"Give Us Also the Right to Our Existence!" by Grace Campbell

I visited the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library to view a selection of Queer books. The two books that caught my attention were both copies of The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall. This lesbian book is influential in not only its content but also the controversy its publication caused. It tells the story of a lesbian’s social isolation and suffering, yet at its center is the simple yet poignant plea for societal acceptance and understanding of homosexuality. Hall’s plea extended beyond the boundaries of the book and made its way into courtrooms where the book was tried for obscenity. James Douglas, editor of London’s Sunday Express newspaper wrote a scathing and impactful attack on the book shortly after its publication. After this article came out, the British courts found it necessary to ban the book, and the obscenity trials began.

I decided to create two collages to explore censorship versus the endurance and liberation of queer people. The first uses the final page of The Well of Loneliness as a base, I found both contemporary and historical news headlines, reviews, photographs, and bills calling for the need for censorship and suppression of queer stories—and queer people. I covered the entire page leaving only the book’s final line, “give us also the right to our existence!” visible. The second collage uses James Douglas’s article as a base, overtop of which I used photographs of protests, ephemera, articles, and more. I wanted to find proof of queer perseverance and joy. In the middle I put a clipping from a 1978 article I found in The Body Politic newspaper, quoting the moment Radclyffe Hall stood up and protested in the middle of her censorship trial. They described how, “her angry voice rings down the years from that one thrilling moment, the authentic echo of all the homosexuals everywhere who have been silenced by authorities” a sentiment I wanted to capture with the visual proof of the way her voice continues to echo today.

Sources for material:

First Collage:

Williams, Richard, and Ed Jackson. “‘An Intolerable Outrage.’” Body Politic, no. 46, Sept. 1978, p. 22. EBSCOhost, https://search-ebscohost- com.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/login.aspx?direct=true&db=qth&AN=10380133&site= ehost-live.
“Editorials: What’s next? Ask Mr Sims.” Body Politic, no. 46, Sept. 1978, p. 2. EBSCOhost, https://search-ebscohost- com.myaccess.library.utoronto.ca/login.aspx?direct=true&db=qth&AN=10379246&site= ehost-live.
Friends of Shepard dressed as angels to block protesters at the murder trials for the two men who beat him and left him tied to a fence. Reuters Photographer

Jane Abbott Lighty, left, and Pete-e Petersen embrace after receiving the first same-sex marriage license in Washington state in 2012. https://slate.com/human-interest/2015/06/gay-marriage-or-same-sex-marriage-or-marriage-equality-what-s-the-most-effective-and-sensitive-term.html

(The following can be found in: We Are Everywhere: Protest, Power, and Pride in the History of Queer Liberation Matthew Riemer)
“Frank Kameny (center) and members of the Mattachine Society of Washington participate in the first Christopher Street Liberation Day, New York City, June 28, 1970. Photo by Kay (Tobin) Lahusen. Courtesy of Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.”
“Dykes on Bikes, Christopher Street West, West Hollywood, July 1, 1979. Photographer unknown. Courtesy of the ONE Archives at the USC Libraries (CSW collection; 2012-135).”
“Gwenn Craig, member of the Gay & Lesbian Caucus, Democratic National Convention, New York City, Aug. 1980. Photo by Allen G. Shores. Courtesy of the ONE Archives at the USC Libraries (Shores photographs; 2012-009).”
“Second Annual Dyke March, New York City, June 25, 1994. Photo/copyright © by Carolina Kroon.”
“Pinback, c. 1970. From the authors’ collection.”
“As Anita Bryant’s “Save Our Children” campaign attacked gay rights on the premise that children needed protection from queer people, activists across the country answered: “We Are Your Children,” Gay Freedom Day, San Francisco, June 25, 1978. Photo by William S. Tom. Courtesy of the ONE Archives at the USC Libraries (William S. Tom photographs; 2008-017).”

Second Collage:

Hall, Radclyffe, et al. The Well of Loneliness / by Radclyffe Hall; with a Introduction by Maureen Duffy. Penguin Classics 2015.
A BOOK THAT MUST BE SUPPRESSED..., editorial published in the Sunday Express, August 19, 1928, page 10.
Anita Bryant, 1970 https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/1970s-christian-crusader-anita-bryant-helped-spawn-floridas-lgbtq-cult-rcna24215
Pastor Fred Phelps, of Topeka, Kansas, makes his point at a protest. Photograph: David Zalubowski/AP https://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/mar/20/picket-anti-homophobia
Students Steele Williams, 14, left, and Derek Barnes, 9, (both) of Sarasota, watch as Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks moments before signing the Parental Rights in Education bill during a news conference on Monday, March 28, 2022, at Classical Preparatory School. [ DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times ]https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2022/03/29/a-breakdown-of-the-language-in-floridas-so-called-dont-say-gay-bill/
CS/CS/HB 1557: Parental Rights in Education https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/1557/?Tab=BillText
Letter from the Board of Customs and Excise regarding the planned seizure of copies of ‘The Well of Loneliness’ entering the UK. Catalogue ref: CUST 49/1057 https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/i-need-never-have-known-existence-radclyffe-hall-and-lgbtq-visibility/
‘The question arises, if this prosecution succeeds, what literary artist in England will be safe?’ Letter from Hall and Cape’s solicitors. Catalogue ref: DPP 1/88 https://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/i-need-never-have-known-existence-radclyffe-hall-and-lgbtq-visibility/
“Number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills filed by US lawmakers in 2023 already higher than entirety of 2022” Jake Mckee, PinkNews, https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/02/14/anti-lgbtq-bills-us-legislative-tracking-dont-say-gay/
“FAGOTS–STAY OUT!” sign hanging behind the bar at Barney’s Beanery, West Hollywood, 1970. Photographer unknown. Courtesy of the ONE Archives at the USC Libraries (Advocate records; 2012-030). Excerpt From
We Are Everywhere: Protest, Power, and Pride in the History of Queer Liberation Matthew Riemer