Headlines depicting the LGBT rights movement dominate media today, but the fight is far from recent; in fact, it dates all the way back to the ’50s.
Marc Stein, a professor of history, gender sexuality and women’s studies at York University in Toronto, will present a guest lecture Tuesday at Ohio University centered on the history of the LGBT movement.
“Dr. Stein is one of the most prominent scholars of gay history who’s writing now,” said Lance Poston, a history doctoral student who worked to bring Stein to campus.
The lecture will touch on topics covered in Stein’s most recent book, Rethinking the Gay and Lesbian Movement.
“It’s really the first book that offers a broad overview, historical overview, of the gay and lesbian movement from the 1950s straight to the present,” Stein said.
Stein’s talk will focus on the beginning of the movement, which started in the 1950s. The work done by activists in the 1950s and 1960s laid the foundation for the rest of the movement that has occurred over the past four decades, Stein said.
“The common myth that I’ll be talking about is that the movement didn’t really start until the New York City Stonewall riots of 1969,” he added.
Throughout October, the LGBT Center has hosted multiple events to celebrate LGBT History Month. The bulk of the events, though, celebrated LGBT rights and milestones, and the center wanted an event that would tell the LGBT movement’s full history.
Stein, who has given more than 100 lectures over the past 20 years, has written two other books that discuss the history of sexuality.
“I think it can be quite exciting and empowering to look at individuals and groups that have really put their bodies on the line, put their lives on the line, in order to develop freedom and equality,” Stein said. “I think many people find that kind of history to be quite moving and inspiring.”
Stein is one of many guest lecturers invited to speak during the OU’s celebration of LGBT History Month.
“I think this is the perfect town, perfect area in which to do that, especially because I feel like the awareness of the LGBT movement and gay rights and everything is so prevalent here,” said Kelly Schlabach, a sophomore studying dance at OU.
je726810@ohiou.edu
