Shoulders to Stand On

What did the Gay Liberation Front do?

by Evelyn Bailey

In previous issues we looked at WHAT the Gay Liberation Front at the University of Rochester was.  We looked at WHO the driving force behind the organization was.  In this issue we want to look at WHAT  DID  THE  GLF  DO?

The accomplishments of the Gay Liberation Front at the University of Rochester can be summarized in one word – VISIBILITY.  The members of the GLF were naturally catapulted into the public arena.  Their commitment to educating the public and speaking out resulted in being OUT and VISIBLE themselves. 

Karen Hagberg, a student at the Eastman School of Music, came out publicly when she and two other students, R J Alcala and Jim Fishman, did a TV spot on WXXI channel 21, on July 14, 1971 on a talk show “Call 21.”  The show aired live so no copies were made at the station. 

Women Play a Critical Role in Rochester's Gay History, 1971 - 1972

by Evelyn Bailey

During 1971 – 1972 there were several Rochester women who made history by speaking openly about their sexual orientation. This was during a time when the American Psychiatric Association identified homosexuality as a diagnosable mental disorder in its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-II). 

In order to understand the extraordinary actions that Patti Evans, Karen Hagberg, “Mike”, and Rosanne took, you need to understand the times in which these women lived.   The mere fact that of these four women only two used both there real first and last names is an indication of the fear of reprisal that existed within the community.  This was true for men as well.