User:Thenerdiestninja/sandbox

Current Article: Queer coding

My contribution would focus on artwork from the early 20th century with has queer coded characters in the media. I will first give context to visual clues we would find in artwork, specifically what queer individuals wore at the time and how those items made their way into art. As of now, I will be using books/articles that address the mannerisms and appearance that will give context to the media that was queer coded.

Intended New Article: Queer Signaling (current article does not exist)

I intend to create a new article that covers the topic of queer signaling, or those in the queer community using clothing, mannerisms, and coded phrases to ‘signal’ to other’s in the queer community. As this is a new article, I will write some of the introduction, a paragraph about effeminate gay men (known as ‘fairies’) in the 1920’s, and lesbians in the 1940s-50s.

Intro:

Queer signaling refers to the different methods that individuals in the LGBTQ+ community use to ‘signal’ that they are part of the queer community, predominately through appearance, mannerisms, and coded phrases. These sorts of cues were used throughout history and into modern day by individuals to communicate (either subtlety or explicitly) to others in the LGBTQ+ community; this could include expression of sexuality, sexual intentions/wants, or gender identity. Queer signaling is also used to express their sexuality or gender to those outside of the queer community.

Body

1920’s

• ‘Fairies’ (or Effeminate Gay Men)

New York City, especially districts like the Bowery and Harlem, became a hub for queer culture and development in the early 20th century. It is during this time period that gay men would sometimes assume a more effeminate appearance and/or adopt traditionally feminine mannerisms to catch the attention of other gay men and take the ‘female role’ in any sexual interaction; men who presented this way were called ‘fairies’. (Chauncey pg. 48-50). Outside of simply dressing in a traditionally feminine manner, ‘fairies’ would also wear red ties or neckerchiefs out in public, which was more known as a queer signal to other gay men than non-queer individuals (Cole pg. 32-33).

1940’s/1950’s

• Lesbians

   During and after WWII, lesbianism became more apparent and began to have more representation, which led to certain appearance choices by lesbians to communicate their sexuality and find other lesbians. Most lesbian relationships followed the ‘butch/femme’ model, where ‘butch’ lesbians dressed in traditionally masculine attire and often had their hair short while ‘femme’ lesbians presented more ‘womanly’ (Kraus pg 37).

*Citations will be done properly once the article is more complete, current format is temporary

(Sources to be used as of now)

Chauncey, George. Gay New York. Basic Books, 2019.

Cole, Shaun, and Mike Etc Cole. ’Don We Now Our Gay Apparel. Berg Pub Limited, 2000.

Kraus, N. (1996). Desire Work, Performativity, and the Structuring of a Community: Butch/Fem Relations of the 1940s and 1950s. Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies, 17(1), 30–56. https://doi.org/10.2307/3346893