What makes people gay, lesbian, bisexual, or heterosexual and do people care? These are the twins themes of this volume, which is a scientific and social analysis of research in the field of sexual orientation.

What makes people gay, lesbian, bisexual, or heterosexual? And who cares? Written by one of the leading scientists in the research of sexual orientation, "Queer Science" looks at how scientific discoveries about homosexuality influence society's attitude toward gays and lesbians, beginning with the theories of the German sexologist and gay-rights pioneer Magnus Hirschfeld and culminating with the latest discoveries in brain science, genetics, endocrinology, and cognitive psychology.

Hirschfeld and the third sex
the nature and prevalence of homosexuality
the talking cure
learning and unlearning homosexuality
hormones
the brain
mental traits
stress
genes
against nature?
sickness or health?
science and the law
science fiction - science future?