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

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.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

History

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2024

Author dc:creator

• Denby, Eric William

Contributors dc:contributor

• Retzloff, Tim
• Gilbert, Dan
• Micale, Mark
• Symes, Carol

• Lgbtq Youth
• Stonewall
• Political Activism
• Gays & Lesbians
• Lgbtq History
• Queer History
• Queer Youth
• Youth Activism

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2024 Eric Denby

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

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

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F127182