One-Dimensional Queer

Race, Migration & Demography

by Roderick Ferguson

The story of gay rights has long been told as one of single-minded focus on the fight for sexual freedom. Yet its origins are much more complicated than this single-issue interpretation would have us believe, and to ignore gay liberation's multidimensional beginnings is to drastically underestimate its radical potential for social change.

Ferguson shows how queer liberation emerged out of various insurgent struggles crossing the politics of race, gender, class, and sexuality, and deeply connected to issues of colonization, incarceration, and capitalism. Tracing the rise and fall of this intersectional politics, he argues that the one-dimensional mainstreaming of queerness falsely placed critiques of racism, capitalism, and the state outside the remit of gay liberation. As recent activism is increasingly making clear, this one-dimensional legacy has promoted forms of exclusion that marginalize queers of color, the poor, and transgender individuals. This forceful book joins the call to reimagine and reconnect the fight for social justice in all its varied forms.

Genres: Queer, Nonfiction, LGBT, History, Politics, Race, Gender and Sexuality

200 pages, Hardcover

Published October 24, 2018

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compulsively readable and sharply drawn revision of gay liberation, and how its intersectional origins were fatally compromised by a willingness to be incorporated into racial capitalism’s social hierarchy by throwing trans, poor, and queer-of-color folks under the bus.

[Rocky · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Inasmuch as transforming homosexuality into a market-worthy entity was a way of producing and capturing a white gay niche market and alienating anti-racist and anti-imperialist concerns, the development of gay capitalism was part of the evolution of racial capitalism.”

[Brenden O'Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential reading, especially when living in a culture in which Juneteenth takes place during Gay Pride Month.

How can we enact a queer politics that is incompatible with state violence? How can queer identities escape the neoliberal strictures that define them as symbols of upward mobility? According to Ferguson, resisting such an outcome for queerness has to do with acceding to our roles as multi-dimensional historical subjects, whose bodies, relationships, and beliefs have been impacted by minoritized people who have come before us. An anti-neoliberal queerness requires us to acknowledge that we are here because people have acted as though they were more than tools for the accumulation and augmentation of wealth. Our responsibility is to carry on that legacy, not through celebrating diversity (what Ferguson in chapters two and three describes as an accessible and lucrative "creative class"), but rather by grabbing hold of and being influenced by "fleeting instances" (147) of multi-dimensionality. Examples include a Sylvia Rivera at Stonewall who was not spontaneous, but intentional and organized, or the queer ecology of pre-gentrified Times Square, where highly homogenous interactions proliferated.

[Beth Younge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this books as it explored the intersectionality of queer politics. The way that Ferguson explored each area and time period meant that the book felt like it was very in-depth even though it only covered the past 50 years or so (Post Stonewall). The writing style was interesting and accessible, and he explored the topic in a way that we, the reader, could follow his thinking as well.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Paul Eaton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book makes an important contribution to our understanding of queer liberation historically and contemporaneously. It would behoove readers to start with some of Ferguson’s earlier works first as this book is written from a perspective that one understands Ferguson’s larger argument across his many books (regarding absorption, institutionalization, and governmentality). Still, a highly important text.

[Kaci Pelias · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is galaxy brain! notable moment is when author cites an article that talks abt how rio de janeiro is advertised as a safe space for “gay travel” but inflicted so much police brutality on Black citizens during the olympics!! rlly good discussions abt intersectionality!

[Ife · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the context of the normalization of queerness, one-dimensionality designates the containment of social change inasmuch as the mainstreaming of gay identity and sexuality (i.e. grooming them for the needs of state and capital) are understood to be signs of social progress.

This sentence perfectly captures Ferguson's general thesis. In other words he argues that from the origin of the queer rights movement, there has been a pruning of queerness into a single-issue politic that stands alone from other anti-capitalist, decolonial, anti-racist and feminist struggles and a push to make queerness something that is apolitical and can fit into neoliberal notions of state and capital. Ferguson deftly elucidates this theory using historical and modern examples.

I found my self repeatedly shouting 'yes' while reading the book. It is the kind of book that gives language to thoughts you might have had or completely opens your eyes. It is an essential and timely contribution to queer theory especially regarding our contemporary treatment of queerness and I find it quite accessible though this will vary from person to person.

[Debo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily accessible in its structure and language this is a nuanced look at the shift in society, policies, narratives, histories from a multi-dimensional (intersectional) queer politic to a one-dimensional one. It explains its concern concisely, situates it well and makes a compelling argument that gains urgency with every incident from the news you could be looking at right now.

[Frank Karioris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rousing defense of the importance of history and historical memory; and reminder that history is far more often than not filled with solidarities and interlinkages than it is - as many in the present tense would have (or like us) believe - than with disunity and singularity. Each struggle is connected - through individuals, through lives, moments, and memories. There should be no doubt that yesterday, for all its foibles, contained the possibility for change.

This is an important work that lays its theoretical importance on the day of this seemingly simple premise; using Stonewall as a starting point. Further, it is a wonderful reminder of what gets left out of even the 'progressive' accounts of history.

[toria (vikz writes) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. One Dimensional Queer is a history, and critique, of the queer movement. Ferguson explored the changes in the Queer movement, taking it from its freewheeling birth to the business structure of the present day. The author argued that the Queer movement has changed. Ferguson argued that the movement was birthed by actors from various sectors of the Queer, LGBT+, community. The author introduces; Trans individuals, drag queens, Black people, etc... who were at the heart of the early history of the movement. Ferguson argues that the movements drive to become more compatible with capitalism and its attempts to become more ‘professional’ and Business-like has meant a focus on Gay, Cis, white, able bodied men. These individuals are the new key actors in the movement. They are the movements ambassadors and shapers. Ferguson argues that this has excluded many voices, has weakened the ‘queer rights’ movement and left the needs of many individuals unaddressed. This is a powerful book that needs an audience.

[Heidi Stevens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whilst this book aims to flesh out and acknowledge the complex systematic oppression that began with stonewall it lacks a critical analysis on how in its writing it actively erases groups.

The use of Queer as an umbrella term for the LGBTQI+ community is never critically analyzed. This originated as a slur and has been embraced by some and still holds harmful overtures for others. At least some analysis on this would have contributed to an improved understanding around terms of identification.

Gay & Trans are used exhaustively through the book. Lesbian rarely. To add insult to injury Lesbian does not have any listing in the books index. The L stands for Lesbian - in a book aimed at this community the L is lacking significantly. Gay and queer are not placeholders for Lesbians.

[Charlene Altamirano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intersectionality! This book shows the theorization of gay liberation as having /multidimensional/ rather than single-issue. One- dimensional/ beginnings proceeds from that retelling.

+ how the necessity of joining in solidarity with other oppressed people has raise the consciousness of many white middle class gays and made them aware of the common roots of class, racial and sexual oppression and the common goal of human liberation.

[alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you liked this book, I’d definitely recommend checking out (if you haven’t already) Against Equality: Queer Revolution, Not Mere Inclusion and/or How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective! :)

[Jackie Zhang · Rating 5 out of 5]

"the conformism that Benjamin warned against has taken the guise of a one-dimensional notion of liberation, one that works to separate struggles from one another in an effort to protect state and capital from critique and opposition."!!!!!

[toria (vikz writes) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to follow

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Mills College Library]

323.3264 F3535 2019

[Yuzu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this book a lot it was informative

[Johnny]

many books many cites many reads

[em petlev · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing intersectional analysis of queerness and modern capitalist systems of injustice. more queer theorists need to read this. excellent references