Freedom to Differ: The Shaping of the Gay and Lesbian Struggle for Civil Rights

"This book makes important contributions to Women's Studies and Speech Communication and deserves our critical attention."—Women's Studies in Communication

Many of us have grown up with the language of civil rights, yet rarely consider how the construction of civil rights claims affects those who are trying to attain them. Diane Miller examines arguments lesbians and gay men make for civil rights, revealing the ways these arguments are both progressive--in terms of helping to win court cases seeking basic human rights--and limiting--in terms of framing representations of gay men and lesbians.

Miller incorporates case studies of lesbians in the military and in politics into her argument. She discusses in detail the experiences of Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer, who was dishonorably discharged from the National Guard after 27 years of service when she revealed that she was a lesbian, and Roberta Achtenberg, who was nominated by Clinton for the job of Assistant Director of Housing and Urban Development and became the first gay or lesbian to face the confirmation process. Drawing on these cases and their outcomes, Miller evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of privileging civil rights strategies in the struggle for gay and lesbian rights.

Miller summarizes the struggle for GLBT equality, the historical successes and failures of the later 20th century, but there was not enough material for my personal tastes. I respect the work she has produced, but cannot see why a book of this size was produced when there was no lack of research materials for her to work with.

The book comes across better as a series of case studies rather than a historical or politcal retrospective, and needs to be reclassified as such. Perhaps I will be accused of nitpicking, but with the right mounting another round of attacks on GLBT rights, we need to understand what resources we have available for our use.

As mentioned ealier, this book is worded in a way that would appeal to freshman or new GLBT studies students. It is important that people of all sexualities understand the struggles for LGBT rights and its continued relevance.