Government 'feared rise of lesbians'

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

The pre-World War II government feared a heavy handed approach to censorship would push women into becoming lesbians, according to newly released documents.

The government’s team of censors in 1930s were so confused about the production of a book entitled The Single Woman And Her Emotional Problems, they did not know whether to push ahead and ban the book or turn a blind eye to it.

According to National Archive documents, the censors feared that the book, which looked into the health problems associated with a lack of men during wartime, would raise the profile of lesbianism if a high profile ban took place.

Civil servants were also fearful that the media of the time would pick up on the ban and raise curiosity in the book, replicating the response to the 1920s book Well Of Loneliness, the iconic piece of lesbian literature that was banned but became a mainstay in lesbian homes.

The Single Woman sparked a flurry of activity after a member of the public called for it to be banned because of its “pernicious” attitude towards sexuality.

http://uk.gay.com/headlines/9095

[soothsayer]

1. How did a nice lesbian like me miss out on this book!

First I've heard of it.

[rodeodance]

2. some day soon people will chuckle at our history --"did they really

think that way"!!

[mr blur]

3. Sadly, many of them still do (nt)

[moggie]

4. The Rise of the Lesbians

Sounds like a lurid science fiction B-movie.

How could the government be so clueless? Couldn't they, you know, talk to any lesbians?