Sunday, July 12, 2009

Socialism and LGBT Liberation


Socialist Sherry Wolf has written a great book, Sexuality and Socialism: History, Politics and Theory of LGBT Liberation, laying out a socialist analysis of gay oppression and liberation. She lays out the roots of LGBT oppression, the construction of sexual and gender identities, the history of the gay movement, and a socialist vision to unite all oppressed and exploited groups to win sexual liberation for all. She analyzes different theories of oppression, including Marxism, postmodernism, identity politics, and queer theory, and challenges the myths about genes, gender and sexuality.

Like a lot of my own research and writings, she challenges both biological and environmental determinism, exposing the myth of the "gay gene". Sexual liberation, including LGBT liberation, requires a radical theorization of the social construction of gender and sexuality, as well as a radical political movement to challenge capitalism.

Chapters include: The Roots of LGBT Oppression, The Birth of Gay Identity, The Myth of Marxist Homophobia, Whatever Happened to Gay Liberation, and Sexual Liberation for All!

Sexuality and Socialism is a good starting point for a new LGBT Liberation movement.

See also:
The Freedom to Choose, Jim Maynard

Queer by Choice

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