"Important and provocative, this book persuasively demonstrates that lesbian and gay history is central to understanding twentieth-century urban culture. And it rejects mere celebration for a more profound scrutiny that balances liberal against conservative aspects of the historical challenge to heterosexism."—Martin Duberman, author of Stonewall "By leaving behind the gay meccas of New York and San Francisco and training his ... Read moregaze on Philadelphia, Stein has produced a gay and lesbian history that startles and informs."—John D'Emilio, author of Sexual Politics, Sexual Communities "Eye-opening, often entertaining....Filled with colorful anecdotes and fun facts....Let's think of what Marc Stein has done as an act of public service to Philadelphia's gay community."—Kevin Riordan, Philadelphia Gay News "Philadelphians should be proud of the courage and creativity with which their lesbian and gay fellow citizens coped with and fought oppression in the Cradle of Liberty, and Stein can clearly be proud of his pioneering book."—Doug Ireland, Philadelphia Inquirer Show Less