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    Rainbow Trends A LGBT Affaire

    From L to T the LGBT community has contributed and created great forms of art, fashion and entertainment. The outcasts in society are not so much outcasts when others start to adopt their trends. Those infringed by laws gave birth to mainstream ideas that changed history.

    1. Government Closets Gays

    2. Gays Take the Stage

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    In an effort to escape the judgment and ridicule of society gays and homosexuals turned to theater. Arts provided an outlet as well as a form of expression. In the late 1950’s Greenwich Village became a haven for gays and iconoclasts. The 1950s and 1960s marked a polychromatic era that gave birth to queer theatre in places like Café Cino. The Cino created a new culture as well as inspired new ideas. At first people flocked to the café for the food and conversation, but soon the makeshift stage of milk crates became the main attraction. The Cino was the first Off-Off Broadway Theater; it featured plays that dealt with LGBT themes and issues. The theatre encouraged a rainbow flow of freethinking. Playwrights wrote plays that mirrored the gay community to encourage, empower, and to help homosexuals to overcome self-hatred. Great plays such Talley’s Folly by Charles Landford were created, and gained recognition. Not only were great plays created but also actors such as Al Pachino got a start on Off- Off Broadway. Queer theatre set the groundwork for future art forms that continue to shape our culture today (THE 2000 Notes).

    3. Stone Walled Straight

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    On any given day in Greenwich Village police officers would preform raids of gay clubs and cafes, with no justifiable cause. Fed up with the constant harassment, on June 28, 1969, gays stood up for their rights and the LGBT community. The Stonewall Riots sparked the continuing uphill battle for equality. The riot paved the way for future members of the LGBT community as well as demanded society to recognize them as equal individuals. On June 28th at the Stonewall Inn police officers performed the routine raid. Women were expected to have on at least three pieces of feminine clothing, if they did not they were arrested. Individuals engaging in homoerotic behavior were also arrested. The gay community fought back and across the nation their voices were heard. An eruption of gay lib movements ignited across the nation. Similar retaliation methods are still seen today in songs such as “Same Love” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Not as radical as physical revolting but as strong verbally. The song advocates standing up for those oppressed and realizing that there is no freedom until we are all equal. The LGBT Community continues to encourage the acceptance of outcasts even today. The Stonewall Riots also shifted queer theatre into riskier themes, and the spread of openly gay plays.

    4. Post Stoned

    5. Glittered Gay Fashionably

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    It is undeniable that the LGBT communities influence in the fashion industry is not so closeted. The book A Queer History of Fashion features ensembles from 18th century menswear to 21st century high fashion. It is an exquisite exhibition set fourth to acknowledge the great contributions the LGBTQ community has made to fashion. Gay designers have had a significant impact on the creation of modern fashion. Well-known designers such as Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, and even Michael Kors are gay. Their contributions to fashion are not only widely accepted by society but also are at the center of everyone’s materialistic conquest to the dream wardrobe. The exhibit also depicts the shift in style trends after the Stonewall Riots. Lesbian wardrobe shifted from masculine famine to more androgynous style. LGBT ‘s influence on fashion is also evident in pop culture. Singers such as Madonna, Beyoncé, and Lady Gaga employ gay fashion trends in their outfits. It is evident modern trends are just a spinoffs of gay style and the LGBT community should be applauded for such contributions..

    6. Sassy in Red the Cabaret

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    Robert Fosse / Via youtube.com

    The Off- Off Broadway way culture gave way to a new culture marked by self-expression and music. The cabaret having its roots in Paris attracted the outcasts in society, and gave them a place to escape the harsh realities of life in the 1920’s. The cabaret also found its place in the Weimer Republic. Much like the U.S. German culture also underwent a tidal wave of liberation. Women were given the right to vote, and censorship laws were lifted. Cabaret shows were filled with political satire as well as featured cross-dressing sketches. Cabaret much like the Café Cino was a haven for iconoclasts. Cabaret is a art form influenced by the gay culture.

    7. Gay Music

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    With todays liberal society it is not as socially taboo to openly admit to homosexuality. Mainstream artists are exercising there right to freedom of expression and are sharing a piece of their lives artistically. In the past laws such as the Comstock Law as well as policies in New York prevented gays from expressing themselves creatively. Society viewed gays as misfits and dysfunctional, they were seen as corrupted individuals. Today these harsh characterizations of gay culture are still alive, but are disguised. Artists like Frank Ocean producing a song about his first homosexual experience titled “thinking about you” shocked the nation. News about his sexual identity baffled the nation. The song he had written many believed was about his loss of innocence to a girl but in actually turned out to be the exact opposite. Some even lost respect for his music all together. What people failed to realize was just because he was gay did not deem his music unworthy. There are a large amount of gay artists that have created songs at the top of the billboards such as Sam Smith, Adam Lambert, and Elton John. Their dedication to creating great music and not allowing the stigmatism of being gay to classify them and deter them is what makes them musicians of our time.

    8. Criss Cross

    9. Death Dropping

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    A great part of drag culture as well as LGBT culture is the Vogue femme dance. Vogue originated from Harlem drag shows. African Americans and Latinos dressed up in drag and performed in Harlem ballrooms. There costumes were extreme and dramatized versions of Las Vegas show girl costumes. Sharp precise hand movements heavily characterize vogue. It is a common misconception that vogueing is simply a series of poses as depicted in Madonna’s mainstream music video Vogue. In actuality it is far more complex incorporating improvisation, acrobatics as well as calculated movements. A unique dance move called the death drop also originates from vogue. Vogue holds great significance because it has shaped the entertainment industry. Artists such as Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, and Madonna have shinned light on this LGBT art form, as well as shaped societies perception.

    10. Gays Set the Stage for Computer Age

    11. Sultry and Prideful