Rebel youth: The history of LGBT youth organizing in post-Stonewall America

Denby, Eric William

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127182 Copy

Description

Title

Rebel youth: The history of LGBT youth organizing in post-Stonewall America

Author(s)

Denby, Eric William

Issue Date

2024-11-07

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Retzloff, Tim

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Gilbert, Dan

Committee Member(s)

• Micale, Mark
• Symes, Carol

Department of Study

History

Discipline

History

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• LGBTQ Youth
• Stonewall
• Political Activism
• Gays & lesbians
• LGBTQ history
• Queer History
• Queer Youth
• Youth activism

Abstract

This dissertation explores the history and development of LGBTQ youth organizing in the United States from 1969 to 1993, highlighting the critical contributions of young activists in shaping the LGBTQ rights movement. It delves into the formation and evolution of key organizations, including the Gay Youth of New York, the Youth Liberation Front of Ann Arbor, and the Boston Alliance for Gay and Lesbian Youth, examining their strategies for combating ageism and promoting sexual self-determination. By focusing on these organizations, the dissertation illuminates the unique challenges and successes of LGBTQ youth in their fight for recognition and rights, emphasizing the importance of youth-led activism in the broader context of the LGBTQ rights movement. The study situates these youth organizations within the larger historical framework of LGBTQ activism, tracing their roots to the Stonewall Rebellion and subsequent liberation movements. It provides a detailed analysis of the social, political, and cultural contexts that shaped the experiences of LGBTQ youth, including the impact of the AIDS crisis and the shifting landscape of LGBTQ rights in the 1970s and 1980s. Through a combination of archival research and historical analysis, this dissertation contributes to a deeper understanding of the pivotal role of youth in the LGBTQ rights movement and offers insights into the ongoing struggle for equality and inclusion.

Graduation Semester

2024-12

Type of Resource

Thesis

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127182

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2024 Eric Denby

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