Synopses & Reviews
This book makes clear how the multi-faceted relationships within the gay community and between gays and straights have evolved, and how they may play out in the challenging years directly ahead. Among the points discussed, the most important are:
- Gay Separatism vs. Gay Mainstreaming: The conflict between those gays who want little to do with straight society, but demand full rights to be themselves, and those who seek to blend in by downplaying differences between gays and straights are explored. The often muted voices of "Third Way" gays who see some validity in attitudes on both sides of the many issues are also heard from.
- Gay Marriage and Gay Adoption: Are the rights to same-sex marriage and gay and lesbian adoption the keys to the integration of a gay community and mainstream American life, or do they court a backlash that will hinder the attainment of more long-standing legal and social goals of the Gay Rights Movement?
- The Continuing Role of Homophobia in America: While there are signs in the polls and the mass media that the public's acceptance of homosexuality is increasing, anti-gay violence remains virulent. Are we seeing the final convulsions of homophobia, or is such prejudice so deep-seated that it may never be entirely eradicated?
- The Changing Impact of HIV/AIDS: How the pandemic has been both a scourge and an instrument of public enlightenment about the true humanity of homosexuals. Has the reduction in the rate of new cases created a dangerous complacency about AIDS among some gays, especially the young?
- The Politics of Homosexuality: Old debates about whether radical confrontation or quiet persuasion within the political system work best continue to exist. Are radicals and political insiders perhaps equally necessary to continued progress toward full Gay Rights?
Synopsis
This book looks back on sexuality in history not to merely summarize events but to analyze the influences they have had in shaping the gay movement that exists today and how that movement will be defined in the future.
Synopsis
Areas discussed are: Gay separatism vs. Gay mainstreaming; Coming out; AIDS; Marriage; Adoption; Religion; Politics; Pop culture and media; and, most importantly, what the future holds.