Introduction

Since the end of the Victorian era, industrialized societies across the globe have followed a gradual but persistent path toward openness when discussing topics once considered off-limits. Although frank discussions of sexual behavior still often inhabit the realm of low humor, the general public has become increasingly tolerant of serious discussion regarding the issue of sexual orientation, especially as it relates to individual rights and attempts to forge identity.

The emergence of sexual orientation issues in mainstream society has been controversial. One only has to consider the ongoing disputes over same-sex marriages to realize the impact of issues of sexual orientation on American culture. While it is true that matters of sexual orientation have come to the forefront in modern America, explorations of the topic can be found in many of the greatest literary works produced in the past century. Works ranging from Tennessee Williams's...