San Francisco’s queer history is about to get a seriously stunning makeover, thanks to photographer William Gedney’s recently unearthed 1960s snapshots. Imagine a time before rainbow crosswalks and corporate Pride floats – when being gay meant creating underground communities of radical love and resistance.

Back in 1966, Gedney captured something revolutionary: authentic glimpses of queer men living openly and intimately in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. These aren’t just photos; they’re time capsules of pure, unfiltered queer joy before Stonewall became a global turning point.

A Snapshot of Forbidden Love

Gedney’s lens revealed shirtless men cuddling in parks, tender moments of affection, and community spaces that were radical for their time. His photographs document a pre-Pride era where queer connection was both dangerous and deeply beautiful. One particularly iconic image shows two men in Golden Gate Park, with one resting his head tenderly in the other’s lap – a visual love letter to a community often erased from historical narratives.

Beyond the Margins

What makes Gedney’s work extraordinary is how he captured queer existence not as a spectacle, but as everyday human experience. These weren’t staged photos, but genuine moments of connection in a time when such visibility could mean serious personal risk.

Legacy of Resistance

Despite being denied tenure and passing away from AIDS-related complications, Gedney’s work stands as a powerful testament to San Francisco’s queer resilience. His photographs remind us that our community has always existed, always loved, and always found ways to create beautiful, defiant spaces of belonging.