Product Description
From the Boy Scouts and the U.S. military to marriage and adoption, the gay civil rights movement has exploded on the national stage. Eric Marcus takes us back in time to the earliest days of that struggle in a newly revised and thoroughly updated edition of Making History, originally published in 1992. Using the heart-felt stories of more than 60 people, he carries us through the compelling five-decade battle that has changed the fabric of American society.The rich… More >>
Making Gay History: The Half Century Fight for Lesbian and Gay Equal Rights
Tags: adoption, boy scouts, Century, civil rights movement, decade, Equal, eric marcus, fabric, Fight, gay civil rights, gay history, Half, History, Lesbian, Making, Marriage, national stage, Rights
#1 by Maxwell S. Dubler on April 16, 2010 - 7:22 pm
This is an excellent collection of first-person narratives of gay life in America from 1945 to the present. The people interviewed cover everything from the Mattachine society to PFLAG to the GSA movement. Extremely useful for getting a broad look at the LGBT rights movement in America.
I personally prefer “Making History” by the same author because the interviews appear all at once. This edition has events organized by date, which can be a little hard to follow.
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by Bonnie Brody on April 16, 2010 - 9:15 pm
As a clinical social worker and marriage and family therapist, a large segment of my clientele is from the gay, lesbian, bi- and trans-gendered community. I am always looking for resources to augment therapy – - books, movies, music, etc. This book, ‘Making Gay History’ is an excellent resource for those who want to understand the history of the gay and lesbian movement towards equality in our country. It is told from first person accounts by those who experienced the times and events. I also teach classes on counseling the GLBT population and am president of our local PFLAG chapter.
The book begins with the era that comes before any gay rights existed. It is followed by the years 1950-1961, when gay rights first began taking root. Then comes 1961-1968 when the GLBT community began speaking out, setting goals and making demands. The book then goes into Gay Liberation and, sadly, the shadow of AIDS from 1981-1992.
Overall, this is an interesting and riveting history of the GLBT community in our country. I think it should be required reading for any course on gay rights and that any provider of services for the GLBT community should read this book.
Rating: 5 / 5
#3 by Amos Lassen on April 16, 2010 - 10:03 pm
Marcus, Eric. “Making Gay History: The Half Century Fight for Lesbian and Gay Equal Rights”, Harper Paperbacks, 2002.
Reclaiming Our History
Amos Lassen
Eric Marcus takes a careful look at our history with his updated version of the book he originally published in 1992. Using the stories of 60 different people, he takes us through fifty years of GLBT history; a history that has changed the face of America.
We have the voices of Al Gore, Ellen DeGeneres as well as Abigail Van Buren and lesser known personalities like Dr. Evelyn Hooker. What these voices do is show us a changing America and the lives of those that have struggled to make the change happen.
The history of the GLBT movement is moving and shocking but it is so important that we are aware of it. It is the history of the courage of individuals who have brought about change. The book covers from 1945 to the present and the topics range from the Mattachine Society to PFLAG and the Scouts Movement. Here is a broad look at our history that is well written and easy to read.
Rating: 5 / 5