The Politics of Gay Rights

Few issues in American politics inspire such passion as that of civil rights for gays and lesbians. In this group of original essays, scholars and activists writing from a number of different perspectives provide a comprehensive overview of this heated debate. Contributors thoroughly investigate the politics of the gay and lesbian movement, beginning with its political organizations and tactics. The essays also address the strategies and ideology of conservative opposition groups, such as the Christian Right. They focus on key issues for public policy, including gays and lesbians openly serving in the military, anti-discrimination laws, and the ongoing crisis of AIDS. The book ends with chapters that discuss the ways in which the political struggle for gay rights has played out in various arenas—in Congress, in the courts, in state and local governments, and in electoral politics.

Forcefully argued and accessibly written, this collection is an important contribution to the current discussion about civil rights for gays and lesbians.

Craig Rimmerman is professor of public policy studies and political science at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.


Craig Rimmerman is professor of public policy studies and political science at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.


Clyde Wilcox is professor of government at Georgetown University. They are, with Kenneth Wald, coeditors of The Politics of Gay Rights, also published by the University of Chicago Press.