Many conservative religious groups insist that homosexuality is a plague on society, that AIDS is the result of unnatural behaviour, and that organised homosexual movements have some grand scheme to spread ungodly ways throughout all areas of society, thus subverting moral values and the family. In this book, columnist Jack Nichols sets fundamentalists on the run, exposing their lies, threats, and the misunderstandings fostered and multiplied by the hosts of the religious right.
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
There are good ideas, theories and propositions hidden in activist Nichols's rebuttal of Christian fundamentalist anti-gay tirades. Unfortunately, the author, co-founder of the Mattachine Society, has chosen to answer his opponents in kind. His prose is shrill and overlaid with superlatives for his friends, and generalized excoriations for his enemies. Though the tract starts off sensibly with the basics (pointing out that not all gays are politically radical, etc.), it quickly descends to the level of diatribe. By the end of the book, Nichols, having dealt with the fundamentalists to his apparent satisfaction, launches an attack on religion in general, a battle he seems ill-equipped to wage. His lazy logic, careless language and reliance on only selective data suggest that his arguments will have approximately the same effect as the sermons he sets out to take down: some will find much to agree with; others will find his rhetoric insubstantial. 25,000 first printing; $25,000 ad/promo; author tour.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
Exposing lies, threats, misunderstandings, and hate-mongering by the "righteous" religious, Jack Nichols confronts homophobic prejudice in The Gay Agenda: Talking Back To The Fundamentalists. Ranging from biblical times, through the early days of the American settlers, and on into the sexual revolution to the present day, The Gay Agenda explodes bogus claims about a secret gay cabal, while critiquing grotesque superstitions and "witch-hunt" tactics that subvert self-esteem and social harmony. The Gay Agenda also includes hard-hitting commentary on foes of same-sex love such as Jerry Falwell, D. James Kennedy, and Pat Robertson. -- Midwest Book Review
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Gay Agenda: Talking Back to the Fundamentalists (Hardcover)
The Gay Agenda by Jack Nichols provides an excellent rebuttal to the myriad propaganda tracts published by the religious right. Nichols, a long time activist and advocate for equal rights for gay people, provides as well a unique historical perspective for this subject.
The book effectively explodes the myth of a monolithic gay cabal by providing evidence of the great diversity of opinion, lifestyle, philosophy and theology among gay and lesbian people. At the same time the book traces the history of the opportunistic conservative attacks on gay and lesbian people. The book provides overwhelming documentation of the abuse of political power by conservative and right wing religious groups who use gay and lesbian people as scapegoats in order to achieve political power and raise funds for their divisive political agenda. More importantly, the book states and then exposes as deception all of the major propaganda of the right, ranging from same gender marriage to AIDS to employment. Mr. Nichols also analyzes the basic belief system of the right and especially the religious right. He not only points out the contradictions in this belief system, but goes on to show how many of the philosophical and theological tenets of fundamentalism are destructive to social order. For example, Mr. Nichols discusses in detail the fundamentalist notion of atonement, demonstrating how this doctrine discourages self reflection and contemplation. Mr. Nichols points out fundamentalists want believers not thinkers, and goes on to argue effectively that this is largely due to the fundamentalist notion of atonement. Mr. Nichols dissects other fundamentalist doctrines, from Biblical literlaism (which is actually selectively applied, as Mr. Nichols shows by example), to Armageddon, to evangalism. I found my head nodding in agreement at nearly every paragraph through the first two thirds of this book, often stopping to read entire sections out loud to my spouse. After such an auspicious start, I must confess that I was disappointed in the final third of the book. The basis for much of the discussion at the end of the book deals with the author's views on the origins of sexual orientation and his apparent belief that everyone, or at least very large segments of the population, would be gay or lesbian if only society were less repressive and homophobic. This premise is disturbing on two counts. The first reason this premise is disturbing is that it is almost certainly incorrect. The review of the scientific literature in Chandler Burr's recent book "A Separate Creation" clearly shows that the percentage of persons who are gay or lesbian in orientation is fairly constant across cultures (about 6% of the male population and about 3% of the female population). It is certainly true that the percentage of a population exhibiting gay or lesbian behavior - as opposed to orientation -- varies according to cultural tolerance of diversity, with intolerant societies showing a lower incidence of behavior. However, contrary to Mr. Nichol's assertion, there is no scientific evidence to support the notion that increasing cultural tolerance would result in the gay/lesbian population ever exceeding the 3-6% range. Indeed, there is overwhelming evidence that sexual orientation is not culturally instilled but is biological in character. The second reason that the premise that sexual orientation is somehow a learned behavior is that it repeats, in different form, the erroneous argument of the right that sexual orientation can be changed if we only "want" to change badly enough. If a less repressive society would result in a vast increase in the number of gays and lesbians, as Mr. Nichols argues, then the right must be correct in its argument that a more repressive society would result in fewer gays and lesbians. The fact of the matter is that there will always be a relatively fixed and small minority who are gay or lesbian. A less repressive society liberates this minority, with all the positive social consequences Mr. Nichols records in the first two thirds of his book. A more repressive society not only destroys unnecessarily the lives of this minority but is also destructive of the fundamental social fabric, again as Mr. Nichols so cogently argues in the first two thirds of his book. On balance, however, I highly recommend this book. The expose of the right, the insightful dissection of the fundamentalist belief system, the carefully crafted rebuttal of the propaganda of the right, and the author's writing style, which is often humorous and is always clear and concise, make this book a worthwhile read. ---Bill Ray, Norman, Oklahom
18 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Religious Right is not Right in the Head !,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Gay Agenda: Talking Back to the Fundamentalists (Hardcover)
This book illustrates what I already knew from experience in being married to a Promisekeeper. The whole order of their thinking is male dominance, specifically sexual usage of women, so the gay order infuriates them, since it depowers the man. Anyone female who has lived among the relgious right has to give up education, jobs and serve her man with the church. Gays are a threat to that, since it basically means equality for all people regardless of gender. Also, the relgious right has many divorces, unstable homes and has no right to Judge happy gay couples when religious right women live in misery.
4 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Comprehensive look at fundamentalists arguments,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Gay Agenda: Talking Back to the Fundamentalists (Hardcover)
The Gay Agenda by Jack Nichols is a comprehensive review of not only the religious fundamentalists argument against gay rights and contention that there is a "gay agenda", but also a valid argument against it. Nichols successfully, in my opinion, tears apart the arguments of the fundamentalists, by stating each of their claims and then argues why they are invalid. Other good parts of the book include Nichols careful analysis of our societies views of the sexes, the autonomous self, and ends with a self integration proclamation that advises everyone to look not only at homosexuality as one part of the sexual continuum, but also how we need to be a society that is inclusive, not exclusive. Nichols definitely has a love for poet Walt Whitman, and uses his words often throughout his book, devoting an entire chapter to his ideals. The only problem I have with this book is in the beginning. Nichols leans on the preachy side of gay rights, which is exactly what fundamentalists do: preach. While I believe strongly in Nichols argument, I felt that he was a bit repetitive at times. I enjoyed this book immensely, and feel that it presents the views of fundamentalists thoroughly. This book is a good tool not only to learn about their major points, but also to learn about how to combat those arguments.
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