Synopses & Reviews
Rethinking the Gay and Lesbian Movement provides a new narrative history of the gay and lesbian movement. Focusing on a half-century of rapid, ground-breaking, political and legal changes of the 20th century, Marc Stein contextualizes the changing vocabulary and beliefs of this movement comprised of many smaller groups, actions, and ideas. From the homophile movement of the 1950s to the queer and LGBT activism that emerged in the 1990s, Rethinking the Gay and Lesbian Movement integrates the individuals, groups, demonstrations, laws, and people that reshaped the way we think and talk about gay and lesbian rights.
Rethinking the Gay and Lesbian Movement provides a short, accessible overview of this important social and political movement, highlighting key events and figures, the movement's strengths and weaknesses, how it intersected with other social and political movements of the time, and its lasting effect on the country. It is perfect for anyone wanting to obtain an introduction to Gay and Lesbian history and activism.
Synopsis
Rethinking the Gay and Lesbian Movement provides a new narrative history of U.S. gay and lesbian activism, drawing on primary research in the field and the best scholarship on the history of the gay and lesbian movement.
Focusing on four decades of social, cultural, and political change in the second half of the twentieth century, Stein examines the changing agendas, beliefs, strategies, and vocabularies of a movement that encompassed diverse actions, campaigns, ideologies, and organizations. From the homophile activism of the 1950s and 1960s, through the rise of gay liberation and lesbian feminism in the 1970s, to the multicultural and AIDS activist movements of the 1980s, Rethinking the Gay and Lesbian Movement provides a strong foundation for understanding gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer politics today.
Rethinking the Gay and Lesbian Movement provides a short, accessible overview of an important and transformational struggle for social change, highlighting key individuals and events, influential groups and networks, strong alliances and coalitions, difficult challenges and obstacles, major successes and failures, and the movement s lasting effects on the country. This volume will be valued by everyone interested in gay and lesbian history, the history of social movements, and the history of the United States.
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