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ndr's review against another edition
5.0
Compellingly clear and thoroughly readable. It's organized by "struggle", with the stories of movement heroes interwoven. I learned what precipitated the Stonewall Inn actions and Edith Windsor's backstory. I had been a little intimidated by the length, but it's "only" 635 pages, with the rest being notes. A bracing ode to civil rights fighters.
sevenlefts's review
4.0
An excellent overview of the gay civil rights struggle over the last half century. The early chapters are a bit more chronologically organized, probably because there were fewer people and groups involved and the rather than multiple issues, there was just basic survival. The latter half of the book seemed more issue-focused (military service, city non-discrimination legislation, marriage equality, AIDS) and jumped around a bit more.
Faderman does that thing I love in overarching histories like this, using small personal stories as an entree into a larger movement. Some of the "stars" of this book were people I had heard of and read about before, many were new to me. It was shame that the major writing was finished just before last summer's landmark Supreme Court marriage equality ruling -- it had to be handled in the epilogue and didn't get her full treatment, which I would have enjoyed.
One theme that I didn't anticipate and that really stuck out for me was the struggle between factions within the gay right movement between radicals and the establishment -- and how radicals became established over time. Faderman addresses a lot in the book, and it was an eye-opener. Both approaches have done so much to further gay rights, and the division is still there. Maybe that's just a fixture of social movements in general.
A personal observation: there seemed to be a lot of attention paid to the style of clothes and types of cars that gay rights pioneers wore and drove. It was almost funny at times.
Faderman does that thing I love in overarching histories like this, using small personal stories as an entree into a larger movement. Some of the "stars" of this book were people I had heard of and read about before, many were new to me. It was shame that the major writing was finished just before last summer's landmark Supreme Court marriage equality ruling -- it had to be handled in the epilogue and didn't get her full treatment, which I would have enjoyed.
One theme that I didn't anticipate and that really stuck out for me was the struggle between factions within the gay right movement between radicals and the establishment -- and how radicals became established over time. Faderman addresses a lot in the book, and it was an eye-opener. Both approaches have done so much to further gay rights, and the division is still there. Maybe that's just a fixture of social movements in general.
A personal observation: there seemed to be a lot of attention paid to the style of clothes and types of cars that gay rights pioneers wore and drove. It was almost funny at times.
crloken's review against another edition
3.0
I read this because audible had it on sale for around 5 dollars and I didn't know much about the history. It was presented largely in the form of case studies and vignettes which definitely made it interesting, but as a result I still don't feel like I know the history that well. That's alright, but I just think that the author should have considered including an overview to tie all the stories together. It felt somewhat like a 100 level university course quickly breezing through a lot of history with surprisingly little help stringing it all together.
kathryndouglas's review against another edition
5.0
This humongous brick (that I affectionately nicknamed "the grick" [gay brick] while reading) is an absolute triumph. Lillian Faderman knows how to write history so that it reads like a novel. I learned so much about queer history and all of the work that has gotten queer people in America to where we are now. The research and monumental effort that went into this history is palpable on every page and makes it a pleasure to read. Faderman's dedication to citing her sources and bringing firsthand perspectives into each chapter and section is very impressive. I have had this book for two years and I've always wanted to read it during pride month and this year I finally felt like it was time. Here are some of the fascinating new things I learned while reading this comprehensive history:
- In 1964, San Francisco LGBTQ+ people met with Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Church of Christ ministers and it resulted in the formation of the organization Council on Religion and the Homosexual. Religious leaders working with gay people to fight bigotry? Did not see that coming.
- "Zapping" in the 1960s-70s
- Lesbians fighting against Betty Friedan's homophobia in the women's movement and showing that the feminist movement must include lesbians
- How homosexuality stopped being seen as a sickness in the 1970s partially thanks to Dr. Robert Spitzer, a psychologist, going to a gay party where there were gay psychologists.
- Anita Bryant and the gay population boycotting orange juice to fight her influence.
- Anita Bryant getting pied in the face on national television.
- The Reagan administration's handling of the AIDS epidemic (disgraceful).
- The queer community rallying together to support those affected by AIDS (incredible).
- "If I Die of Aids, Forget Burial. Just Drop My Body On The Steps Of The FDA."
- Queer activists infiltrating a church to protest the Catholic doctrine deeming condoms "uncatholic".
- Queer activists creating a 35ft inflatable condom that they put on Senator Jesse Helms' house in protest of him trying to block AIDS bills in the senate.
- The army changing its regulations to be more homophobic when gay people took them to court.
- Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
- The journey to marriage equality.
- All of the genius ways that the movement protested over the years
- And so much more
- In 1964, San Francisco LGBTQ+ people met with Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Church of Christ ministers and it resulted in the formation of the organization Council on Religion and the Homosexual. Religious leaders working with gay people to fight bigotry? Did not see that coming.
- "Zapping" in the 1960s-70s
- Lesbians fighting against Betty Friedan's homophobia in the women's movement and showing that the feminist movement must include lesbians
- How homosexuality stopped being seen as a sickness in the 1970s partially thanks to Dr. Robert Spitzer, a psychologist, going to a gay party where there were gay psychologists.
- Anita Bryant and the gay population boycotting orange juice to fight her influence.
- Anita Bryant getting pied in the face on national television.
- The Reagan administration's handling of the AIDS epidemic (disgraceful).
- The queer community rallying together to support those affected by AIDS (incredible).
- "If I Die of Aids, Forget Burial. Just Drop My Body On The Steps Of The FDA."
- Queer activists infiltrating a church to protest the Catholic doctrine deeming condoms "uncatholic".
- Queer activists creating a 35ft inflatable condom that they put on Senator Jesse Helms' house in protest of him trying to block AIDS bills in the senate.
- The army changing its regulations to be more homophobic when gay people took them to court.
- Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
- The journey to marriage equality.
- All of the genius ways that the movement protested over the years
- And so much more
adam75241's review
4.0
The Gay Revolution is an LGBTQ magnum opus, a tour de force, and a historic feat. This dense book is compelling, thorough, and absolutely necessary. Our history will not be swept under the rug...or back in the closet. 4.5 stars.