Cultural scripts for sexual identities? the case of Dutch LGBT magazines, 1965-1995

The history of sexual liberalization is not only a history of changes in sexual behaviour, but also a cultural revolution in which sexual scripts and grand narratives were being rewritten. In other words, there are important cultural dimensions to the shaping and reshaping of sexual identities. Since the groundbreaking work of Simon and Gagnon (1973, 1986) on the social meanings of sexuality, their concept of sexual scripts has productively been used by sociologists, f.e. in analyses of conversations as blueprints for sexual conduct and identity. Less attention has been paid to the ways in which existing and new cultural scripts found in novels and films have helped to articulate and redefine sexual identities. Cultural here both refers to the aspect of circulation, sharing and negotiating of texts, as well as to their artistic aspect.
In my paper I will analyze the ways in which cultural artifacts (esp. novels and films) functioned as cultural repertoires for identity construction, by investigating how they were received, circulated and taken up in four Dutch LGBT+ magazines (1965-1995, Dialoog, Sek, Homologie, Diva). In this period, the LGBT press was a nodal point for establishing a sense of community, and it provided an important platform for debating new norms and values surrounding sexual identities. These discussions are particularly apparent in reviews and discussions of novels and films, which offer both individual and collective scripts.