The Lesbian and Gay Movements

Throughout their relatively short history, lesbian and gay movements in the United States have endured searing conflicts over whether to embrace assimilationist or liberationist strategies. The Lesbian and Gay Movements explores this dilemma in both contemporary and historical contexts, describing the sources of these conflicts, to what extent the conflicts have been resolved, and how they might be resolved in future. Rimmerman also tackles the challenging issue of what constitutes movement 'effectiveness' and how 'effective' the assimilationist and liberationist strategies have been in three contentious policy arenas: the military ban, same-sex marriage, and AIDS. Considerable attention is devoted to how policy elites (presidents, federal and state legislatures, courts) have responded to the movements' grievances. Since the publication of the first edition in 2007, there have been enormous changes in the landscape of lesbian and gay movements and rights. The thoroughly revised second edition includes updated discussion of LGBT movements' undertakings in, as well the Obama administration's response to, AIDS/HIV policy, the fight to legalize same-sex marriage and overturn the Defense of Marriage Act, and the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'.

Craig A Rimmerman

List of Illustrations Preface 1 Introduction to the Core Dilemma 2 The Assimilationist and Liberationist Strategies in Historical Context The Birth of the Homophile Movement and the Foundations for Contemporary Politics The Stonewall Rebellion and Beyond The 1970s and the Challenge of the Christian Right Conclusion 3 The Conflict Over HIV/AIDS Policy The Early History of AIDS in the United States AIDS Policy in The Reagan/Bush Years Response of the Lesbian and Gay Movements to the Reagan/Bush Years AIDS Policy in the Clinton/Bush/Obama Years Response of the Lesbian and Gay Movements to the Clinton/Bush/Obama Years Conclusion 4 "Don't Ask, Don't Tell": Policy Perspectives on the Military Ban Military Integration in Historical Context, The Early Days of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell": Debates and Policy Implementation of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy The Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" The Case for the Military Ban The Case Against the Military Ban Conclusion 5 Jilted at the Altar: The Debate Over Same-Sex Marriage Same-Sex Marriage in Historical Context The Implications of the Marriage Debate for the Lesbian and Gay Movements The Case for Same-Sex Marriage The Case Against Same-Sex Marriage Conclusion 6 The Movements' Futures The Assimilationist and Liberationist Strategies Revisited Coalition Politics Barriers to Building Coalitions Conclusion Appendix 1: AIDS Timeline Appendix 2: The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Law Appendix 3: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Christian Right Organizations Discussion Questions Glossary Notes References Index