Before the beginning of the 20th century, gay culture was almost non-existent in Westland. Homosexuality was criminalised, and was not visible in society. The Strassonist movement of the Socialist Party of Westland which became prevalent in the 1910's, included the opposition to homophiba and acception of all identities, including sexual orientations. This is largely thought to be due to Mikail Strasson's own suspected homosexuality and also through the party's ideology of social progressivism.