The gay and lesbian community gained social and political prominence in the late 60's/early 70's, most notably in San Francisco.  Previously shunned by society, gays and lesbians across America (and internationally) created tangential communities in their own locals.  Today the situation is quite different:   With major consumer goods companies sponsoring Gay Pride events, being gay or lesbian is as American as apple pie.  This rapid and widespread acceptance has somewhat fragmented a formerly very tight nit group.  While some chose to integrate into mainstream society, others have chosen a more radical route, incorporating bisexuals, transgender and questioning youth into its arms.

Although it is virtually impossible to categorize art from the gay and lesbian community as being one thing or another, the one observation that can be made is the extreme diversity in influence, presentation and perspective the artworks possess.  The artists featured here are a testament to that.