1920s gay men coding

Last Updated: May 28, The tradition of masquerade and civil balls, more commonly known as drag balls, had begun back in within Hamilton Lodge, a black fraternal organization in Harlem. By the mids, at the height of the Prohibition era, they were attracting as many as 7, people of various races and social classes—gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight alike.

Polari: The code language gay men used to survive

Paddywagon — police car where those arrested during a raid are put and driven to the station. Pansy — term for homosexual man, could be used both positively and pejoratively. Playing Checkers — moving from seat to seat in a darkened movie theater in search of interested sex partners.

How Gay Culture Blossomed During the Roaring Twenties

1920s Gay Culture

As time passed, legislation was specified, and the addition of "effeminate" or "degenerate" traits as grounds to be deemed unfit for service. In the United States, anti-discrimination legislation exists. Nonetheless, employers can find workarounds in "right to work" states. If an employer so desires to depend on the size of the company, being faith-based or other designations can enable the unjustified firing of LGBTQ employees.