TWO GAY MEN IN NYC’S WEST VILLAGE, SUMMER ’77 (1977) Photo by Joseph Stevens

New York: Joseph Stevens, 1977. Vintage original 8 x 10″ (20 x 25 cm.) double weight black-and-white photo. With stamp on verso of photographer Joseph Stevens and his holograph notation in ink “NYC Summer — 77”. Fine.

Almost certainly a photo taken on a hot, sweaty summer night in New York City. Gay liberation made a noticeable mark on gay life in New York by this time, and two men (at least in the West Village) could feel entirely comfortable walking shirtless and with their arms around each other.