Sara’s Reviews > The Gay Revolution: The Story of the Struggle > Status Update

I think my favorite part of this book is that there are some things that I had previously thought the LGBTQ community would unanimously support, like drag, or the repeal of don’t ask don’t tell. But this book talks about conflicting opinions from different groups within the LGBTQ community. That level of nuance makes me feel like by reading this book, I’m actually taking a graduate level course. 😍

Now we’re on don’t ask don’t tell. Damn.
By this point I’ve heard so many stories of our institutions completely failing queer people, and I’ve become almost desensitized. But this story happened in 2004, and the recency is a shock to the system!

I cried when Sharon Kowalski came home 🥲🥲🥲🥲

Fascinating to hear the process by which homosexuality was removed from the DSM! Namely aggressively protesting the annual APA meeting (!!??!!)

This section about the intersection of feminism and queerness is really wild to me. Drag being offensive to women, particularly queer women, is definitely not a concept I expected to find in this specific book! History!!

God bless Frank Kameny

This is already completely wrecking me (affectionate). Real stories of real people affected by the lavender scare! Both very grateful for the progress we’ve made (even don’t ask don’t tell was hugely progressive compared to literally spying on retired vets through their windows) and horrified at how familiar some of this is. 10 months for a background check is nothing 🤪🤪🤪🤪