Perfect Enemies: The Religious Right, the Gay Movement, and the Politics of the 1990s

by Chris Bull, John Gallagher

In Perfect Enemies, Chris Bull and John Gallagher trace the origins and growth of both groups from the seminal year 1969, when the Stonewall Riots ushered in the modern gay rights movement and when Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell embarked on direct political action to bring strict biblical interpretation to bear on public policy. The skillful grassroots organizational efforts of both movements, based on a mutual demonization of each side by the other, resulted in growing political clout that developed under the radar of mainsteam political commentators--and exploded upon the scene in a series of bitter and, to most Americans, bewildering political conflicts.

Bull and Gallagher offer the first comprehensive account of the rhetoric and strategies--often remarkably alike--of both sides, and of how the mutual passion of these perfect enemies is influencing electoral politics from the state houses to the White House.

Genres: Nonfiction, LGBT, History

300 pages, Hardcover

First published August 6, 1996

About the author

Dr Chris Bull is Head of the Department of Sport Science, Tourism and Leisure at Canterbury Christ Church University, UK. He has over 30 years' experience as a teacher, researcher and consultant in the field of tourism, sport and leisure.

Reviews

[Isaac Timm · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of how a handful of dogmatic megalomaniacs harnessed AIDs and fear of the outsider to fuel their populist political aspirations. Gives an eye opening account of the political movements that led to our current polarization, and the hijacking of Christianity by a fanatic, bigoted fringe. A tragedy that was preached from the television, and played out from Evanston, WY. ,Dog Valley, UT. , and families throughout the US.

The author has professionalism and restraint that I can't claim, a well paced and insightful historical work that details the fight between homosexual and gender right groups and the Evangelical right.