before stonewall
...sion during the 1930's led to much discontent and discrimination amongst the gay community. While Sexologist Dr. Herschfeld spoke in the United States about the progressive changes being made in Germany the Nazi’s brought this lesbian and gay movement to a screeching halt and also started the US in a war that would have drastic effects on the lives of homosexuals in America as well. During WWII both men and women were needed to join the service. Gay men in the army were constantly on guard and any show of affection, especially touching was not at all tolerated. There was a tolerance for lesbians only if their needed to be. There were many attempts to weed out lesbians but it was often found that they made up to much of the work force to let go, and their sexual preference was ignored. During the war radical social changes were happening on the home front as well. As women joined the work force lesbians began to gain economic independence and hundreds of homosexual bars were founded as gay military personnel came streaming into the cities. As the war ended, however, the small ground gained by the gay community began to once again deteriorate, especially in the case of the women. Once the war ended most men got their jobs back but women were forced back into traditional roles losing their economic gains. In the 40's liberal ideas began to grow despite this backdrop of social conservatism. While there was a push to strive for the picture perfect life of a hard working, providing husband or a well kept mother of four, it was also a time when the old bohemian mindsets and traditions were being integrated into mass culture. Homosexuals were made to feel they were a sizable population and society could no longer talk, or think about them in the old ways. The age of McCarthy took society straight back into the dark ages. During 1951, 1952 and 1953 people were looking for enemies everywhere and an unfortunate and unsubstantial connection was made between communist and homosexual. Gays and Lesbians were under constant surveillance, hassled at their homes and as many as possible were removed from their workplaces, especially government positions. The gay community was for the most part left unadjusted, disintegrated and with no self image. The fifties, however, also brought with it some of America's first organizations of homosexuals. Organizations which sponsored many discussion groups, fought police entrapment and started some of the first homosexual magazines. Even with these promotions geared towards integrating homosexuals into society they were still considered outsiders. No one talked about racism, sexism or homophobia openly and society continued to support the attitude of “were sorry that it happened to you” but not one of “it shouldn't happen at all.” Police officers would use any excuse to arrest homosexuals. They were in some cases officers were trained to "act" gay in order to reel individuals in, and then once arrested had the i...