9th APRIL 1927

On this day in 1927, Mae West, an American actress, screenwriter and sex symbol, was arrested. During a time of heavy censorship, Ms. West's starring role in the play "Sex" (which she wrote, produced, directed and as mentioned starred in), was seen to be publicly obscene, such that she was prosecuted on moral charges and sentenced to 10 days in gaol. 

Sexuality nowadays is basically an upfront issue. You judge a person's sexuality by what they wear, by how they walk; you basically assume that a person's sexuality is on the surface. In 1927 it was clearly a different time, when people weren't as sexually 'up-front'. Also back then, homosexuals, transgender and bisexuals were closeted, taught to feel ashamed of themselves and their sexual inclination.


I have friends who are homosexual and they are proud of who they are and their sexuality. Mae West was too. She wrote what she wrote, she acted how she acted, she was who she was because that was what she wanted to be. She didn't let others define her. She was her own person and proud to be.


As everyone should be. 




Image available: http://www.poetrygrrrl.com/2010/09/20/marriage-is-an-institution-quote-by-mae-west/