hearing from older australian lesbians!!!!! was so fucking gratifying!! like.... as an australian, lesbians from the usa or britain get so much screen time, i think y'all forget other countries exist (lol), so hearing from lived experiences within my own country was.... so good.

[Ella Birt · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the interviews are great, the frequent ponderings by the historians on if people's personal relationships with parents/ friends/ colleagues were influenced by repressing their sexuality did remove me from the oral histories. Eg. "Reviewing Joshua's rocky transition from rural lad to city dweller, we wonder what role sexuality played in his darkening mood," or the endless "perhaps" statements that assume the realities of participants. While overall great, these parts read to me as a power imbalance between the historians and interviewees with the historians given full reign to ponder on the intricacies of people's lives in the permanent record, rather than allowing the audience to do that independently.

[Colin Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this an interesting read as it took me through the generations growing up as gay or lesbian in Australia. Reading about the changes in society and coming out, but also hearing that while being gay or lesbian is more accepting in Australia, there still remains that fear or hesitation around coming out to family and friends. There is also the brief mention around difference and heteronormativity that has appeared.

[Kurdt · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book told the story of the struggles that LQBTQ+ people in Australia faced in the past, and the problems that they continue to face in the present day. it was a very wholesome book to read, though it was sad to learn about the inequality that people experience everyday, simply due to the way they were created.

[Emmaby Barton Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

really enjoyed this - was especially interesting seeing lgbt history and specific peoples experiences in an australian context. didn't realise when i started reading but the interviews are from 2013-15 - so some nearly ten years ago and pre-marraige equality - ie a lot has changed in these 10 years!! also a shame that they focussed exclusively on gay men and lesbians

[Christopher Dempsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a useful book. In interviews with a range of people across different ages, we get a good understanding of how life has, and hasn't changed for Gays and Lesbians in Australia.

[Jonathan Solomon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Gay and Lesbian. Then and Now" is a collection of oral interviews of Australian gay and lesbian persons from the veterans to the millennials. This is an eye-opening read and really confirms the diversity of gay and lesbian life. A few of the interviews resonated with me, such as Amos's and Mark's stories. This book also provides up-to-date academic research and highlights the gay ordinariness vs transgressive queer identity debate. My favourite quote of this book is "the writer Andrew Sullivan... has accused the homonormativity crowd of building 'a gilded cage' of gay exceptionalism". Is this perhaps evidence of a schism? Well worth a read.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insightful read with some incredible stories and home truths.
These quotes hit the heart and soul:
* Where are these people and how can I get there, away from all of this?
*Don't act on it. Try and just supress it.
*Feeling hurt and loss or pain severely. That attachment, that friendship loss.

[Benjamin Farr · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important book, and one that provides a rare account of the lives of gay and lesbian Australians.