Forging Gay Identities: Organizing Sexuality in San Francisco, 1950-1994

by Elizabeth A. Armstrong

Unlike many social movements, the gay and lesbian struggle for visibility and rights has succeeded in combining a unified group identity with the celebration of individual differences. Forging Gay Identities explores how this happened, tracing the evolution of gay life and organizations in San Francisco from the 1950s to the mid-1990s.

Genres: LGBT, Nonfiction, History, Queer, Sociology, Sexuality

280 pages, Paperback

First published December 15, 2002

About the author

Elizabeth A. Armstrong is a sociologist with research interests in the areas of sexuality, gender, culture, organizations, social movements, and higher education.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Read for my 2021 gender and sexuality comprehensive exams**

Another enjoyable and interesting read. So much information in this one. While limited to San Francisco's history of LG (and eventually BT) organizing, this feels very thorough and important to gay history. Discussions of identity politics, leftist politics, organizing on the basis of identity/sexuality/community are all in here as we read about the growing movement. Though I am sure I share some ideological differences with most of the groups/organizations and even general movement presented in the various decades, I appreciate the work that was done to then be able to be built off of into the future, including organizing today. The LGBT movement wouldn't be where it is without its start in the early-mid 20th century in North America and I'm grateful for the contributions despite the difficulties.

[Nathaly]

That is beautiful

[Harry E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Also for school, but great Queer history and important.

[C. Todd White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding historic overview of the emergence of the LGBT identity-based movement. Armstrong has done a wonderful job of tacking between social theory and institutional histories. There is much here to build on...