Quotes on the closet and coming out
Arden, born 1931
We had purges back in those days. Kids would leave campus on weekends. And on Monday morning, when everyone should be there, we'd discover all of these people who should be there were not. On the weekend, they would have been packed up, moved out and sent home. Because somebody said that somebody said… It didn't take documentation or proof. All it took was somebody that said somebody had done something. As many as 50 women disappeared in one weekend my freshman year. You had to be so careful.
We had purges back in those days. Kids would leave campus on weekends. And on Monday morning, when everyone should be there, we'd discover all of these people who should be there were not. On the weekend, they would have been packed up, moved out and sent home. Because somebody said that somebody said… It didn't take documentation or proof. All it took was somebody that said somebody had done something. As many as 50 women disappeared in one weekend my freshman year. You had to be so careful.
Rosemary, born 1929
When I told the boys, I was worried about their reaction, but I don’t think I needed to be. They said, “That’s okay, Mom. Whatever ... It’s whatever makes you happy. That’s really important."
Helen, born 1939
She didn't want her family or anybody to know.… I was so in love with her, but there was not satisfaction in the relationship at all. When we would go off some place, she would never go anywhere that was strictly lesbian. So if it were a party or a dance or anything, she would always have a man there with her, escorting her… I was there also.
Anonymous, born 1934
I had tried several times over the years to feel out both my mother and my father about homosexuality. Both were very adamant about identifying lesbians and blacks – they should not be associated with. I did not feel it was worth the struggle to fight that battle with either of them.
I had tried several times over the years to feel out both my mother and my father about homosexuality. Both were very adamant about identifying lesbians and blacks – they should not be associated with. I did not feel it was worth the struggle to fight that battle with either of them.
Anonymous, born 1939
The only conversation we had was after my mom died. And Dad couldn't say I was a lesbian or anything like that. All he said was, "I know you're different, and there won't be anybody to take care of you, so you'll have to take care of yourself." He thought I was so ill-prepared for that.
The only conversation we had was after my mom died. And Dad couldn't say I was a lesbian or anything like that. All he said was, "I know you're different, and there won't be anybody to take care of you, so you'll have to take care of yourself." He thought I was so ill-prepared for that.
