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mehunold's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.25
dkrane's review against another edition
4.0
Exhaustively researched book is frequently thrilling, with an effective macro view of the struggle for civil rights and inclusion in mainstream American society by queer folks in the last 60ish years. Striking even in five years since it’s been written to see, with Obergefell and Bostock, how quickly the law has moved towards equality.
The book certainly focuses on the divide between radical activists and suit and tie organizers, not always successfully, but making an interesting case for the dynamism of radicalism engaging pride and anger as resources to recruit folks, while buttoned up approaches may get the piecemeal reforms necessary to navigate a capitalist democracy.
Many worthy faces and profiles in courage in this book I was unfamiliar with.
Definitely not a portrait of trans history in any major way. L’s and G’s, mostly. And its analysis of the overwhelming whiteness of many LGBT orgs/organizers, push for broader racial and economic justice alongside queer rights (/understanding of those intersections) is given short shrift.
But. It’s a lucid book that ties together decades of history, celebrates activism and organizing, and most importantly (I think) grounds contemporary movement in a history and tradition extended into significantly before Stonewall while showing how influence of Civil Rights Movement and Black Power was integral in making push for queer rights possible. Recommend.
The book certainly focuses on the divide between radical activists and suit and tie organizers, not always successfully, but making an interesting case for the dynamism of radicalism engaging pride and anger as resources to recruit folks, while buttoned up approaches may get the piecemeal reforms necessary to navigate a capitalist democracy.
Many worthy faces and profiles in courage in this book I was unfamiliar with.
Definitely not a portrait of trans history in any major way. L’s and G’s, mostly. And its analysis of the overwhelming whiteness of many LGBT orgs/organizers, push for broader racial and economic justice alongside queer rights (/understanding of those intersections) is given short shrift.
But. It’s a lucid book that ties together decades of history, celebrates activism and organizing, and most importantly (I think) grounds contemporary movement in a history and tradition extended into significantly before Stonewall while showing how influence of Civil Rights Movement and Black Power was integral in making push for queer rights possible. Recommend.
jpog_blue's review against another edition
4.0
a readable history, particularly valuable re: pre-stonewall
lesbianism_is_awesome's review against another edition
5.0
An amazing book; such a thorough look at the gay movement in the United States and so easy to read. An excellent reference book for any essay or project.
gabby_fin's review against another edition
4.0
Another background read for my summer research. I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the last, it was less readable and took me longer to get through it. I also didn’t think the anecdote format was executed very well as she didn’t do a lot of the work needed to thread them all together in a good way. That being said, it’s still important history and context for my project so glad I read it.
raerni's review against another edition
4.0
This is quite the book: obviously the cumulative of a lifetime of scholarship. Some parts dragged a little and in other parts, I wanted more, but I don't fault Faderman at all. It's quite the feat to capture 100 years of movement history in one book. She did it here.