The Gay and Lesbian Liberation Movement (Revolutionary Thought and Radical Movements) [Paperback]

Margaret Cruikshank (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415906482 | ISBN-13: 978-0415906487 | Publication Date: August 20, 1992 | Edition: 1St Edition

This is one of the first books on the movement written specifically for introductory students. Concise and balanced, it examines gay and lesbian liberation from three different perspectives: as a sexual freedom movement, as a political movement and as a movement of ideas. Separate chapters treat gay culture, lesbian feminism and conflicts and debates within the movement. Margaret Cruikshank describes the historical roots of contemporary gay and lesbian liberation, its links to other progressive movements, and the impact of AIDS. She analyses institutional homophobia and reviews legal issues in some of the major gay and lesbian rights cases including the 1986 US Supreme Court decision upholding sodomy laws. Unlike many other commentators, she assigns women a central role in the movement. She candidly discusses the movement's shortcomings and its dramatic successes. Margaret Cruikshank attacks injustice and offers examples of courageous responses, without resorting to polemic.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This book, the fourth in a new series whose major theme is the radical quest for revolutionary change, explores the politics and roots of the gay and lesbian liberation movement in the United States. Cruikshank, a lesbian and gay liberation activist, focuses on the practices, theory, successes, interconnectedness, and failures of gay liberation activism. She theorizes that there are three new variables beyond homophobia in attitudes toward gay society. The factors of heterosexism, heterocentrism, and compulsory heterosexuality all have a major impact on the development of self and the creation of a political movement within the gay community. Cruikshank's primary objective is to make gay liberation understandable to the lay reader and to encourage further research. A worthy addition to gay studies collections in larger public and academic institutions.
- Michael A. Lutes, Univ. of Notre Dame Lib., Ind.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

To document and analyze the development of a movement. . .is a difficult task. . . .Margaret Crucikshank's book, The Gay and Lesbian Liberation Movement, acheives many successes. -- Journal of American History

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1St Edition edition (August 20, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415906482
• ISBN-13: 978-0415906487
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,422,088 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful introductory text, January 27, 2012

By 

R. A. Slagl "ProfessorPR" (San Juan, PR Puerto Rico) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Gay and Lesbian Liberation Movement (Revolutionary Thought and Radical Movements) (Paperback)

As the previous reviewer points out, this is an introductory text. It was intended for students who have had little to no exposure to the issues addressed by the LGBT movements. The book is not likely to be particularly revelatory to people who are well versed in the history, but the fact of the matter is that most people are not.

Given that Cruikshank is pretty explicit about her intentions, I don't think the one star review is fair. Honestly, I would probably give it four, but I felt the need to "balance out" the previous review.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Mediocre survey of gay and lesbian history, August 11, 2006

By 

John Lee (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Gay and Lesbian Liberation Movement (Revolutionary Thought and Radical Movements) (Paperback)

Reads very much like a high school textbook on gay and lesbian studies. If you're savvy at all about GLBT issues, this book will add nothing to your knowledge.