Stonewall Generation: LGBTQ Elders on Sex, Activism, and Aging

by Jane Fleishman

Sexuality researcher Jane Fleishman shares the stories of nine fearless elders in the LGBTQ community who came of age around the time of Stonewall. In candid interviews, they lay bare their struggles, their strengths, their activism, and their sexual liberation in the context of the political movements of the 1960s, 1970s, and today. Each has spent a lifetime fighting for liberation, for the right to live, love, and be free. Each has faced challenges arising from their sexual orientation, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, politics, disabilities, kinkiness, nonmonogamy, and other identities. With unflinching directness, the elders interviewed explore their struggles within the LGBTQ community: Were they the "right" kind of lesbians or gay men? Were they scrutinized more critically because they came out as bi? Was there insidious racism or classism keeping them down just when they thought they'd finally come home? Were they called names or looked down upon for choosing to be paid for sex, for being fat, for having kinky sexual practices? Were their political credentials dissected when they wore the "wrong" kinds of clothes or lived in the "wrong" kinds of places? What political movements made an impact on them? How did their sexual lives as young people inform their sexual lives as adults? These are the stories of those whose lives were changed forever by Stonewall and who became agents of change themselves. We need to hear these voices, particularly at a time when our country is in the middle of a crisis that could shatter hard-won core values we've fought for again and again in our nation's history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Queer, LGBT, Social Justice, Biography Memoir, Historical

272 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2020

Reviews

[Stephanie B · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly inspirational book, hearing the voices of our elders in their own words describing the pivotal stonewall rebellion that helped launch lgbtq political social justice activism and continue sexual liberation for all. Especially valuable to read in this recent post-trump time for those of us who need more injections of hope. Dr. Fleishman also provides ample historical context, making this book educational from both the eye witness and macro perspectives. Bravo, Dr. Fleishman.

[Kaelyn Ireland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I am related to one of the interviewees in this wonderful book. 🏳️‍🌈

This book is a tremendous gift to LGBTQ people who did not live through the '60s and' 70s. I'm grateful for this opportunity to learn from community elders, including and especially my amazing Aunt Edie and her wife Jackie, as well as all the elders whose life experiences differ greatly from my own. It is crucial that younger generations talk to our elders and understand what they fought for and that we continue to pave the way for generations to come. There is plenty of advice in this book to help us do that.

[Degenerate Chemist · Rating 4 out of 5]

What it says on the tin- about 200 pages of oral history from LGBTQ elders and activists. The first 100ish pages focuses on interviewees who were at Stonewall talking about the even in their own words. The final 100ish pages are from the Stonewall Generation although they were not present at the event itself.

This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and think it's an important read for all members of the LGBTQ community not only to learn of our history but in light of current events affecting us in the US. I did have two issues with it.
First it's not written in a narrative style, it's more like interviews where a question or topic is mentioned and the elder responds to it. And only a few of the elders were actually at Stonewall, or even in NYC at the time. Some didn't hear of it till years later. I couldn't help but feel my own response at the time. I was about to start high school in a suburb of New York and remember quite well the tv news reports that weekend and later overhearing the very hostile comments from my parents and their friends. As upsetting as that was the riots themselves did give me some hope, that maybe someday I could find a circle of people and not be bullied every day by boys my own age. And the knowledge that there were places to go, even if they were risky, gave me something to look forward to.
I thank those who were interviewed for their contributions to helping our community get where it is today.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so, so important, and is a good history lesson for everyone, even those of us who like to think we know our history. ♥️💜💙💚💛🧡

[Michael T Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I found the authorial voice of the interviewer somewhat grating at times, this was still a wonderful collection of first-person interviews.

I think my main issue is that it seems a bit scattershot. Is this a collection of interviews with people who were there at the Stonewall "riot"? (I put it in quotes b/c the few people for whom the answer is yes say it definitely wasn't a riot.) No. Most of the interviewees weren't actually there. Is this a collection of interviews w/people who were directly affected by Stonewall? Nope. Some of them didn't learn about it till years later. Is the main topic sex at a later age (with a focus on queer sex)? Ehhhh, kind of, though some people don't really touch on it, and certainly no one goes into specifics.

So ... what is it? Well, it's certainly entertaining and enlightening. Especially eye-opening are the first few interviewees, who were actually there at Stonewall, especially the one guy who kept just trying to find a way to get out without being noticed, essentially. He really only got "involved" when he realized a police officer was choking someone to death. Incredibly relatable, I thought.

Also, as someone who's now in their mid-40s with an undiminished libido but certainly a more diminished body, it's good to read some of these people in their 70s talking about how their sex lives are still quite enjoyable, if not as limber.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a fascinating and inspiring collection of interviews of LGBTQ elders. Not all the participants were at Stonewall, in fact, most weren't but Jane Fleishman uses this as a turning point in both attitudes of and from the LGBTQ community. The diverse participants that Fleishman interviewed became pioneers and leaders in small and large ways, and it was inspiring to see how they persevered despite the many challenges. This book is an excellent introduction to anyone who wants to understand the history of the LGBTQ movement and the interview format is a perfect way to hear directly from those who paved the way.

[Charlie Egon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Fleishman presents seven interviews with people who came of age during the time of Stonewall. A worthwile and easy-to-read collection for those interested in queer elders, queer aging, memories, relationships, sex and activism through the decades for a US-american/North-American context!

I enjoyed that the book brings together a lot of different perspectives and shows a variety of LGBTQ people! In particular, I learned a lot about the origins of gay leather bear culture and bi activism in the 1980s.

Remember the queer people who came before us - and keep in mind that many of them are still very much here.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the idea of this book better than the actual book. I think the title’s reference to Stonewall is a little misleading. Only a couple of the people interviewed were at or near Stonewall. Most didn’t seem to feel any connection to it. If that was the point (this founding event actually didn’t have as much impact at the time, but only in hindsight), that didn’t come through in the writing, partly because this is written as a series of interview transcripts.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very worth reading, especially as an ally in these modern times. It’s always been important to listen to the elders who came before us, but it’s especially important to listen to those who took part in the events of our history (which really were not as far back ago as we think they may be).

[Chad Banks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick, easy read but packed with so much history. I enjoyed reading the stories of those featured, their struggles, and ultimately their successes. Such an important part of not just LGBTQ+ history, but of American history.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book and I’m grateful for these stories. But also very sad given that much of this was compiled before or during Trump I. And the refrain almost everyone here spoke was that the fight goes on and what’s been gained can’t be taken for granted. It’s hard to hear that right now.

[Paige Dalton-Reitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredible snapshot into the lives of LGBTQ elders.

[Ds Oswald]

received this book from a friend of the author and felt a lot of feelings about it while reading. being young + queer + trans in a conservative part of the country has made its stamp on my psyche, which means reading about old gay people makes me weepy as hell. you mean we can make it? we can make it and be happy? it's fun to read a range of perspectives on stonewall, from people who were in the thick of it to people who were like "idk i didn't really think abt it." the hope and resistance recorded here makes me want to fight for the future. we can do it!