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kathryndouglas's review against another edition
3.0
I think that this was a good intro to the effect that Stonewall had on the LGBTQ rights movement and how it was not the start of the movement, it was just a memorable event that gave the movement a bigger stage. I rated this in the middle because at some parts it was difficult to get through and confusing. The amount of organizations could get overwhelming at times. Also, I wish that there was more about women in the LGBTQ rights movement. I was surprised and a little miffed at how exclusively white and male the LGBTQ rights movement was in the 60s because I thought that for being a community that preaches love and acceptance and open mindedness there would be a place for everyone. But the gay white men insisted on being the forerunners and looked down at the lesbians. I wanted to know more about what groups there were for lesbians and what prominent lesbians there were and what they did.
theowrites's review against another edition
1.0
Trigger warning for discussion of sexual abuse of children in my review:
I really wanted to finally read this book (I've had it on my shelf forever), especially in light of the whitewashed, upcoming Stonewall movie. I had a hard time connecting with the author's documentation style, particularly the descriptions of people's emotional states and intentions in their actions, given that they are real people. However, what made me decide to stop reading it entirely was his descriptions of the sexual assaults of two of the people that happened when they were children. Duberman's narrative describes the trans girl of color as "seducing" her fifth grade teacher, along with other older men and the white boy as getting raped. Gross racist narrative.
I really wanted to finally read this book (I've had it on my shelf forever), especially in light of the whitewashed, upcoming Stonewall movie. I had a hard time connecting with the author's documentation style, particularly the descriptions of people's emotional states and intentions in their actions, given that they are real people. However, what made me decide to stop reading it entirely was his descriptions of the sexual assaults of two of the people that happened when they were children. Duberman's narrative describes the trans girl of color as "seducing" her fifth grade teacher, along with other older men and the white boy as getting raped. Gross racist narrative.
madidori's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really interesting book! It followed the lives of six individuals - from their childhood, young adult years, and adulthood to show how they got involved in the Stonewall riots and gay pride movements. This was an academic book, it was based on research and the actual stories of people, but it is written in a very accessible way. I never felt bogged down by facts.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about Stonewall and the larger gay pride/power movement. The way LGBTQ+ people were treated pre-Stonewall was horrendous and it shows us how far we've come - but also how far we have left to go. But it's important to remember those who came before and laid the foundation. And this book gives insight into 6 of those individuals!
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about Stonewall and the larger gay pride/power movement. The way LGBTQ+ people were treated pre-Stonewall was horrendous and it shows us how far we've come - but also how far we have left to go. But it's important to remember those who came before and laid the foundation. And this book gives insight into 6 of those individuals!
bgg616's review against another edition
5.0
Duberman is a master at weaving together stories of individual lives to write history. He chose six disparate individuals - four men and two women - to tell the story of the development of the Gay Rights Movement. Stonewall refers to the riots that occurred from June 27-July 2, 1969 in and around the Stonewall bar in Greenwich Village. Duberman's history reveals that despite the fact that Stonewall is known as the event that started the modern Gay Rights movement, this is a great over simplification of the actual facts.
The six featured individuals in the book include Foster Gunnison who led a conservative life, and was a proponent of the strategy that gay men and lesbians should conform in dress and behavior and work for acceptance. Karla Jay was a radical feminist who had to hide her sexual orientation in some of the women's groups she worked within. Yvonne Flowers was an African American woman who faced racism and sexism in most of the gay groups she tried to work with. Craig Rodwell was raised in a Christian Scientist residential school and founded the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookstore in the Village, while still holding on to his Christian Science beliefs. Jim Fouratt was part of the radical left. One of the most compelling individuals was Sylvia Rivera (Ray). Sylvia is identified as a drag queen in the book and a transvestite prostitute. But her sexual identity might now be considered transgender. She considered surgery, but only briefly. She'd been on the streets from the age of 11, and wanted to help other street kids like her.
The most fascinating part of the book were the descriptions of the internal political struggles over tactics. There were endless arguments over whether the struggles of gay men and lesbians should join in with other major efforts such as the Black Panthers and the anti-war movement against the war in Vietnam. At that time, there was little mention of individuals who identified as bisexual. Although surgery was a very expensive option for individuals who didn't identify with the gender they were born, in the late 60's there was little or no awareness of gender identity. The book was written in 1993, and even then, the label applied to Sylvia was transvestite. Transexual is used in footnotes, a reminder that language is constantly evolving.
In 1993, all the individuals whose stories make up this history were still alive. The Oscar Wilde Bookstore closed in 2009 citing competition from online booksellers. Craig Rodwell the proprietor died of cancer in 1993 (he was 53), though Duberman describes him as still the proprietor in the book published in 1993. Jim Fouratt is 71 and still an activist. Karla Jay is professor emeritus at Pace University. Foster Gunnison passed away in 1994 (1925-1994). I found a reference to the "late Yvonne Flowers" :
http://www.crunkfeministcollective.com/2014/01/03/black-queer-trouble-in-literature-life-and-the-age-of-obama-part-ii/
Sylvia Rivera passed away at the age of 50 of liver cancer:
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/20/nyregion/sylvia-rivera-50-figure-in-birth-of-the-gay-liberation-movement.html
Interestingly, Rivera, Fouratt, Jay and Rodman are all in Wikipedia. Gunnison and Flowers were harder to find. In the case of Yvonne Flowers it seems that Black Lesbian Feminism is still a very marginalized identity and history.
The six featured individuals in the book include Foster Gunnison who led a conservative life, and was a proponent of the strategy that gay men and lesbians should conform in dress and behavior and work for acceptance. Karla Jay was a radical feminist who had to hide her sexual orientation in some of the women's groups she worked within. Yvonne Flowers was an African American woman who faced racism and sexism in most of the gay groups she tried to work with. Craig Rodwell was raised in a Christian Scientist residential school and founded the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookstore in the Village, while still holding on to his Christian Science beliefs. Jim Fouratt was part of the radical left. One of the most compelling individuals was Sylvia Rivera (Ray). Sylvia is identified as a drag queen in the book and a transvestite prostitute. But her sexual identity might now be considered transgender. She considered surgery, but only briefly. She'd been on the streets from the age of 11, and wanted to help other street kids like her.
The most fascinating part of the book were the descriptions of the internal political struggles over tactics. There were endless arguments over whether the struggles of gay men and lesbians should join in with other major efforts such as the Black Panthers and the anti-war movement against the war in Vietnam. At that time, there was little mention of individuals who identified as bisexual. Although surgery was a very expensive option for individuals who didn't identify with the gender they were born, in the late 60's there was little or no awareness of gender identity. The book was written in 1993, and even then, the label applied to Sylvia was transvestite. Transexual is used in footnotes, a reminder that language is constantly evolving.
In 1993, all the individuals whose stories make up this history were still alive. The Oscar Wilde Bookstore closed in 2009 citing competition from online booksellers. Craig Rodwell the proprietor died of cancer in 1993 (he was 53), though Duberman describes him as still the proprietor in the book published in 1993. Jim Fouratt is 71 and still an activist. Karla Jay is professor emeritus at Pace University. Foster Gunnison passed away in 1994 (1925-1994). I found a reference to the "late Yvonne Flowers" :
http://www.crunkfeministcollective.com/2014/01/03/black-queer-trouble-in-literature-life-and-the-age-of-obama-part-ii/
Sylvia Rivera passed away at the age of 50 of liver cancer:
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/20/nyregion/sylvia-rivera-50-figure-in-birth-of-the-gay-liberation-movement.html
Interestingly, Rivera, Fouratt, Jay and Rodman are all in Wikipedia. Gunnison and Flowers were harder to find. In the case of Yvonne Flowers it seems that Black Lesbian Feminism is still a very marginalized identity and history.
kayereadsalot's review against another edition
3.0
Wow that book was HARD to read. Very interesting. I'm glad I read it. But what a slog. At some points, I debated just stopping, but I wanted to get to the end so badly and read about the first pride parade. Definitely recommended for people who are fans of history and who want to know more about the early queer movements that came about in the 1950s-1960s.
thomasinx's review against another edition
5.0
This book was beautiful. Though I now only want to read more books on LGBTQIA+ history and politics, this was the perfect gateway book to the subject.
In addition to sparking a new life into reading, I believe this book is an essential one to understanding queer politics, history, and general knowledge of the times.
Plus, the narrative of this book is so satisfying once you reach the finish line. Highly recommended. Astounding.
In addition to sparking a new life into reading, I believe this book is an essential one to understanding queer politics, history, and general knowledge of the times.
Plus, the narrative of this book is so satisfying once you reach the finish line. Highly recommended. Astounding.
msgtdameron's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I needed to read this work. I needed to find out what actually happened back in 69. Let me explain: My 8th birthday was supposed to be at Shea Stadium up in Queens. After Stonewall my parents cancelled the ball game and we had a pool party. I didn't understand then but I heard mom and dad talking about those riots in N.Y.. also how those "gay people" had stared it. How they didn't want the potential of the riots moving to Queens getting them involved with a Station Wagon full of eight/nine year olds.
OK today my mother actually supports the LGBTQ community but only after education from both my daughters and me. My father, less said the better. I
I now understand what the LGBTQ pathfinders had to deal with. Many of their dealings got caught up in the Anti Vietnam Movement, or Panthers. Because of this, a chunk of this work is how the early LGQTB groups interacted and supported or chose not to support, the other anti - establishment groups. This was also enlightening since those movements were the political and social backdrop to my formative years. Yea, if you want a well documented work that will throw light on the early LGQTB struggle for acceptance. A struggle that today is even more threatened by the religious RT than even back in 68/69. But, if you were in Elementary back then this is also a good primer on the debates that were going on and the back round of those dinner conversations that you heard around the dinner table.
OK today my mother actually supports the LGBTQ community but only after education from both my daughters and me. My father, less said the better. I
I now understand what the LGBTQ pathfinders had to deal with. Many of their dealings got caught up in the Anti Vietnam Movement, or Panthers. Because of this, a chunk of this work is how the early LGQTB groups interacted and supported or chose not to support, the other anti - establishment groups. This was also enlightening since those movements were the political and social backdrop to my formative years. Yea, if you want a well documented work that will throw light on the early LGQTB struggle for acceptance. A struggle that today is even more threatened by the religious RT than even back in 68/69. But, if you were in Elementary back then this is also a good primer on the debates that were going on and the back round of those dinner conversations that you heard around the dinner table.