I recently came across a 2017 article by Paul Baker, a Professor at Lancaster University in the U.K, about the history of Polari- "a secret language, which has now largely fallen out of use, but was historically spoken by gay men and female impersonators." It reminded me of a more complex version of the veiled references we read about in Chauncey's Gay New York: Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World 1890-1940.
Baker discusses the renewed interest in the language and the controversy surrounding its use within an official religious context. If anyone is interested in reading more about Polari, Baker's research is linked in the article.
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/02/13/a-brief-history-of-polari-the-curious-after-life-of-the-dead-language-for-gay-men/
Hi James! Your post really reminded me of Gayle, a language spoken by queer men in South Africa. Here's a link with more information...
ReplyDeletehttps://mg.co.za/article/2018-11-02-00-gayle-the-language-of-laughter-and-of-safety