The Intermediate Sex

Edward Carpenter was a 19th century English poet, socialist philosopher, and gay activist, and his book The Intermediate Sex is about homosexuality. Carpenter's life, philosophy, and poetry were heavily influenced by eastern mysticism and Earth worship, and this text is no exception. It describes those who are between the black and white extremities of sexuality - the intermediate sex that is - as Uranians, which might be interpreted as a separate type of being. As an openly gay socialist living during the turn of the 20th century, Carpenter was brave and honest in his exploration of these subjects, and his work would certainly influence LGBT literature and thought - even if now they seem a bit new-agey.