Created Equal: Why Gay Rights Matter to America

by Michael Nava, Robert Dawidoff

Why should Americans who are not gay care about gay rights? In Created Equal, Michael Nava and Robert Dawidoff argue that the movement for gay equality is central to the continuing defense of individual liberty in America. Beginning with an examination of the determined assault on gay issues by the religious right, the authors show how this sectarian movement to legislate private religious morality into law undermines the purpose of American constitutional government: the protection of the individual's right to determine how best to live his or her life. The book starts from the premise that gay and lesbians are, first and foremost, American citizens, and then looks to what rights belong to every individual American citizen, arguing from the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Addressing their argument to the great majority of their fellow Americans, Dawidoff and Nava emphasize that what is at stake is not the fate of the gay community, but the future of constitutional principle and the rights of free individuals in American society.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, LGBT

167 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Michael Nava is the author of a groundbreaking series of crime novels featuring a gay, Latino criminal defense lawyer Henry Rios. Nava is a six-time recipient of the Lambda Literary Award in the mystery category, as well as the Bill Whitehead Lifetime Achievement Award for gay and lesbian literature.

Reviews

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘We’re here. We’re queer. Get used to it’ – a rallying cry for gay rights

California author Michael Nava continues to be the most celebrated LGBTQ chronicler of the AIDS epidemic with seven Lambda Literary Awards (among others) for his Henry Rios mystery series of eight books featuring Henry Rios, a gay Latino criminal defense lawyer, that has become a signature figure in the LGBT literature and in the world of social media. Nava is joined by Robert Dawidoff in this 2014 publication – CREATED EQUAL – which surfaces again as the nation addresses equality dialogs – Black, Asian, women’s rights, and LGBTQ rights.

Before the authors address this civic argument for gay rights, they share in the preface the following: ‘It’s worth saying now what we believe about homosexuality: it is neither a sickness nor a sin, but the natural sexual predisposition of a minority of human beings. This was not the belief that either of us had when he first acknowledged that he was homosexual. Like most gay men and women, we have had to overcome what society teaches everyone about homosexuality: that it is unnatural, a sign of stunted emotional maturity, a lack of self-control, a furtive and disgusting form of sexual activity without any affectional content; and that homosexuals are sexual predators and in capable of establishing lasting, loving relationships. We have had to examine these beliefs and equally pejorative others and test then against the evidence of our self-knowledge.’

Opening that gate so well introduces one of the most clear and factual examinations of Constitutional rights, government and public service, and public opinion missteps about LGBTQ rights. ‘If we can make the situation of homosexual Americans clearer, we might engage the feelings as well as the reason of our fellow citizens since arguments must engage feelings for change to occur.’ Toward book’s end, they state, ‘It all comes down to this: Are people equal in this society by virtue of their citizenship, or not? If the answer is no, then we will be saying that equality does not exist in America anymore but has been replaced with tiers of citizenship, and that what tier you occupy depends on whether people like you or not. And if we accept this, then we will have repudiated the constitutional principles of liberty and equality upon which America was founded and which have been its historic challenge to the world….We believe that you will join our cause because it is your cause, too, the cause of individual liberty and human equality.’

This book is as complete an examination of gay rights as is available today – a book not only for the LGBTQ audience, but more importantly, for the general populace. Outstanding!

[Eugene Galt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides dispassionately rational arguments in clear prose for the importance of lesbian and gay rights in the context of generally applicable principles of individual liberty. Despite its age, it still matters for two reasons. First, eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. Second, it provides a framework for thinking about the freedoms of people in general, including people in politically unpopular identity categories.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, this book is dated, but it's still a powerful argument for equal rights. I would describe myself as very active and knowledgeable about gay rights and I feel like I learned a lot from this book. They had clear, logical, and well-expressed arguments that knocked down every tired old homophobic complaint.

[Averin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Common sense, well written, and methodical, highly recommended if you are writing about gay rights. In 2013, it seems a little dated, written as it was nine years before Lawrence v. Texas, until you remember that one or two wrong turns in elections and all recent gains are at risk. If you don't think a study and awareness of the reasons for gay rights is still necessary, look at all the years the government spent spying on gays and lesbians for no other reason than they were gays and lesbians. Knowledge, vigilance, and voting equals freedom. And read this book.