Out for Good: The Struggle to Build a Gay Rights Movement in America

by Dudley Clendinen and Adam Nagourney

Book Overview

The definitive account of the gay rights movement, Dudley Clendinen and Adam Nagourney's Out for Good is comprehensive, authoritative, and excellently written.

This is the definitive account of the last great struggle for equal rights in the twentieth century. From the birth of the modern gay rights movement in 1969, at the Stonewall riots in New York, through 1988, when the gay rights movement was eclipsed by the more urgent...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684867435
• ISBN13: 9780684867434
• Release Date: June 2001
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 720 Pages
• Weight: 1.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Like reading the New York Times Sunday magazine

As both authors are press people, it is not surprising that the most consistent criticism of this book is the lack of context and background. It is often said that news writers sacrifice the larger picture for the sake of detail. That also applies to news writers doing history. That said, this is a damn good book, primarily because of the details. For those thinking the account is too New York centric (after all the two authors come from the New York Times), all I can say is that the contributions from places other than New York and San Francisco (such as Minnesota and Miami) are acknowledged. However for me the biggest elephant in the room for this book is the almost total neglect of the news and popular media's role in the shaping of the gay movement. I always thought newspaper people like to talk about their business. But it seems that the authors prefer the "fly on the wall" position. And I think that is a bit dishonest.

Extremely interesting.. A Great Read!

This is far from a dry, boring history. It is full of colorful stories that keep you reading through the night while informing you of the real struggle of real people. This book really helps you to know how far we've come and how much further we really have to go.... BRAVO on a very well written book!

Rich detail but limited to a narrow time period

Clendinen and Nagourney have performed a detailed documentation of a period in gay history (1950s through the late 80's) with a typical emphasis during the five year period surrounding the 1969 Stonewall riot. The history serves as a rich illustration of the individuals (although lacking in academic detail as to why certain people were chosen to be highlighted and others were not). The book is based on a series of interviews made during 1993 and especially 1994, with many who are no longer living. As such, the period of time to document the interviews and then the prolonged period to get to print creates a book that while rich in period detail (1965-1975) rapidly peters out in its discussion of AIDS, election of Clinton, etc. which have greated far greater impacts on Gay rights, Gay Culture and the evolving acceptance (as slow as it is) of gay people in American society. A strong point is its balanced view and discussion of the gay movement prior to Stonewall and its attempt to demystify the importance given to this one particular event. Its discussion of the ongoing conflicts between the various social classes involved in the gay movement and showing that this was present from the very start is important for any younger gay person today trying to understand why certain onging tensions and conflicts exist in the gay community and why certain national gay rights groups exist (e.g., NGLTF, HRC, etc.).

Read the book first... then review it...

It is obvious that the two people below have not read the book considering the issues they comment on are not what the book is about. It's sad that there are ignorant people in this world who cannot think for themselves, but so be it.This book is an extremely vivid account on the gay rights movement in america and should not be overlooked because of a couple of bigots. The book has nothing to do with the debate of homosexuality being caused by genetic reasons or if gays should come out of the closet. Open your mind and read this book and afterwords make comments. If you are straight and a homophobe read this book... challenge your current ideas. Think for once in your life.

very interesting book

this is the first book i have seen that truly only focuses on the gay rights movement in the last half of the twentieth century in america. it is one of the most captivating nonfiction books i have read in a long time and i had trouble putting it down. this book is perfect for any body who has an interest in the gay rights movement... or any movement for civil rights.