It's a mistake to think that notions of free love were exclusive to gay people in the 1970s. And plenty of gays had the square serious relationship too. [...] Granted, the numbers on sexual partners were and still are skewed heavily toward gay men, but they weren't the only ones throwing off the shackles of marriage.
Nor was I trying to imply that free love was exclusive to that group, however openly gay people in the 1970s certainly were on average considerably more libertine sexually in ways beyond their choice of partner than society as a whole was. I'd be surprised if gays, taken as a whole, be more libertine sexually than other groups, but with homosexuality being subject then to much wider opprobrium than today, those who were more libertine were also more likely to be open about their sexual preference. They really had no choice but to be somewhat open if they were to successfully indulge their libertine appetites.
Anecdotally, I have a great aunt who never married but had a very long term female roommate who is in family photos. I think we can all put two and two together.
Indeed. I have to wonder when the number 4 is going to sponsor the
Sesame Street episode in which Bert and Ernie finally admit what everyone already knows.
