Queer Icons in the Jazz Age: A Hidden History

The 1920s was the time when American society experienced a complete revolution. With the introduction of jazz during the Jazz Age, LGBTQ people started to proclaim their lifestyle in places like New York and Chicago. Yet their tales remain unwritten in most of the popular history texts.

Gladys Bentley

Gladys Bentley was a black blues singer who performed in speakeasies during Prohibition. Opposing the regulations of the time, which also targeted female musicians, she was dressed like a man and sang publicly about her attraction to other women. In 1952, she married her white secretary, showing how complex the challenges could be in negotiating identity and relationships in times of sharply limited rights.

Greta Garbo

The enigmatic Swedish-American movie star rose to popularity by portraying femme fatales that charmed both men and women. The sexuality and relationships of Garbo were the gossip of all times during her whole career. Some film historians imply that the term “garboesque” is associated with the look and ambiance of subtle gay signaling and gender nonconformity.

Harlem Renaissance Leaders

The Harlem Renaissance produced a robust LGBTQ cultural scene, yet many of the prominent figures were persecuted. During the 19th century, moralism, Langston Hughes, and Countee Cullen, the poets, were driven by the theme of LGBT identities. However, an artist, Richard Bruce Nugent, and writer, Alice Dunbar-Nelson, produced several iconic works that depict the desire for individuals of the same sex.

Challenges and Perseverance

Although non-heteronormativity was sometimes visible, the prevailing social environment was hostile, especially in avant-garde circles. Through the embedded language and images in their art, the LGBTQ performers and producers developed various underground ways of conducting interpersonal interactions. Living under the mask of double life, they managed to find a means of self-creation, thereby giving cultural signs and heritage of enduring for the following generations.

Socially, the Harlem Renaissance and Jazz Age allowed for much greater gender and sexual diversity to thrive when cultural politics began to wane. The perception of LGBT visibility in the early twentieth century is helpful for modern society to understand the dynamics of identity. Nevertheless, it also portrays the persisting problems that the LGBTQ community is seeking to solve.

We at SHAVA are honored to share this article as a reflection of our deep commitment to celebrating the rich diversity within the transgender community. It is with heartfelt solidarity that we stand with transgender individuals of color, wholeheartedly advocating for an environment of acceptance and allyship. Through our efforts, we aim to uplift and honor the myriad of unique experiences that contribute to the beautiful tapestry of our community. Discover more about our initiatives at shava.co