Lavender and Red: Liberation and Solidarity in the Gay and Lesbian Left (Volume 44) (American Crossroads)

LGBT activism is often imagined as a self-contained struggle, inspired by but set apart from other social movements. The history of the gay and lesbian left reveals a far different story: a movement whose radicals understood their sexual liberation as interdependent with solidarity against imperialism, war, and racism. The gay and lesbian left was born in the late 1960s but flourished up through the end of the Cold War and the depths of the AIDS epidemic. Its participants argued that anti-imperialism and anti-militarism were necessary to sexual liberation and that sexual liberation was key to revolutionary change. Across the 1970s, gay and lesbian leftists embraced socialist and women of color feminism and organized opposition to U.S. militarism and the New Right. In the Reagan years they challenged U.S. intervention in Central America, collaborated with their peers in Nicaragua, and mentored the first direct action against AIDS. The gay and lesbian left found its center in the San Francisco Bay Area, where it networked queer, radical, and Central American communities. Gay and lesbian leftists built queer politics through radical internationalism and crafted a vision for sexual freedom that moved beyond liberal or neoliberal inclusion in the United States. LGBT activism is often imagined as a self-contained struggle, inspired by but set apart from other social movements. Lavender and Red recounts a far different story: a history of queer radicals who understood their sexual liberation as intertwined with solidarity against imperialism, war, and racism. This politics was born in the late 1960s but survived well past Stonewall, forming a gay and lesbian left that flourished through the end of the Cold War. The gay and lesbian left found its center in the San Francisco Bay area, a place where sexual self-determination and revolutionary internationalism converged. Across the 1970s, its activists embraced socialist and women of color feminism and crafted queer opposition to militarism and the New Right. In the Reagan years, they challenged U.S. intervention in Central America, collaborated with their peers in Nicaragua, and mentored the first direct action against AIDS. Bringing together archival research, oral histories, and vibrant images, Emily K. Hobson rediscovers the radical queer past for a generation of activists today.--Provided by publisher. Beyond the gay ghetto: founding debates in gay liberation -- A more powerful weapon: lesbian feminism and collective defense -- Limp wrists and clenched fists: defining a politics and hitting the streets -- 24th and Mission: building lesbian and gay solidarity with Nicaragua -- Talk about loving in the war years: Nicaragua, transnational feminism, and AIDS -- Money for AIDSs, not war: anti-militarism, direct action against the epidemic, and movement history. Emily K. Hobson. Includes bibliographical references (pages 267-286) and index. "LGBT activism is often imagined as a self-contained struggle, inspired by but set apart from other social movements. Lavender and Red recounts a far different story: a history of queer radicals who understood their sexual liberation as intertwined with solidarity against imperialism, war, and racism. This politics was born in the late 1960s but survived well past Stonewall, forming a gay and lesbian left that flourished through the end of the Cold War. The gay and lesbian left found its center in the San Francisco Bay area, a place where sexual self-determination and revolutionary internationalism converged. Across the 1970s, its activists embraced socialist and women of color feminism and crafted queer opposition to militarism and the New Right. In the Reagan years, they challenged U.S. intervention in Central America, collaborated with their peers in Nicaragua, and mentored the first direct action against AIDS. Bringing together archival research, oral histories, and vibrant images, Emily K. Hobson rediscovers the radical queer past for a generation of activists today." ... Provided by publisher LGBT activism is often imagined as a self-contained struggle, inspired by but set apart from other social movements. Lavender and Red recounts a far different story: a history of queer radicals who understood their sexual liberation as intertwined with solidarity against imperialism, war, and racism. This politics was born in the late 1960s but survived well past Stonewall, propelling a gay and lesbian left that flourished through the end of the Cold War. The gay and lesbian left found its center in the San Francisco Bay Area, a place where sexual self-determination and revolutionary internationalism converged. Across the 1970s, its activists embraced socialist and women of color feminism and crafted queer opposition to militarism and the New Right. In the Reagan years, they challenged U.S. intervention in Central America, collaborated with their peers in Nicaragua, and mentored the first direct action against AIDS. Bringing together archival research, oral histories, and vibrant images, Emily K. Hobson rediscovers the radical queer past for a generation of activists today. "LGBT activism is often imagined as a self-contained struggle, inspired by but set apart from other social movements. Lavender and Red recounts a far different story: a history of queer radicals who understood their sexual liberation as intertwined with solidarity against imperialism, war, and racism. This politics was born in the late 1960s but survived well past Stonewall, forming a gay and lesbian left that flourished through the end of the Cold War. The gay and lesbian left found its center in the San Francisco Bay area, a place where sexual self-determination and revolutionary internationalism converged. Across the 1970s, its activists embraced socialist and women of color feminism and crafted queer opposition to militarism and the New Right. In the Reagan years, they challenged U.S. intervention in Central America, collaborated with their peers in Nicaragua, and mentored the first direct action against AIDS. Bringing together archival research, oral histories, and vibrant images, Emily K. Hobson rediscovers the radical queer past for a generation of activists today."-- Résumé de l'éditeur LGBT activism is often imagined as a self-contained struggle, inspired by but set apart from other social movements. Lavender and Red recounts a far different story: a history of queer radicals who understood their sexual liberation as intertwined with solidarity against imperialism, war, and racism. This politics was born in the late 1960s but survived well past Stonewall, propelling a gay and lesbian left that flourished through the end of the Cold War. The gay and lesbian left found its center in the San Francisco Bay Area, a place where sexual self-determination and revolutionary internationalism converged. Across the 1970s, its activists embraced socialist and women of color feminism and crafted queer opposition to militarism and the New Right. In the Reagan years, they challenged U.S. intervention in Central America, collaborated with their peers in Nicaragua, and mentored the first direct action against AIDS. Bringing together archival research, oral histories, and vibrant images, Emily K. Hobson rediscovers the radical queer past for a generation of activists today. Contents Illustrations Acknowledgments Abbreviations Introduction Chapter 1. Beyond the Gay Ghetto. Founding Debates in Gay Liberation Chapter 2. A More Powerful Weapon. Lesbian Feminism and Collective Defense Chapter 3. Limp Wrists and Clenched Fists. Defining a Politics and Hitting the Streets Chapter 4. 24th and Mission. Building Lesbian and Gay Solidarity with Nicaragua Chapter 5. Talk About Loving in the War Years. Nicaragua, Transnational Feminism, and AIDS Chapter 6. Money for AIDS, Not War. Anti-militarism, Direct Action against the Epidemic, and Movement History Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index