[Marxism] From Paul Buhle on gays and the left

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

Lou, the biggest mystery about homosexuality and the Left is that it was
more prevalent in the CP's larger milieu of Popular Front days
particularly, than any Left organization before or since. But not
discussed: don't ask, don't tell.

Bettina Aptheker had a bit of a polemic in the most recent NEW POLITICS
on this question, following  a document and introduction by Chris
Phelps. What they wrote was not so much inaccurate as missing the vast
quantity of historical evidence in favor of a particular angle.

The most gay union in the history of the US and perhaps elsewhere was
Marine Cooks and Stewards, as noted in passing in the EAL entry. No
doubt, tho no evidence that I know, on the NMU before the Cold War. As
would be natural in any seafaring trade.

But there was no particular secret about gay men and lesbians in, for
instance, the Screenwriters Guild's left group, or among the CPers in
the government workers unions and other white collar sectors, the lefty
Teachers Union in NYC included.

Amid the chorus of anger at Stern, it may be also noted that the SEIU of
the 1980s led the way with resolutions for the AFL=CIO on gay rights and
PWAs, basic positions of an emerging Left bloc that was ferociously
resisted by the Kirkland-Shanker leadership (or misleadership). Was
Stern a personal enthusiast for these positions or just going along with
other progressives? Somebody must know.

And those are my notes to usefully complicate a discussion that will
defy any easy estimate.


________________________________________________
YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message.
Send list submissions to: Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Set your options at: 
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/options/marxism/archive%40archives.econ.utah.edu