THE GAY LIBERATION BOOK-Online

In the years following the New York Stonewall Riots, publicly accessible and affirming LGBT literature was scarce. At a moment when visibility itself carried real risk, few published works spoke openly and unapologetically in support of gay liberation. In the United States and many other countries, same-sex relationships were criminalized, police harassment was common, and public affirmation could result in arrest, loss of employment, or violence. In response to this absence, The Gay Liberation Book was conceived.

Edited by  Gary (now Hatun) Noguera and Len Richmond, the project began in early 1972 with a deliberate decision to move beyond the usual boundaries of activist publishing. They approached prominent cultural figures, writers, and artists of the time, inviting them to contribute original work. What began as outreach quickly evolved into a wide-ranging anthology of affirming essays, commentary, poetry, and political reflection. Contributors included John Lennon, Allen Ginsberg, Gore Vidal, William S. Burroughs, and many others, several of whom created new material specifically for the book.

First published in 1973, The Gay Liberation Book stands as a significant document of its era and an essential part of LGBT history. It captured a moment when public affirmation was rare, contested, and urgently needed. The book has been out of print for many years, making its preservation especially important.

This nonprofit website brings together documents, photographs, and firsthand accounts from the gay liberation movement during a period of open hostility.  The site presents a partial reproduction of the original publication, along with supplemental materials not available elsewhere. The goal is preservation, not revision: to ensure that the original voices, arguments, and cultural context are not lost to time. This is not a complete digital replica of the printed book, but a curated archive designed to expand understanding of its historical significance.

The struggle for LGBT rights did not end in the 1970s. In several countries today, laws still exist that punish consensual same-sex relationships with severe penalties, including imprisonment and, in some cases, the death penalty. According to multiple human-rights sources, countries where capital punishment may still be imposed for same-sex relations include Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mauritania, Nigeria (in some states under Sharia law), Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Enforcement and legal interpretation vary by jurisdiction, but the presence of such laws continues to place LGBT people at extreme risk. In other countries, including Uganda, recently enacted legislation has intensified criminal penalties and state-sanctioned persecution. At the same time, attacks—both physical and political—are increasing globally, particularly against transgender communities.

The materials preserved here speak not only to the past, but to an ongoing global reality. This website will be updated regularly as new archival material and contextual information are added. Ongoing updates and essays can be found in the Blog section.