Vintage Photo - Date Unknown (Click on photo to enlarge) Another photo of boys swimming on a lake shore in the early 20th Century. But a century ago, it was both acceptable and normal for boys to be seen au natural at many beaches and watering spots throughout our western societies. Of course, such display of nudity today, including any photographer that would photography the boys in such a way, would immediately be assailed upon by the authorities and the "morality police" of our politically correct society. The boys are enjoying the fountain in the same manner they would have enjoyed any river or seaside beach, fully nude and while in the immediate presence of girls their age. The girls are wearing the ultra-conservative dress that evolved during the previous Victorian era, which marks a high degree modesty and concealment of most of their bodies. The photo below shows Trafalgar square a few years prior to the above photos.
In the photo on the right, the older boy on the right who appears to be about 11 years in age is surrounded by girls as he dresses, and it can be seen that he is fully nude. The crowd watching attests to how even in large urban settings, boys swimming and playing naked with female siblings and friends was both common and expected. If one looks closely to these photos, it is clear that the many boys enjoying the water are almost all nude whereas the girls are all clothed. Trafalgar Square, London - 1919 (Click on photos to enlarge) In the two photos to the left and right, we see young kids playing in the cool waters of the famous Trafalgar Square in 1919. Although the frequency of females being present can be debated, this photograph suggests that if such a scene could take place in public, then in at least some of these institutions, sisters and coed students may indeed have been allowed to be in the pool areas while the boys swam and competed naked, as well as providing some evidence that female instructors may have taught the boys their swim lessons in some cases. It also should be considered when debates emerge about whether during the early 20th century females were allowed in the pool areas when public schools or boys associations conducted swim classes for the boys while requiring all boys to be nude. This provides indisputable proof that in many communities, not only was it standard that all boys swam and played completely nude, but that it was also not uncommon for girls of their age (although clothed) to swim and play with them. As can be seen, every boy is completely naked whereas the girls wear their bathing costumes. The age of the boys appear to range from about 8 through 13, and the two girls present appear to be a bit older. In it we observe 17 boys and girls frolicking in a river as they are watched by family and friends. 1860sġ9th century male lovers with flower hatsĪ gentlemen couple hand in hand, ca.Vintage Photo - Early 20th Century (Click on photo to enlarge)The photo to the left is of unknown origin, probably taken in the late Edwardian period. Unidentified soldiers in Union uniforms holding cigars in each other's mouths, ca.
Two unidentified Union Army soldiers, 1864 Oscar Wilde and Lord Alfred Douglas, 1893Ī male couple with hats and open waistcoats, ca.
Doctors and psychologists, believing that homosexuality could be cured, tried methods such as hypnosis and aversion therapy.Ī middle-aged gay couple in the late 1800sĪn affectionate pair from the late 19th century Gay men were commonly seen by society as perverts who had chosen their sexuality, or as diseased individuals whose sexuality was caused by their upbringing and biology, and not something they were born with. However, the laws were selectively applied and thus were not a great threat to gay men, as long as they were discreet and avoided scandal. The witch hunts and mass hangings began, and the number of convictions rose. During the 19th century the silence in England was broken, and police began actively fighting the "problem" of homosexuality.