An introduction to lesbian and gay studies for students and general readers. The text compiles more than 100 articles, essays, letters and primary documents which cover the formation of gay identity. Included is a detailed exploration of mainstream media representations of gays and lesbians.

A comprehensive introduction to lesbian and gay studies for students and general readers. More than 100 articles, essays, letters, and primary documents cover the formation of gay identity; religious, scientific, medical, and legal perspectives; the mainstream media; lesbian and gay media; and community prospects and tactics. The text includes: a general introduction; viewpoints - ranging from radical to conservative - of lesbian and gay scholars and community writers, as well as non-gay intellectuals and public figures; essays, articles, and primary documents such as letters and manifestoes from both mainstream and lesbian/gay sources; detailed exploration of mainstream media representation of gays and lesbians in films, television, and print, as well as the rise of lesbian/gay media outlets; broad coverage of history and identity, social, cultural, legal, medical and religious regulation, AIDS and lesbian and gay political agendas and strategies; and topics relevant to the late-1990s, such as the development of a cybercommunity, as well as questions of censorship and pornography, same-sex-marriage, the ethics of "outing", gay and lesbian activism and the conservative backlash.