Take Stage! is the first comprehensive "how-to" book for lesbians wanting to produce or direct lesbian theatre. Controversial and anecdotal, Take Stage! is written for the lesbian with no previous experience with theatre or lesbian organization. In addition to chapters on auditioning, rehearsals, selecting the script, booking space, and assembling a staff, the book includes chapters on issues of special interest to lesbians. Take Stage! includes information on how to challenge the "isms"-lookism, racism, classism, ageism, and other prejudices with which lesbian culture is currently engaged. It also looks at problems of accountability in non-hierarchal structures, boundary-setting among all-volunteer staffs, sabotage via hidden agendas or disassociative behaviors, horizontal hostility, and internalized homophobia. The appendix contains sample contracts, audition forms, light plots, budgets, and schedules. From the decision to produce the play to opening night and touring, Take Stage! covers all the bases and provides a healthy dose of moral support.

This book explores how the social and technical integration of mainstream social media into gay men's digital cultures since the mid 2000s has played out in the lives of young gay men, looking at how these convergences have influenced more recent iterations of gay men's digital culture. Focusing on platforms such as Gaydar, Facebook, Grindr and Instagram, Cassidy highlights the ways that identity and privacy management issues experienced in this context have helped to generate a culture of participatory reluctance within gay men's digital environments.

"Sexual Justice" argues that the achievement of equality for lesbian and gay citizens is part of the unfinished business of modern democracy. In Romer v. Evans the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Colorado's Amendment 2 is unconstitutional because it denies homosexuals "equal protection of the laws" and makes them second-class citizens. But lesbian and gay men already suffer pervasive legal disabilities: half the states define relations between members of the same sex as a crime; only eight states protect queer citizens from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations; no state grants same-sex couples the rights available to heterosexuals who marry.
"Sexual Justice" develops the full implications of equal citizenship, defending a robust conception of lesbian and gay rights that includes civil rights laws that prohibit retaliation for the exercise of political rights and recognition for queer relationships and families. Kaplan insists that sexual desire plays a central role in the pursuit of happiness: individuals must be free to shape their lives and define their personal identities through a variety of "voluntary associations." He connects the marginalization of lesbians and gay men with efforts to maintain the subordination of women. The argument draws on law, philosophy, psychoanalysis, history, and literature, focusing especially on Plato, Thoreau, Freud, Rawls, Arendt, and Foucault.
"Sexual Justice" should be of interest to a general audience concerned with human rights and social justice as well as to scholars interested in lesbian, gay and queer studies, philosophy, political and legal theory, intellectual history, cultural studies and feminism.

"Sexual Justice" argues that the achievement of equality for lesbian and gay citizens is part of the unfinished business of modern democracy. In Romer v. Evans the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Colorado's Amendment 2 is unconstitutional because it denies homosexuals "equal protection of the laws" and makes them second-class citizens. But lesbian and gay men already suffer pervasive legal disabilities: half the states define relations between members of the same sex as a crime; only eight states protect queer citizens from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations; no state grants same-sex couples the rights available to heterosexuals who marry.
"Sexual Justice" develops the full implications of equal citizenship, defending a robust conception of lesbian and gay rights that includes civil rights laws that prohibit retaliation for the exercise of political rights and recognition for queer relationships and families. Kaplan insists that sexualdesire plays a central role in the pursuit of happiness: individuals must be free to shape their lives and define their personal identities through a variety of "voluntary associations." He connects the marginalization of lesbians and gay men with efforts to maintain the subordination of women. The argument draws on law, philosophy, psychoanalysis, history, and literature, focusing especially on Plato, Thoreau, Freud, Rawls, Arendt, and Foucault.
"Sexual Justice" should be of interest to a general audience concerned with human rights and social justice as well as to scholars interested in lesbian, gay and queer studies, philosophy, political and legal theory, intellectual history, cultural studies and feminism.

Creating a Place For Ourselves is a groundbreaking collection of essays which takes an historical look at gay life in the United States before Stonewall and the gay liberation movement. Along with examining areas with large gay communities such as New York, San Francisco and Fire Island, the contributors also consider the thriving gay populations in cities like Detroit, Buffalo, Washington D.C., Birmingham and Flint, demonstrating that gay communities are truly everywhere.

Science and Homosexualities is the first anthology by historians of science to examine European and American scientific research on sexual orientation since the coining of the word "homosexual" almost 150 years ago. This collection is particularly timely given the enormous scientific and popular interest in biological studies of homosexuality, and the importance given such studies in current legal, legislative and cultural debates concerning gay civil rights. However, scientific and popular literature discussing the biology of sexual orientation have been short-sighted in representing it as objective, new scientific work. This volume demonstrates that the quest for the biological "cause" of homosexuality and other sexualities is as old as the term itself. These essays explore the active role experimental subjects played in shaping scientific theories of homosexuality and cultural perceptions of sexuality and sexual identity. Finally this anthology studies the way in which this doctor-patient interaction shaped not only scientific theories of homosexuality, but also cultural perceptions and self-identities as well. Contributors include: Garland E. Allen, Erin G. Carlston, Julian Carter, Alice D. Dreger, Anne Fausto-Sterling, Margaret Gibson, Stephanie Kenen, Hubert Kennedy, Harry Oosterhuis, James Steakley, Richard Pillard, Jennifer Terry

"Homo Economics" is the first honest account of the tense relationship between gay people and the economy. This groundbreaking collection brings together a variety of voices from the worlds of journalism, activism, academia, the arts, and public policy to address issues including the recent economic history of the gay community, the community's response to its changing economic circumstances, and the risks inherent in a narrow definition of liberation.
For the first time in U.S. history, gay men and lesbians live open lives. From nightclubs in gay city districts to political rallies and Caribbean cruises, this new community continues to reveal itself throughout the nation. However, with this growth, there are also signs of fracturing as economic forces key to its development are now threatening its future.
"Homo Economics" illustrates the ways in which modern capitalism has eroded the rigid sexual division of labor that deterred gay couples from setting up households in the past. But the book also shows how this economic system has created divisions within the gay community, channelled lesbians and gay men into particular professions, and discriminated against them in the workplace.
After a century of neglect, we have now reached the point where suddenly gay consumers are being courted by corporations, gay money is fueling political campaigns, and gay and lesbian neighborhoods are expanding. The essays in "Homo Economics" warn us however, that contrary to popular stereotypes, only a narrow segment of the gay community is enjoying economic success and the majority of gay men and lesbians actually earn less than straight men and women.
"Homo Economics" bringstogether contributors including Jeffrey Escoffier, Donna Minkowitz, Tony Kushner, Julie Matthaei, Dorothy Allison, Sean Strub, Dan Baker and Lee Badgett among others, to address the views of the gay community towards capitalism. As such, Amy Gluckman and Betsy Reed have given us the most comprehensive overview to date of this urgent and highly controversial subject.

"Homo Economics" is the first honest account of the tense relationship between gay people and the economy. This groundbreaking collection brings together a variety of voices from the worlds of journalism, activism, academia, the arts, and public policy to address issues including the recent economic history of the gay community, the community's response to its changing economic circumstances, and the risks inherent in a narrow definition of liberation.
For the first time in U.S. history, gay men and lesbians live open lives. From nightclubs in gay city districts to political rallies and Caribbean cruises, this new community continues to reveal itself throughout the nation. However, with this growth, there are also signs of fracturing as economic forces key to its development are now threatening its future.
"Homo Economics" illustrates the ways in which modern capitalism has eroded the rigid sexual division of labor that deterred gay couples from setting up households in the past. But the book also shows how this economic system has created divisions within the gay community, channelled lesbians and gay men into particular professions, and discriminated against them in the workplace.
After a century of neglect, we have now reached the point where suddenly gay consumers are being courted by corporations, gay money is fueling political campaigns, and gay and lesbian neighborhoods are expanding. The essays in "Homo Economics" warn us however, that contrary to popular stereotypes, only a narrow segment of the gay community is enjoying economic success and the majority of gay men and lesbians actually earn less than straight men and women.
"Homo Economics" bringstogether contributors including Jeffrey Escoffier, Donna Minkowitz, Tony Kushner, Julie Matthaei, Dorothy Allison, Sean Strub, Dan Baker and Lee Badgett among others, to address the views of the gay community towards capitalism. As such, Amy Gluckman and Betsy Reed have given us the most comprehensive overview to date of this urgent and highly controversial subject.

Secret Sexualities is expansive in its historical range, vast sources and scholarly research. It contains rare, unpublished, primary material, extensive critical and contextual material by the editor, and refuses to discriminate between issues of sex, sexuality and gender.
The coverage includes:
* extracts dealing with anatomy and medicine
* the cultural construction of eunuchs and hermaphrodites
* famous trials for sodomy and the forgotten victims of the law
* representations of effeminate men, fops and sodomites
* Sapphic texts which portray cross-dressing, mannish women and female husbands

Femininity Played Straight traces the changing relationships of lesbianism and feminist theory from the late 1970s to the present, arguing for accounts of sexuality, gender and subjectivity that make lesbianism intelligible and important.

The last five years have witnessed the birth of a vibrant new group of young scholars who are writing about queer law, politics, and policy - topics which now garner the attention of political theorists of all stripes. Playing with Fire opens the intersection of lesbian and gay studies and political theory to a wide audience, covering a wide range of issues, including: the theory of queer identities; the contrasts among ethnic, racial, and sexual identities and communitarians and the meaning of equal citizenship.
Contributors include: Judith Butler, Morris Kaplan and Stacey Young.

Science and Homosexualities is the first anthology by historians of science to examine European and American scientific research on sexual orientation since the coining of the word 'homosexual' almost 150 years ago. Science and Homosexuality demonstrates that the quest for the biological 'cause' of homosexuality and other sexualities is as old as the term itself and explores the active role experimental subjects played in shaping scientific theories of homosexuality and cultural perceptions of sexuality and sexual identity.

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Outlook explores the relationship of lesbian and gay sexualities to visual representation. It reflects the richness of lesbian and gay ways of producing and reading visual cultures, at the same time as it tackles such burning issues as the advantage of adopting a queer perspective on past art, the responses of lesbian and gay artists to the AIDS crisis, and society's attempts to censor homosexual art.
This volume provides a space for lesbian and gay artists to exhibit their work and discuss its relationship to sexuality. It allows for a wide ranging theoretical and historical discussion of the place of lesbian and gay men within visual cultures and shows how much has been missed by a heterosexist approach to art history and the study of culture.
Richly illustrated, this book includes statements by contemporary lesbian and gay artists, photographers and performers as well as articles by art historians, cultural theorists and lesbians and gay activists.

It offers an understanding of the histories of the contemporary legal tradition and their current operation using specific examples, such as the impact of a court case over an alleged breach of the peace when two men kissed in public.
The Homosexual(ity) of Law looks at how legal discourse is constructed to place homosexuality in a very specific band of regulation and focuses on gay and civil rights, equality under the law and social attitudes towards homosexuals.

eBook available with sample pages: 020341019X

Raising fundamental questions about our understanding of the term "homosexuality," "The Homosexuality of Law" is an important and original contribution on the legal regulation of identity and sexuality, providing a theoretical underpinning for the study of the treatment of homosexuals by the law. Moran offers an understanding of the histories of the contemporary legal tradition and their current operation using specific examples, such as the impact of a court case over an alleged breach of the peace when two men kissed in public. The volume explores how legal discourse is constructed to place homosexuality in a very specific band of regulation and focuses on gay and civil rights, equality under the law and social attitudes towards homosexuals.

The woman-made world described in Sappho's songs has been discussed and analysed for centuries. In "Sappho's Sweetbitter Songs," late twentieth century theories of feminism, psychoanalysis and literary criticism are applied to Sappho's lyrics for the first time. The study recreates and examines a voice that sings of the dreams and interactions of women, tells of the bodies, rhythms and desires of the women of Sappho's circle. At the same time it offers an analysis of sexual difference, comparing the homoerotic lyrics of male poets of that era to those of Sappho.

Collects for the first time major lesbian plays from controversial cultural perspectives spanning more than a generation of work in varied theatrical styles representing an amazing gamut of lesbian politics from all over America. Includes: The Quintessential Image (Jane Chambers) * The Postcard (Gloria Joyce Dickler) * A Lady and a Woman (Shirlene Holmes) * Nasty Rumors and Final Remarks (Susan Miller) * Desdemona (Paula Vogel) * and more!

50 years of Pride in the words of those who changed the world. Half a century has passed since 2,000 people marched in the very first Pride march, in New York City. It was a moment when the LGBT+ community rose up against centuries of hatred and persecution, spawning a global movement and the Pride parades that now take place around the world. The Little Book of Pride is a collection of quotes that captures the voices of those who have played a key part in the long journey to a place of Pride - from the very first pioneers, to those who took the fight into the streets of the Stonewall riots, and right up to today's movers and shakers. 'Your lives matter. Your voices matter. Your stories matter.' Actress and trans activist Laverne Cox at the Goldern Globes Awards, 2016. 'If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.' Tape recording left by Harvey Milk, the first openly gay US politician, murdered in 1978.

This book focuses on queering texts with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender (LGBT) themes in collaboration with students - young to young adult - and their teachers - both pre- and in- service. It strives to generate knowledge and deeper understandings of the pedagogical implications for working with LGBT-themed texts in classrooms across grade levels. The contributions in this book offer explicit implications for pedagogical practice, considering literature for children and young adults, and work in elementary school, high school, and university classrooms and schools. They give insights on exploring how queer and trans theories might inform the teaching and learning of English language arts with great respect to people who live their lives beyond hegemonic heternormativity and cisnormativity. They provide wisdom on how to provoke, foster, and navigate complicated conversations about sexuality, queer desire, gender creativity, gender independence, and trans inclusivity. In addition, they show how all of these are informed by an epistemological and ontological understanding of gender embodiment as a process of becoming. They offer insights into how queer and trans theories, as informed and driven by trans, non-binary and gender diverse scholars themselves, can move all of us beyond LGBTQ-inclusivity and inform reading, discussing, teaching, and learning in all of the classrooms and school contexts where we live and work. This volume was originally published as a special issue of Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education.

Queer by Choice enters the controversial debate of sexual identity by examining choice in gay men and lesbian sexual identity. Drawing on interviews with a sample of 72 people, Whisman analyzes if, and to what extent, choice played a role in determining identity. Contributing factors such as race, class, religion, and educational level are considered. The results of the study are stimulating and often surprising, and contribute to the escalating debates over sexual identity as lesbians and gays continue to soldier for rights and representation.

Queer by Choice enters the controversial debate of sexual identity by examining choice in gay men and lesbian sexual identity. Drawing on interviews with a sample of 72 people, Whisman analyzes if, and to what extent, choice played a role in determining identity. Contributing factors such as race, class, religion, and educational level are considered. The results of the study are stimulating and often surprising, and contribute to the escalating debates over sexual identity as lesbians and gays continue to soldier for rights and representation.

This could be the most controversial book yet in the Contemporary Issues Series. Its balanced approach could risk the wrath of advocates and critics alike, offering powerful essays on four key issues: the causes of homosexuality, disputes about the role the courts should play, gays and the military, and religious attitudes toward homosexuality.

Considers the treatment of gender blenders by the medical framework, in literature, the press and telephone sex lines and examines its prominence in recent contemporary cultural and queer theory.

The host of Hollywood Squares asks Paul Lynde, "Why do bikers wear leather?" "Because chiffon wrinkles so easily," Lynde quips.
Since at least the end of the nineteenth century, gay culture -- its humor, its icons, its desires -- has been alive and sometimes even visible in the midst of straight American society. David Van Leer puts forward here a series of reading that aim to identify what he calls the "queening" of America, a process by which "rhetorics and situations specific to homosexual culture are presented to a general readership as if culturally neutral." In his recinsiderations of the all-American "Damn Yankees" or the gay adult classics of Patrick Dennis ("Auntie Mame, Little Me"), Van Leer overturns simplistic notions of camp as merely a humorous exaggeration of straight culture.
"The Queening" "of America" examines how the invisibility of gay male writing, especially in the popular culture of the 1950s and 1960s, facilitated the crossing of gay motifs in straight culture. Van Leer then critiques some current models of making homosexuality visible (the packaging of Joe Orton, the theories of Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, the rise of gay studies), before concluding more optimistically on the possible alliances between gay culture and other minority discourses.