Place at the Table: The Gay Individual in American Society (Paperback)

~ (Author) "One day a few years ago, when I was in my mid-twenties, I walked into a bookstore in midtown Manhattan..." (more)
Key Phrases: young gay person, radical gay activists, young gay people, New York, Gay Studies, Gay Pride Day (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Conservative cultural critic Bawer's canny appraisal of the gay rights movement calls for a more equitable place in American society for lesbians and gays.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Positing that negative stereotypes of homosexuals are the result of both right - wing propaganda and the high visibility of "radical gay activists," Bawer, a self-proclaimed spokesperson for the "silent majority of gays," attempts to absolve "mainstream gays" of responsibility by criticizing "subculture-oriented gays," including but not limited to Donna Minkowitz, Paul Monette, Edmund White, members of ACTUP, and those involved in Gay Pride parades. This heartfelt if misguided meditation cum manifesto is provocative, but the author's self-righteous generalizations and misrepresentation of the ethnic, socio economic, and geographic diversity of American lesbians and gays, as well as the lack of either an index or citations for the many sources, undermine the divisive diatribe.
- James E. Van Buskirk, San Francisco P.L.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1st Touchstone edition (October 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671894390
• ISBN-13: 978-0671894399
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #278,070 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Attaining Equality...., August 15, 2000

By	Sharon D. Spiller "book fiend" (Erie, Pennsylvania USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When this book was first released, it angered many members of the gay community and it's easy to see why. Bawer, a self professed conservative, lambasts more liberal gay rights advocates who believe in visibility at any cost. According to Bawer, this approach inevitably destroys any credibility the gay rights movement hopes to attain. True success can only be had if those interested in equality are able to work within the system in a manner that is non threatening to the majority of heterosexuals in power. Whether you agree with Bawer's approach or not, this is a book that must be read by anyone interested in the debate over the best way to establish gay and lesbian equality in this country.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Probably THE most important book for gay people, March 11, 1999

By A Customer

I was given the idea to read this book by a friend of mine still struggling with his sexuality. When I read it, I recognized my self and my beliefs in its pages. This book is the best, most inclusive book dealing with homosexuality that I have read. It takes a very balanced approach to many issues, such as activism, religion, family, friends, relationships, and relating to the public. Instead of taking an extreme position on any of these points, Bawer shows how logic and compromise can mean greater strides than being confrontational. He also demonstrates that there is more than one way to "be gay". Not everyone has the same politics, not everyone has the same beliefs....it's when someone tells you how you should act or which way you should vote that there is repression. Overall, an excellent book, and probably the most useful resource for anyone struggling with coming out and what it means to be gay.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Should be Required Reading for EVERYONE, June 9, 2000

By A Customer

As a very average suburban-dweller who just happens to be a lesbian, I've been searching for balanced reading material. Thank God -- literally -- for Bruce Bawer. Bless him for writing a book for the majority of us who prefer mowing our lawns to marching in parades and only use the word "queer" to describe something strange -- regular people living quiet lives. EVERYONE, regardless of sexual orientation, should read this marvelous book.