You know, you're probably right and I hadn't thought of that. I didn't even know about gay people until probably the early 70s (call me sheltered, I won't disagree), and by then Stonewall had happened and people were probably more adamant about taking control of their destinies.
Pre-Stonewall (actually, pre 1973) the issue of military service was always of concern to young men. For many, stints of service followed by G.I. Bill funded education was the key to a rosy future. Failure to navigate the system could be calamitous - a young man discharged from the military for homosexuality not only lost most G. I. Benefits, the character of his discharge prevented him from pursuing many a career: in California, for example, veterans with queer discharges were not permitted to be licensed as barbers, beauticians, or morticians. Imagine - gay hairdressers - THE HORROR!
Exposure as a homosexual meant not only the probable loss of family and friends, it presented itself as a huge barrier to all sorts of social activities - like employment!
We won't go into the horror stories of honest gay young men who were institutionalized for a cure by well intentioned parents. (Wonder what your research could uncover in this area?)
So, your failure to know "gay" people before the 70's was not because you were sheltered, it's because most of us chose to be invisible.
der Brucer
