An intensely personal narrative, a feminist reveals her journey into political consciousness.

In the 1970s, Jill Johnston became one of the most vital and original thinkers of her time, helping to change the way Americans think about gender and sexuality. This collection of Johnston's writings tackles current social issues including coming-out, gay marriage and monogamy, polarity in gay and lesbian relationships, straight feminists and lesbians, the men's movement, and more.

This collection of essays illustrates both the vitality and the variety within the lesbian community, with topics such as the politics of butch-femme identity, lesbian pop music stars, and class differences in the lesbian community.

At a time when lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals-often referred to under the umbrella acronym LGBT-are becoming more visible in society and more socially acknowledged, clinicians and researchers are faced with incomplete information about their health status. While LGBT populations often are combined as a single entity for research and advocacy purposes, each is a distinct population group with its own specific health needs. Furthermore, the experiences of LGBT individuals are not uniform and are shaped by factors of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geographical location, and age, any of which can have an effect on health-related concerns and needs. The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People assesses the state of science on the health status of LGBT populations, identifies research gaps and opportunities, and outlines a research agenda for the National Institute of Health. The report examines the health status of these populations in three life stages: childhood and adolescence, early/middle adulthood, and later adulthood. At each life stage, the committee studied mental health, physical health, risks and protective factors, health services, and contextual influences. To advance understanding of the health needs of all LGBT individuals, the report finds that researchers need more data about the demographics of these populations, improved methods for collecting and analyzing data, and an increased participation of sexual and gender minorities in research. The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People is a valuable resource for policymakers, federal agencies including the National Institute of Health (NIH), LGBT advocacy groups, clinicians, and service providers.

What began as a doctoral thesis in sociology at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education became this history of LOOT, or the Lesbian Organization of Toronto, which sought to subvert the history of lesbian invisibility and persecution by claiming a collective, empowering public presence during the mid- to late 1970s. Archival sources and interviews provide a view of the complex developments in community, identity, and visionary politics in the feminist, left, and gay-liberation movements of the time. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

A rich heritage that needs to be documented Beginning in 1869, when the study of homosexuality can be said to have begun with the establishment of sexology, this encyclopedia offers accounts of the most important international developments in an area that now occupies a critical place in many fields of academic endeavors. It covers a long history and a dynamic and ever changing present, while opening up the academic profession to new scholarship and new ways of thinking. A groundbreaking new approach While gays and lesbians have shared many aspects of life, their histories and cultures developed in profoundly different ways. To reflect this crucial fact, the encyclopedia has been prepared in two separate volumes assuring that both histories receive full, unbiased attention and that a broad range of human experience is covered. Written for and by a wide range of people Intended as a reference for students and scholars in all fields, as well as for the general public, the encyclopedia is written in user-friendly language. At the same time it maintains a high level of scholarship that incorporates both passion and objectivity. It is written by some of the most famous names in the field, as well as new scholars, whose research continues to advance gender studies into the future.

Annotation. A critique of the lesbian sex industry's efforts to profit from women's oppression.