Women and Gay Men in the Postwar Period

Friendships between women and gay men captivated the American media in the opening decade of the 21st century. John Portmann places this curious phenomenon in its historical context, examining the changing social attitudes towards gay men in the postwar period and how their relationships with women have been portrayed in the media.

As women and gay men both struggled toward social equality in the late 20th century, some women understood that defending gay men – who were often accused of eff...