Το μονοδιάστατο κουίρ

Race, Migration & Demography

by Roderick A. Ferguson, Βάσια Λέκκα (translator), Αλεξάνδρα Χαλκιά (foreword)

Η ιστορία των γκέι δικαιωμάτων έχει ειπωθεί εδώ και καιρό ως μία ιστορία ανυποχώρητης εστίασης στον αγώνα για σεξουαλική ελευθερία. Ωστόσο, η αφετηρία της είναι πολύ πιο πολύπλοκη απ’ ό,τι θέλει αυτή η μονοσήμαντη ερμηνεία, και το να αγνοούμε τις πολυδιάστατες απαρχές της γκέι απελευθέρωσης συνεπάγεται το να υποτιμούμε δραματικά τη ριζοσπαστική της δυνατότητα για κοινωνική αλλαγή.

Ο Ferguson καταδεικνύει τον τρόπο με τον οποίο η κουίρ απελευθέρωση αναδύθηκε μέσα από ποικίλους εξεγερσιακούς αγώνες, οι οποίοι έτεμναν την πολιτική της φυλής, του φύλου, της τάξης και της σεξουαλικότητας, και οι οποίοι ήταν βαθιά συνδεδεμένοι με ζητήματα της αποικιοποίησης, του εγκλεισμού και του καπιταλισμού. Ιχνηλατώντας την άνοδο και την πτώση αυτής της διαθεματικής πολιτικής, ο Ferguson υποστηρίζει ότι η μονοδιάσταση αφομοίωση του κουίρ τοποθέτησε λανθασμένα κριτικές του ρατσισμού, του καπιταλισμού και του κράτους εκτός του πεδίου της γκέι απελευθέρωσης. Αυτό το δυναμικό βιβλίο συμπαρατάσσεται με το κάλεσμα να φανταστούμε και να συνδέσουμε εκ νέου τον αγώνα για κοινωνική δικαιοσύνη σε όλες τις μορφές του.

Οι πολυδιάστατες απαρχές της γκέι απελευθέρωσης
Η γκέι χειραφέτηση βγαίνει στην αγορά
Το κουίρ και η μονοδιάστατη πόλη
Ο πολυδιάστατος χαρακτήρας της βίας
Συμπέρασμα: Οι ιστορικές προϋποθέσεις της πολυδιάστατης κουίρ πολιτικής
Βιβλιογραφία-Ευρετήριο

"Το Μονοδιάστατο Κουίρ αποτελεί την καλύτερη δυνατή ανάλυση που θα μπορούσαμε να βρούμε για το πώς η φυλή και η σεξουαλικότητα στην ιστορία του έθνους των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών κατέληξαν να θεωρούνται διακριτοί σχηματισμοί. Η αφομοίωση των διαφορετικών ΛΟΑΤ κουλτουρών που προέκυψε απέβη ολέθρια για την προσπάθειά μας να βγούμε από την τρέχουσα κρίση που μας περιβάλλει. Προσφέροντας λύσεις, αλλά και ασκώντας κριτική, το βιβλίο του Ferguson είναι αναπόφευκτο να αποτελέσει αναπόσπαστο στοιχείο κάθε βιβλιοθήκης για την απελευθέρωση".
(Jack Halberstam, Πανεπιστήμιο Κολούμπια)

"Σ' αυτή την καυστική κριτική του ροζ καπιταλισμού και της αποδεκτής από το ΛΟΑΤ ουράνιο τόξο κρατικής βίας, ο Ferguson διαλύει την παρανόηση ότι οι εξεγέρσεις του Στόουνγουολ του 1969 αφορούσαν μόνο το γκέι σεξ. Αντ' αυτού, εντάσσει με εξαιρετικό και πολυδιάστατο τρόπο το Στόουνγουολ στο συγκείμενο ιστοριών αντιρατσιστικής και αντί ιμπεριαλιστικής εξέγερσης".
(Steven W. Thrasher, The Guardian και Πανεπιστήμιο Νορθουέστερν)

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

184 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2021

Reviews

[Dan]

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]

“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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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)]

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]

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]

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]

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]

"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)]

Review to follow

[Mel]

3.5 stars

[Mills College Library]

323.3264 F3535 2019

[Yuzu]

Liked this book a lot it was informative

[Johnny]

many books many cites many reads

[em petlev]

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

[Steven Ciavarro]

I wish every queer person would read this.