14. The Labor Struggle is Real Queer

Leigh and Gretchen have a special History is Gay treat for you this Labor Day. Join them as they discuss the history of the labor movement as it relates to the struggle for queer civil rights in America. You may not know, but the labor and LGBTQ+ movements have been allies for a long time. Just how far back does the partnership go? Listen and find out! Learn about Jewish lesbian feminists fighting for better workplace conditions during WWI, the mostly-queer marine cooks union in the 30s and 40s, lesbian bus drivers’ unions, the Coors boycott, and more. We end with a discussion of what needs to be done and Gretchen may or may not end up on a soapbox. Happy Labor Gay!

A Closer Look at People in the Labor and LGBTQ+ Movements

Pauline Newman (1887-1986)

Rose Schneiderman (1882-1972)

Dr. Marie Equi (1872-1952)

A gathering of the Nation Union of Marine Cooks and Stewards (NUMCS)

Cooks and Stewards on the HF Alexander

Newspaper of the NUMCS

Stephen Blair, Vice President of the NUMCS

Revels Clayton of the NUMCS

Judy Mage, who led the NYC Department of Welfare strike in 1965

Howard Wallace, who helped lead the Coors boycott in 1974

One of the most famous protest signs of the Coors boycott in the 1970s

Joni Christian, labor activist and transgender icon (Image courtesy of the NY Times)

If you want to learn more about the alliance between the Labor and LGBTQ+ movements, check out our full list of sources and further reading below!

Online Articles

• Labor Unions and LGBT Equality - A Long and Deep Commitment

• Queer Activism in the Labor Movement

• The Long, Powerful History Between Labor and LGBT Activists

• How the Labor Movement and the Gay Rights Movement Work Together

• Workers Rights are LGBT Rights

• Janus is This Term's Worst LGBT Ruling

• Why Working People in Unions Are Fighting LGBTQ Discrimination in the Workplace

• Trade Unions and LGBT Activism

• Socialism and LGBT Liberation

• Stephen Blair Photograph Collection

• Blatantly militant: The hidden history of queers in the U.S. labor movement

• The shared goals of labor and the gay rights movement

• Marine Cooks and Stewards

  • Desegregating a Maritime Union The Marine Cooks and Stewards

  • Photo Archive for the NUMCS

  • Revels Cayton: African American Communist and Labor Activist

Books

• Out in the Union by Miriam Frank

• My Desire for History: Essays in Gay, Community, and Labor History by Allan Bérubé, edited by Estelle B. Freedman

• Plane Queer: Labor, Sexuality, and AIDS in the History of Male Flight Attendants by Phil Tiemeyer

• Steel Closets: Voices of Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Steelworkers by Anne Balay

• Sexuality and Socialism: History, Politics, and Theory of LGBT Liberation by Sherry Wolf

Videos

• Narration of Allan Bérubé’s lecture on the Marine Cooks and Stewards Union, “No Red-Baiting! No Race-Baiting! No Queer-Baiting!” (Note: Linked page incorrectly titles it “No Red-Baiting! No Race-Baiting! No Queen-Baiting!”)

Until next time, stay queer and stay curious!