page_title: LGBT movements in the United States
section_title: 1920s
hierarchical_section_title: LGBT movements in the United States / 1920s
caption_attribution_description: English: Sheet music cover picture for the song "We Men Must Grow A Mustache." 1922 Inset photo of bandleader Abe Lyman.
context_page_description: LGBT movements in the United States comprise an interwoven history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied movements in the United States of America, beginning in the early 20th century and influential in achieving social progress for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and transsexual people.
context_section_description: The 1920s ushered in a new era of social acceptance of minorities and homosexuals, at least in heavily urbanized areas. This was reflected in many of the films (see Pre-Code) of the decade that openly made references to homosexuality. Even popular songs poked fun at the new social acceptance of homosexuality. One of these songs had the title "Masculine Women, Feminine Men." It was released in 1926 and recorded by numerous artists of the day and included the following lyrics:
  Masculine women, Feminine men
  
  Which is the rooster, which is the hen?
  
  It's hard to tell 'em apart today! And, say!
  
  Sister is busy learning to shave,
  
  Brother just loves his permanent wave,
  
  It's hard to tell 'em apart today! Hey, hey!
  
  Girls were girls and boys were boys when I was a tot,
  
  Now we don't know who is who, or even what's what!
  
  Knickers and trousers, baggy and wide,
  
  Nobody knows who's walking inside,
  
  Those masculine women and feminine men!
  Homosexuals received a level of acceptance that was not seen again until the 1960s. Until the early 1930s, gay clubs were openly operated, commonly known as "pansy clubs". The relative liberalism of the decade is demonstrated by the fact that the actor William Haines, regularly named in newspapers and magazines as the number-one male box-office draw, openly lived in a gay relationship with his lover, Jimmie Shields. Other popular gay actors/actresses of the decade included Alla Nazimova and Ramon Novarro. In 1927, Mae West wrote a play about homosexuality called The Drag, and alluded to the work of Karl Heinrich Ulrichs. It was a box-office success. West regarded talking about sex as a basic human rights issue, and was also an early advocate of gay rights. Emma Goldman also spoke out in defense of gay rights during this time. With the return of conservatism in the 1930s, the public grew intolerant of homosexuality, and gay actors were forced to choose between retiring or agreeing to hide their sexuality.
caption: Speed Langworthy's sheet music poking fun at the tendency of women to adopt masculine traits during the 1920s
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