Queer sites: gay urban histories since 1600

David Higgs

Psychology Press, 1999 - Social Science - 214 pages

There are areas which can be described as gay space in that they have many lesbians and gays in the population. Queerspace: A History of Urban Sexuality, edited by David Higgs, offers a history of gay space in the major cities form the early modern period to the present. The book focuses on the changing nature of queer experience in London, Amsterdam, Rio de Janiero, San Francisco, Paris, Lisbon and Moscow.
This book provides an interdisciplinary analysis of extensive source material, including diaries, poems, legal accounts and journalism. By concentrating the importance of the city and varied meeting places such as parks, river walks, bathing places, the street, bars and even churches, the contributors explore the extent to which gay space existed, the degree of social collectiveness felt by those who used this space and their individual histories.

Contents

• Paris: 10
• Moscow: 38
• Amsterdam: 61
• London: 89
• Lisbon: 112
• Rio de Janeiro: 138
• San Francisco: 164
• Some suggestions for further reading: 190
• Bibliography: 194
• Index: 209

Bibliographic information

• Title: Queer sites: gay urban histories since 1600
• Editor: David Higgs
• Contributor: David Higgs
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Psychology Press, 1999
• ISBN: 0415158974, 9780415158978
• Length: 214 pages
• Subjects: Social Science / Gay Studies; Social Science / Lesbian Studies; Social Science / Men's Studies; Social Science / Sociology / Urban