> >The review in the current NLRB devotes about a third of its space
> to a
> >brisk attack on all reviewers who take this tack. The thesis of the
> >review is that it is about The Closet, and that it is false to see it
> >like R&J, black/white, etc. It is not a social tragedy but a
> >psychological tragedy of self-hate.
>
> The reason why it's not just about the closet is that if the two
> lovers were rich, there would be no problem. None. Well, at
> various imtes in history and with bad luck, they might get in
> trouble, but it wouldn't be for being gay, that would just be the
> justification (Richard II, Oscar Wilde). Otherwise, gay is fine if
> you can afford it.
Being gay is often associated with being rich in many people's minds, but that is merely because richer gay men and lesbians could write and often left records of their thoughts, sometimes as acclaimed authors, while much fewer working-class gay men and lesbians managed to do so. But working-class gay men, lesbians, and bisexual men and women had their own ways of life and left their imprints on culture. You can hear that in blues, for instance, "B. D. Woman's Blues" (1935) by Lucille Bogan (aka Bessie Jackson) [the "B. D." in the title refers to "bull daggers" and "bull dykes"]:
<blockquote>Comin' a time, B. D. women, they'n't gon' need no men. Comin' a time, B. D. women, they'n't gon' to need no men. Cause the way they treat us is a lowdown and dirty sin. B. D. women, you sure cain't understand. B. D. women, you sure cain't understand. They got a head like a switch engine, and they walk just like a natch'l man. B. D. women, they all done learnt their plan. B. D. women, they all done learnt their plan. They can lay their jive just like a natch'l man. B. D. women, B. D. women, you know they sure is rough. B. D. women, B. D. women, you know they sure is rough. They all drink up plenty whiskey, and they sure will strut their stuff. B. D. women, you know they work and make their dough. B. D. women, you know they work and make their dough. And when they get ready to spend it, they know just where to go.</ blockquote>
You can hear "B. D. Woman's Blues" at <http://www.redhotjazz.com/bogan.html>.
Yoshie Furuhashi <http://montages.blogspot.com> <http://monthlyreview.org> <http://mrzine.org>