William Gale Gedney, a queer photographer who died from AIDS in 1989, is gaining recognition for his poignant work documenting life in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury before the Summer of Love. His recently published collection showcases a vibrant queer existence before prominent events like Stonewall and the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot. Notably, Gedney documented the affectionate lives of gay men in both public and private spaces during a crucial time in LGBTQ+ history, shedding light on a past often overlooked in contemporary narratives.
Gedney's work offers rare glimpses into the lives of queer individuals before major events like Stonewall, reflecting a vibrant, yet hidden history of LGBTQ+ existence.
His photographs display open affection among gay men in the 1960s, challenging the misconception that queer life only began post-Stonewall.
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