A review by dkrane
The Gay Revolution: The Story of the Struggle, by Lillian Faderman
4.0
Exhaustively researched book is frequently thrilling, with an effective macro view of the struggle for civil rights and inclusion in mainstream American society by queer folks in the last 60ish years. Striking even in five years since it’s been written to see, with Obergefell and Bostock, how quickly the law has moved towards equality.
The book certainly focuses on the divide between radical activists and suit and tie organizers, not always successfully, but making an interesting case for the dynamism of radicalism engaging pride and anger as resources to recruit folks, while buttoned up approaches may get the piecemeal reforms necessary to navigate a capitalist democracy.
Many worthy faces and profiles in courage in this book I was unfamiliar with.
Definitely not a portrait of trans history in any major way. L’s and G’s, mostly. And its analysis of the overwhelming whiteness of many LGBT orgs/organizers, push for broader racial and economic justice alongside queer rights (/understanding of those intersections) is given short shrift.
But. It’s a lucid book that ties together decades of history, celebrates activism and organizing, and most importantly (I think) grounds contemporary movement in a history and tradition extended into significantly before Stonewall while showing how influence of Civil Rights Movement and Black Power was integral in making push for queer rights possible. Recommend.
The book certainly focuses on the divide between radical activists and suit and tie organizers, not always successfully, but making an interesting case for the dynamism of radicalism engaging pride and anger as resources to recruit folks, while buttoned up approaches may get the piecemeal reforms necessary to navigate a capitalist democracy.
Many worthy faces and profiles in courage in this book I was unfamiliar with.
Definitely not a portrait of trans history in any major way. L’s and G’s, mostly. And its analysis of the overwhelming whiteness of many LGBT orgs/organizers, push for broader racial and economic justice alongside queer rights (/understanding of those intersections) is given short shrift.
But. It’s a lucid book that ties together decades of history, celebrates activism and organizing, and most importantly (I think) grounds contemporary movement in a history and tradition extended into significantly before Stonewall while showing how influence of Civil Rights Movement and Black Power was integral in making push for queer rights possible. Recommend.