I will have to read the book again, but it sounded like the biggest risk was for men staying at boarding houses, if their landlord/landlady didn't approve and complained to the police. That's why sex in public bathhouses, the YMCA (seriously, there's a whole chapter on it), and public bathrooms became such a "thing" in the gay community.
There was definitely a level of risk--a lot of the men used pseudonyms in the gay community and were carefully "straight" at their jobs. The most "open" people were the ones who both lived and worked in Harlem or the other areas with a strong gay presence.
I'm running off to work now, but I'll get to the rest of your question when I get a chance. :)
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Date: 2012-01-09 01:49 pm (UTC)There was definitely a level of risk--a lot of the men used pseudonyms in the gay community and were carefully "straight" at their jobs. The most "open" people were the ones who both lived and worked in Harlem or the other areas with a strong gay presence.
I'm running off to work now, but I'll get to the rest of your question when I get a chance. :)