Here are some questions for you to consider for the period from June 28, 1969 to the end of 1975. Again, these questions are for those inside and outside the U.S. and all genders and orientations. Please feel free to change the questions as you like, however:
1.) Did Stonewall or its aftermath have any impact on your awareness of homosexuality? If yes, how did you find out about it? If no, what made you aware of gay people at this time?
2.) Did the burgeoning gay liberation movement get discussed in your family or school?
3.) If you were aware of being gay - or had friends or co-workers you thought were gay, did the gay liberation movement facilitate or inhibit conversation?
4.) Do you remember the early feminist movement? Did you have opinions about it regarding lesbianism?
5.) Did either the gay liberation movement or the feminist movement affect your reading at this time? If so, what did you read?
6.) Do you remember if homosexuality was discussed in your church at this time?
7.) If you're gay or lesbian were you 'out of the closet'? Did you act on your knowledge? Did you go to bars or baths or political or social activities? What were they like? If you are not gay or lesbian did you have friends come out to you before this period and how did you handle that knowledge?
8.) For those in the U.S. - do you remember when the American Psychological Association removed homosexuality from its list of illnesses? Did this have any affect on your life or your behavior? If you are outside of the U.S. did this decision get covered in the press and was there an impact there?
9.) If you're in the U.K. or Canada do you remember when homosexuality was made legal? What was the impact? If you are outside of these countries were you aware of these changes and did they have an impact on your country?
10.) If you were in the armed forces (or knew people who were in the armed forces) was there an impact of the gay liberation movement? Were people more frightened? Did you know of people who were discharged or questioned because of homosexuality? Did you know of people who used the excuse of gayness to get out of the armed forces?
11.) If you were in the U.S. was there a change in the bars you went to after Stonewall? If you are outside of the U.S. did Stonewall have an effect on the openness of gay life in your country?
12.) In countries where homosexuality was legal do you remember what the reaction to Stonewall was? Were people in your country baffled by the problems in the U.S.? If you are from the U.S. did you visit any countries where homosexuality was legal - and what was you opinion of those countries? Was there a cordial relationship between gay people and straight people or were gay people merely tolerated?
13.) How soon after Stonewall Were you aware of gay organizations for openly gay/lesbian people?
14.) Were you aware of the reaction to law enforcement to gay people in your area? Were their parks or restrooms in public areas that were patrolled? Were there cases of people being arrested for gay sex in your area that you were aware of?
15.) Were you aware of publications relating to gay people? If so, what were they? Were they national or local publications?
16.) Did you know any gay or lesbian people where you were growing up? Were they really known to be gay, or were there rumors? Did Stonewall and/or the gay liberation movement affect local attitudes toward them? Did you meet any openly gay people during this period and what was your interaction with them like (i.e., do you still have friends from this period)?
17.) Did you read any books (either fiction or non-fiction) dealing with lesbians or gay people in this period? If so, were you open about reading them? Do you remember anyone you know reading books about gay people? Do you know if books about (or by) gay people were available in your area - either in bookstores or in libraries?
18.) Do you remember seeing any plays concerning homosexuality in this period (for example 'The Boys In the Band')? What did you think of them? There were plays (like 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf') that were rumored to be about gay people, with straight characters substituted for the gay characters. Did you see any of these plays - or did you know people who did? Do recall talking about these plays?
19.) There was a mini boom of films about homosexuality in this period ('Myra Breckenridge', 'The Boys In The Band', 'Gay Deceivers', 'Something for Everyone', 'Pink Flamingos', 'Sunday Bloody Sunday', 'The Damned', 'Death in Venice', etc.). Do you remember seeing any of these movies (or other movies that addressed homosexuality) in this period? What was your reaction? Do you remember the reactions of other people or if you read reviews of the films?
20.) If you were in an area where there was a college do you know if there were any gay organizations? Did you know anyone who went to meetings of these organizations (or did you go)? Were people afraid to attend these meetings? Did you hear people discuss these groups?
21.) Do you remember any gay related political events (like marches, zaps, etc.) in your area? If so, what do you remember about them? Were they covered in the press?
22.) Do you remember the reaction of the non-gay press to Stonewall and events after it? Do you remember the coverage of the A.P.A. removal of homosexuality as an illness in the press?
23.) Were there political candidates that addressed gay or lesbian issues in your area? What did they say? Was there a political reaction to gay events in your area?
24.) Was there any sort of feminist activity in your area? Were the people involved stigmatized as lesbians? Did you go to any of these events? Was there coverage in the press?
Again, if there are any topics you'd like to cover that I haven't mentioned please feel free - and if you just want to share memories without following these questions please do that as well.