Gay and Lesbian Rights: A Reference Handbook

by David E. Newton

Overview

This thoroughly updated edition provides readers with the background and resources needed to understand one of the greatest civil rights issues of our time.

When it was first published in 1994, Gay and Lesbian Rights: A Reference Handbook was acclaimed in School Library Journal for taking "a sober and balanced approach in addressing this emotionally charged and complex topic." The new edition shows just how far the nation has come in securing legal protections regardless of sexual orientation—and how far we still have to go.

Gay and Lesbian Rights: A Reference Handbook, Second Edition provides a history of the gay liberation and gay rights movements in the United States and other parts of the world. Maintaining the careful approach of the first edition, it addresses a range of current issues from housing and employment discrimination to military service to same-sex marriage and adoption laws. Wholly rewritten, with almost 80 percent new material, it is the ideal introduction to one of the most important civil rights issues in the world today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798216088776
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	10/27/2009
Series:	Contemporary World Issues
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
File size:	1 MB
Age Range:	7 - 17 Years

About the Author

David E. Newton is formerly professor of chemistry and physics at Salem State College, Salem, MA, and adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
David E. Newton is the author of more than 400 textbooks, encyclopedias, workbooks, and other educational materials, primarily in the field of science and math.

Editorial Reviews

It is difficult to ascertain for whom-if anyone-this book would be of value. An attempt to provide an overview of the struggle for homosexual rights is followed by an inconsistent chronology of important events in the gay and lesbian rights movement. Twenty-nine short biographical sketches of some of the most important figures on both sides of the gay and lesbian rights debate provide basic information, but by what criteria were they chosen? Statements and documents culled from a variety of sources provide examples of legislation, comments, and court decisions. Directories of national, state, and local gay and lesbian rights organizations are juxtaposed with an incomplete list of antigay organizations. An inadequate index, a remarkably outdated list of periodicals, an ineffectual glossary, and many errors demonstrate an overwhelming need for editorial control of this overpriced cut-and-paste job. Not recommended; a possible alternative is The Rights of Lesbians and Gay Men: The Basic ACLU Guide to a Gay Person's Rights (Southern Illinois Univ. Pr., 1992. 3d ed.).-James E. Van Buskirk, San Francisco P.L.

Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Newton takes a sober, balanced approach in addressing this emotionally charged and complex topic. A 29-page summary of the issues is followed by a chronology that traces the origins of the modern Gay Rights movement to 19th-century Britain and Germany. There is a chapter of biographical sketches, including both pro-and anti-gay rights activists. A ``Statement and Documents'' section features existing and proposed laws concerning gay rights; court decisions; the status of ``domestic partnership'' policies in government and private industry; and the current ``don't ask, don't tell, don't pursue'' Armed Forces policy. Lists of pro-and anti-gay rights organizations and print and nonprint resources are included. A solid reference for reports and general information.-Steve Barker, New York Public Library

School Library Journal

Provides an overview of the dispute over gay and lesbian rights issues; a chronology of important events in the gay and lesbian rights movement from the 19th century to the present; biographical sketches of important figures on various sides of the debate; and a selection of official documents dealing with the status of the movement in the US today. Includes ample resource lists. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

A retired teacher and now full-time writer, Newton provides readers with a handbook touching on all aspects of the gay and lesbian rights movement. It follows the general format of other titles in the Contemporary World Issues series. A 30-page overview of the dispute over gay and lesbian rights is followed by a chronology of events relating to the gay rights movement over the past century. A third section contains biographical sketches of some of the leading figures in the gay and lesbian rights movement, as well as some opposed to the movement. Pat Robertson, an outspoken critic, is profiled alongside Craig Rodwell, the founder of the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookstore in New York City. Barney Frank, Barbara Gittings, Harry Hay, Jesse Helms, and Magnus Hirschfield are examples of others treated. These sketches are followed by "statements and documents," a mixed bag of opinions of individuals and organizations that have appeared in the popular and scholarly press; summaries of existing legislation, regulations, and executive orders dealing with gay rights as well as examples of these laws and regulations; samples of documents dealing with legal and corporate provisions for domestic partnerships; documents from and discussion of some important court cases; and Clinton's proposed plan for modification of military policy dealing with gay men and lesbians. The directory of organizations is also selective, and no criteria are provided for inclusion. Annotations are helpful; while phone and fax numbers are provided for most organizations, no E-mail addresses are given. Three of the best-known organizations opposed to gay and lesbian rights are listed after those in support of gay and lesbian rights. The list of print resources includes bibliographies, general books, and periodicals; annotations are provided for the former two categories. As in other parts of the book, a mixture of pro- and anti-gay titles are listed. Films and videos that are appropriate for high school through adult ages are listed next. A six-page glossary concludes the work. Finally, access provided by the 15-page author-title-subject index is not sufficient. Other titles that provide more detailed information on some aspects of this topic include "The Alyson Almanac" (Alyson, 1989), a chronology of the major events during the last 4,000 years that have affected gay people, and Jonathan N. Katz' "Gay/Lesbian Almanac: A New Documentary" (Harper, 1983). Readers will certainly want to consult Wayne R. Dynes' "Encyclopedia of Homosexuality" (Garland, 1990) as backup. But as an overview, this handbook will help reference staff aid readers who wish to either do further research or better understand this critical issue. The Board recommends this title for high-school libraries and for public or academic libraries that have little in their collections on gay and lesbian rights.

Zom Zoms

Most libraries will certainly want this title because it does justice to a current hot topic. Public and undergraduate libraries.” —Choice

“Newton takes a sober, balanced approach in addressing this emotionally charged and complex topic. A solid reference for reports and general information.” —School Library Jourbanal

From the Publisher