Founding
The Association Arcadie was founded in 1954 as the first homophile group in French history. The goal of the organization was "to present homosexuals as respectable, cultured, and dignified individuals deserving of greater social tolerance". The Arcadie association also aimed to "educate adult homophiles, who, too weak and lacking knowledge, could not on their own live with dignity" through social activities and through its publication, ''Revue Arcadie''.Revue Arcadie
The Association Arcadie began publishing the literary review ''Arcadie: revue littéraire et scientifique'', which became the most important French homosexual publication of its time, in January 1954, though some sources claim that it began publication in 1957.An image of the front cover and table of contents of the first issue of the ''Revue Arcadie'' in Jackson (2009), p. 74 clearly shows that the date of the first issue of the review was January 1954. During its years of operation, ''Arcadie'' became popular amongst a number of prominent French intellectual figures; Jean Cocteau contributed a drawing of a boy to the first issue of the review. ''Revue Arcadie'' remained in continuous publication until 1982 when the laws regarding homosexual conduct were changed to be identical with those relating to heterosexual behavior. Its emphasis on "dignity" and "respectability" led the ''Revue Arcadie'' to be increasingly out-of-step with the more revolutionary gay political organizations demanding civil rights for gay men and lesbians in France. Upon seeing that the review's message was no longer effective in creating social change and seeing more progressive organizations securing rights for homosexuals, the editors decided to cease publication.Club Arcadie
In 1957, the ''Club Arcadie'' secured a clubhouse in Paris, from which it sponsored social gatherings, talks and cultural outings.Guide to the Arcadie Records, 1956–1979Evolution and disbanding
The ''Club Arcadie'' disbanded in 1982 and publication of the ''Revue Arcadie'' ended shortly after the laws governing homosexual behavior were brought into accord with the laws governing heterosexual behavior. In a final letter to the readers of ''Arcadie'' published in the May 15, 1982, issue, the leaders of the association explained their reasons for closing the club and ceasing publication of the review:rcadie created in 1957, decided upon its dissolution during a gen- eral meeting on May 13. The goals that each of us had fixed upon rcadie'screation have been a constant concern during its twenty-five years of activity, and regardless of what has happened, they gener? ally have been kept. Times have changed, far too much, some would say. The painful declaration was made over the last months that this club could no longer justify itself, from the time when it became for most uniquely a space for pleasure, for frivolity, and for far too few a space for reflection, for courtesy, for respect, and for friendship. It was not created just to provide a better environment for unique weekend dances. The so-called cultural activities are dead. Those of you in Paris who are reading this, moreover, did NOTHING to maintain them by participating even a little through your presence. . . . This world of permissiveness, of irresponsibility, of frivolity, of obscenity - and the homophile people beat the records in this sad domain - breaks down our energies and makes the continuation of activities that no longer correspond to those of the club's founders entirely futile. --quoted in Gunther (2004)
Bibliography
*Jablonski, Olivier. « Arcadie », ''Dictionnaire des cultures gays et lesbiennes'', Larousse, 2003. *Jackson, Julian. « Arcadie : sens et enjeux de « l'homophilie » en France, 1954–1982 »Further reading
Julian Jackson, ''Living in Arcadia: Homosexuality, Politics, and Morality in France from the Liberation to AIDS'', University of Chicago Press, Dec 15, 2009Archival Resources
References
{{reflist, 2 LGBT history in France LGBT political advocacy groups in France 20th century in LGBT history