Queer Wars: The New Gay Right and Its Critics

by Paul A. Robinson

From the 1969 rebellion at Stonewall to recent battles over same-sex marriage, Gay Liberation in the United States has always been closely associated with the political left. But in recent years, Gay Liberation has taken a dramatic turn toward the right. And gaycons , as they were once archly referred to in the Nation , have taken politics and the media by storm. New Republic columnist Andrew Sullivan, for instance, is one of the most popular bloggers on the Internet. Writer Bruce Bawer, meanwhile, is celebrated for his incisive criticism of gay culture and its connections with camp and diva worship.

Queer Wars limns this new gay right, offering the first extended consideration of gay conservatism and its more trenchant critics. Here celebrated historian of gay culture Paul Robinson draws particular attention to three features of this new political movement. First, he explores how gay conservatives have rejected the idea that commitment to gay freedom should involve equal dedication to the causes of other marginalized people, be they racial minorities, women, or the poor. Second, Robinson demonstrates why gay conservatives embrace more traditional gender ideals—why they are hostile to effeminacy among men and mannishness among women. Finally, exploring the support for sexual restraint among gay conservatives, Robinson dissects their condemnation of promiscuity and their assault on behavior they deem dissolute.

Timely and rich in suggestive propositions, Queer Wars will prove to be essential reading for anyone interested in gay culture and contemporary politics.

Genres: Queer, Nonfiction

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Marsha Altman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a very good and interesting takedown of various books written by more conservative gay writers in the 1990s, like Bruce Bawer, Andrew Sullivan, and Michael Signorile. Unfortunately this book won't mean much to you unless you've at least skimmed the books the author is referencing.

[The Arcane Master · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent commentary on queer conservatism and the ideology behind it.
Engages the work of gay conservatives who have had very definite effect on the consciousness of the gay community, it's policies, and the gay movement's political agenda.
Definitely worth reading if you're into queer theory at all.

[Milo Greene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ultimately this book challenges what many don't know to be true about the origins of the modern gay rights movement. By providing perspectives from both the left and right one can understand both view points if they so choose. Most importantly it provided the connections between the underlying misogyny & reasons behind the very real racism that still exists in the LGBTQ community. One can draw conclusions about what propelled the gay movement in a new direction where it began to focus solely on gay marriage, don't ask don't tell, and fighting for hate crime legislation. While the author is certainly critical of gay conservatives which may turn readers off, it nonetheless insightful and informative.

[RandomScholar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book describes different gay conservative theorists, as well as how the gay conservative movement was born. Robinson argues that the mere presence of a new gay right is a sign that the gay community has advanced significantly since the Stonewall era. I only wish that Robinson described conservative lesbian theorists, even though that's not really his fault. Interestingly enough, the vast majority of conservative gay theorists are men. It would be interesting to see what conservative lesbian theorists have to say on issues like gender roles, pressure to join the radical left, and promiscuity within the LGBT community.

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent overview of the homosexual right. I was expecting a lot more on the Log Cabin Republicans. It reads more like a blog (assuming the formula for good blog writing is dissertation plus personal reflection) in places than a book. A lot more could have definitely been done with the topic.

[Josh Adamek · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's great on Bawer and Sullivan, however, the section on Signorile and Rotello are a bit misguided and could benefit from a larger discussion on the definition of conservative.

Definitely will be referring back to this for thesis background.

[Walt Odets · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a succinct and carefully written book on the gay-right movement, and very much worth reading if you're on the left. The writing itself is as clean as writing gets.

[Yasmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reviewed it here:

http://www.yasminnair.net/content/que...