A Queer History of The United States> book review
In his newest book, A Queer History of the United States, Michael Bronski undertakes
the herculean task of condensing nearly 500 years of queer American cultural,
social and political history into one volume.
the herculean task of condensing nearly 500 years of queer American cultural,
social and political history into one volume.
Bronski is a senior lecturer in women’s, gender and Jewish studies at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire and the author of a shelf of provocative books. In A Queer History of the United States he uses shifts in literary, cultural and philosophical trends to track the sociopolitical role queer people have played in the construction of the American project.
Bronski’s insights are wide-ranging, and he uses stylish prose to craft amusing and instructive descriptions of a plethora of colourful characters. His cultural cartography extends from the Molly House to the bathhouse, charting America’s sexual glasnost, from 1492 through the American Revolution, the growth of its cities, the Wild West, two world wars, Stonewall, the sexual revolution and AIDS. He also exposes the puritanical moralism that reached its contemporary apotheosis in the horror-show visage of the ghastly Anita Bryant.
Xtra: You’ve written that you were not simply attempting to write the history of the contribution of queer folk to American history, but rather to show that queer history
is American history. In this light, do you consider this work a political act of queer
revisionism?
is American history. In this light, do you consider this work a political act of queer
revisionism?
Bronski: I am more comfortable thinking of this project as a “queer investigation.”
Covering 500 years in fewer than 300 pages is going to leave myriad gaps and
exclusions. That said, I do think the book is extremely political in that it attempts to
locate how “queer” and “American” are inextricably intertwined.
Covering 500 years in fewer than 300 pages is going to leave myriad gaps and
exclusions. That said, I do think the book is extremely political in that it attempts to
locate how “queer” and “American” are inextricably intertwined.
Xtra: A Queer History of the United Statesfunctions as a cultural, sociological and political
history. Of these three, which sphere do you feel made/makes the greatest contribution
to queer rights?
history. Of these three, which sphere do you feel made/makes the greatest contribution
to queer rights?
Bronski: I think that depends on how you define “queer rights.” If you are looking at
equality under the law and overturning discriminatory legislation, then certainly the
political lens is important. But if you argue that “queer rights” include garnering
respect and exerting, often widespread, influence, then I think the cultural influence
is stronger. Look at it this way: we are still fighting for what seems to be a simple
case of legal equality in the battle for same-sex marriage, and while we are winning
very slowly, it is an uphill battle. Yet Lady Gaga, who has deep roots in gay culture
and has done more to bring the idea of LGBT equality to millions of people, is a
stupendous success. Which is stronger? Clearly Lady Gaga. Which is more important?
They both are, but change does not only happen in a single venue, and we have
to understand it in a collaborative context. That is how progress works, and to slight
one of these avenues in favour of another is misleading.
equality under the law and overturning discriminatory legislation, then certainly the
political lens is important. But if you argue that “queer rights” include garnering
respect and exerting, often widespread, influence, then I think the cultural influence
is stronger. Look at it this way: we are still fighting for what seems to be a simple
case of legal equality in the battle for same-sex marriage, and while we are winning
very slowly, it is an uphill battle. Yet Lady Gaga, who has deep roots in gay culture
and has done more to bring the idea of LGBT equality to millions of people, is a
stupendous success. Which is stronger? Clearly Lady Gaga. Which is more important?
They both are, but change does not only happen in a single venue, and we have
to understand it in a collaborative context. That is how progress works, and to slight
one of these avenues in favour of another is misleading.
Xtra: A refreshing aspect of the book is that you occasionally inject your personal
politics. You cite Emily Dickinson: “Tell all the truth, but tell it slant.” What is your
political slant?
politics. You cite Emily Dickinson: “Tell all the truth, but tell it slant.” What is your
political slant?
Bronski: I have a long history of political involvement. I joined the Gay Liberation
Front in 1969, right after the Stonewall riots, so the book, obviously, reflects this.
Some people have been surprised that the book is not more about the gay and
lesbian movement, but the movement is maybe 60 years old – a very small segment
of the history of queer people in America. I have worked in the gay movement since
1960 and am indebted to it in so many ways, but it is only one aspect – and a relatively
small one over 500 years – of how people’s lives have changed.
Front in 1969, right after the Stonewall riots, so the book, obviously, reflects this.
Some people have been surprised that the book is not more about the gay and
lesbian movement, but the movement is maybe 60 years old – a very small segment
of the history of queer people in America. I have worked in the gay movement since
1960 and am indebted to it in so many ways, but it is only one aspect – and a relatively
small one over 500 years – of how people’s lives have changed.
Xtra: For you, how important is it for marginalized people – and, in this case especially,
queer youth – to have a sense of their history?
queer youth – to have a sense of their history?
Bronski: This is, in the US, a complicated question. Of course queer youth need
to have a firm, complicated sense of LGBT history. But they also need a firm sense
of US history as well... Queer history is American history, and young queer people
need to know both. When I was writing the book I was continually trying to place the
events, people and ideas that were specifically queer in broader historical contexts,
and I do think that anyone who reads the book will come away [with] a grasp of
traditional US history with my particular slant on finding, exposing and highlighting
the queer aspect of it.
to have a firm, complicated sense of LGBT history. But they also need a firm sense
of US history as well... Queer history is American history, and young queer people
need to know both. When I was writing the book I was continually trying to place the
events, people and ideas that were specifically queer in broader historical contexts,
and I do think that anyone who reads the book will come away [with] a grasp of
traditional US history with my particular slant on finding, exposing and highlighting
the queer aspect of it.
Xtra: What else are you hoping your readers will take away from A Queer History
of the United States?
of the United States?
Bronski: Change is possible, and we as humans are capable of it. So if there is a
lesson in the book it is that this is our world and our lives, and we can make and
remake it any way we choose.
lesson in the book it is that this is our world and our lives, and we can make and
remake it any way we choose.
* * *
It is likely that some will criticize Bronski for attempting to take stock of the vast
width and breadth of queer American history in one short text, but this criticism
misses the point of his effort. The primary achievement here is the presentation
of a tantalizing survey that spans the greater arc of 500 years of queer experience
in America. It is not a definitive history; such an effort would easily fill a library.
The Deets:
A Queer History of the United States
By Michael Bronski
Beacon Press
288 pages
$32
A Queer History of the United States
By Michael Bronski
Beacon Press
288 pages
$32
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