Description
Book SynopsisQueer Clout weaves together activism and electoral politics to trace the gay movement's path since the 1950s in Chicago. Stewart-Winter stresses gay people's and African Americans' shared focus on police harassment, highlighting how black political leaders enabled white gays and lesbians to join an emerging liberal coalition in city hall.
Trade Review"Stewart-Winter traces alliances and counts votes like a veteran ward captain while also breathing humanity into his story with over thirty personally conducted oral histories. The result is a sweeping narrative that reperiodizes gay rights history, places queer activism at the center of urban political history, and provides a vivid portrait of the Chicagoans responsible for expanding gay rights in their city. . . . An essential book for scholars of sexuality, cities, freedom movements, and modern American politics." *
American Historical Review *
"
Queer Clout is outstanding in its attention to the way identities and privilege shape activism. . . . A critical addition to both LGBTQ history and American urban history, racial politics, and social movements. Stewart-Winter's original analysis and accessible writing make this book easy to read and teach." *
Journal of American History *
"In focusing on Chicago-and moving away from the big events and figures that have dominated LGBT history so far-Stewart-Winter provides a fascinating insight into how gays and lesbians in other cities built their communities and political organizations. . . . [He] has produced an outstanding piece of scholarship, one that does an impressive amount of work in uncovering Chicago LGBT politics. This book represents a key foundation for any future work on LGBT politics and beyond." *
Journal of Politics *
"A must-read for those interested in social movements and American politics since the 1960s. Shifting attention from San Francisco and New York to the more representative Chicago,
Queer Clout reveals the surprising coalitions that enabled LGBTQ voters to become a pivotal political constituency. Stewart-Winter tells a fascinating story, rich in inspiration and cautionary experiences alike." * Nancy MacLean, author of
Freedom Is Not Enough: The Opening of the American Workplace *
"
Queer Clout is original, important, and unfailingly smart. It is the first archive-based study of urban gay politics between the 1960s and 1990s. Historians of sexuality, cities, and American politics will all need to read this book." * Robert Self, Brown University *
Table of ContentsList of Abbreviations
Introduction
Chapter 1. A Little World Within a World
Chapter 2. Maximum Feasible Intimidation
Chapter 3. Freaking Fag Revolutionaries
Chapter 4. Clark and Diversey Is Our Ghetto!
Chapter 5. Lesbian Survival School
Chapter 6. Balance of Power
Chapter 7. A New Disease Is Not Welcome Here
Chapter 8. Flexing Gay Economic Muscle
Notes
Index
Acknowledgments
