Gay Culture Research Paper

Gay culture, or LGBT culture, is the culture shared amongst gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals. Gay culture varies widely based one one’s identity and location. Gay culture has come a long way, and throughout the journey is has caused changes in societal norms. The homosexual male shook the known gender norms causing an alternate outlook on gender roles. The purpose of this project is to examine the progression of the gay culture and how things such as drag balls and the Pansy Craze affected it. Drag balls were one of the several ways the gay community was allowed to grow. It provided a safe and fun place for homosexuals, female impersonators, and heterosexuals to intermingle and celebrate gay culture. Drag balls were one of the factors that helped push New York down a progressive path of change. Many of these changes occurred during what is know as the Pansy Craze. The Pansy Craze was an era in New York that the LGBT community began to blossom. Greenwich Village was a hub of gay and lesbian activity. Gay bars and LGBT entertainers and artists were becoming more common,

Communities such as Greenwich Village provided a safe space for the culture to grow and flourish. Large masquerades known as drag balls, took place in Greenwich Village. These events allowed the gay community to come together and celebrate their culture with one another, as well as with the rest of society. Drag balls were on of the events that occurred before and during the gay movement that is known as the Pansy Craze. The Pansy Craze was an era of social acceptance for the gay community. Individuals were welcomed as respected entertainers through out this period. The progression of gay culture also had an effect on the rest of society. Gay culture greatly defied social norms, thus shaking the accepted gender roles society had placed on