Same-sex marriage is now the law of the land. The fight for marriage equality has been the dominant political issue the LGBT community in Southern California has rallied behind in the last decade, beginning with the battle to defeat Proposition 8 in 2008.

In this AirTalk exclusive, we take a look at gay life and the history of the growth and evolution of the LGBT community in Los Angeles and Orange County – decades before marriage equality was thought of as a reality, decades before the center of gay life migrated to West Hollywood, decades before the AIDS epidemic would redraw and redefine gay life in Los Angeles and other Southern California gay enclaves.

Here to discuss these issues and more are noted historian Lillian Faderman, and the director of the ONE archives, Joseph Hawkins.

Call 866-893-5722 to share your memories, your favorite old LGBT hangouts and haunts, and more.

Lillian Faderman will be in Los Angeles throughout October for a series of readings and book signings for her new book, “The Gay Revolution.”

Saturday, October 17, 2015 – 4:00PM
Book Soup

Sunday, October 18, 2015 – 2:30PM
June Mazer Lesbian Archives

Monday, October 19, 2015 – 7:00PM
Library Foundation of Los Angeles, ALOUD Series  

Tuesday, October 20, 2015 – 7:00PM
Burbank Public Library

Guests:

Lillian Faderman, historian and author of many on GLBTQ history, including “Gay L.A.: A History of Sexual Outlaws, Power Politics, and Lipstick Lesbians” (Basic Books, 2006). Her newest book is “The Gay Revolution: The Story of the Struggle” (Simon & Schuster, 2015)

Joseph Hawkins, director of ONE archives at the USC libraries, the world’s largest collection of LGBTQ artifacts. He is also an associate Professor of Sociology and Gender Studies at the school