Gay men and women who had popped their heads over the parapet ducked down again out of sight, but they were just biding their time. Governments were reluctant to engage with the problem, so gay men took matters into their own hands. Again, prominent gay men and women had been quick to denounce it, and the general public became used to the idea of gay politicians, gay lawyers, gay priests. But more and more gay men and women wanted the particular blessing of a formal consecration of their commitment to each other. ‘Speak It’s Name!’ Quotations By and About Gay Men and Women is published by The National Portrait Gallery at £16.95.

Source: The Guardian November 27, 2016 07:32 UTC