Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
The Psychic Life of Racism in Gay Men's Communities engages in the necessarily complex task of mapping out the operations of racialized desires as they circulate amongst gay men. To explore such desires, the book considers the intersections of privilege and marginalization in the context of gay men's lives, and in so doing argues that as much as experiences of discrimination on the basis of sexuality are a shared experiences amongst many gay men, experiences of discrimination within gay communities are equally as common. Focusing specifically on racialization, the book offers insight as to how hierarchies, inequalities, and practices of exclusion serve to bolster the central position accorded to certain groups of gay men, at the expense of other groups. Considering how racial desire operates within gay communities allows the authors to connect contemporary struggles for inclusion and recognition with ongoing histories of marginalization and exclusion. As a whole, then, The Psychic Life of Racism in Gay Men's Communities offers an important intervention into the claim that gay communities are primarily organized around acceptance and homogeneity, instead demonstrating the considerable diversity and ongoing tensions that mark gay men's relationships with one another.
Synopsis
Exploring tensions within gay men's communities in regard to race, The Psychic Life of Racism in Gay Men's Communities examines the operations of racialized desire, highlighting the considerable diversity among gay men's experiences.