Penny Wolin sent us her series California Gay And Happy, accompanied by this text.
This has been an ongoing project that changes as the times change. After moving to Los Angeles in 1975 from a rural state in the American West, I quickly discovered West Hollywood, where my landlord was gay, my neighbors were gay, my friends were gay and all seemed to be happily at peace with their identity. This was not the case from where I came from. There was no mention of LGBTQ or of diversity, let alone peace with this human reality. Living in the closet was usually the unfortunate norm. But often, I would hear that a person I grew up with would leave the area after high school and then the gossip would come back that they became “Gay.” Of course, we sensed that they were gay and discovering a world where they could simply become themselves.
Once I was planted in Hollywood, I started a project of photographing and interviewing people that lived at the St. Francis Hotel, a grand establishment that was a tolerant place to land if one was looking for a different life. (Guest Register © 2022, crazywomancreekpress.org) I could see there was a steady stream of mostly young gay men who escaped the provincial home-towns where being gay was not okay and actually not safe. They loved the freedom of Hollywood.
They loved being able to find other gay people and express their orientation. At last they were with their peers and found love and support. They developed rituals of dressing and secret codes with colored handkerchiefs or construction boots that helped them figure out who was dominant or submissive or swung both ways. It was that way in San Francisco, too. There was a whole language developing and a growing self-esteem, men and women alike. The scene grew into adults that found prosperous, lasting, healthy relationships, with no apologies ever needed.
All of these people were happy to let me photograph them. They were honored to be in front of a camera and knew it was a special thing to do. I was honored to do it. We can do so much more with love and understanding than we can with hatred and ignorance.
Embrace difference. Be happy. Love prevails in many forms.
Penny Wolin
https://pennywolin.com/
