Hollibaugh’s claim that gay liberation movement turned into a “tame civil rights challenge” is sustained primarily by the fact that the focus of the movement became primarily concerned with gay legal rights, as compared to the previous struggles “for sexual, economic and social justice”. \u00a0In this way, the movement has been primarily confined to courts and chooses only “gender-appropriate” representatives to fight its battles and show everyone else that “we are just like them”. \u00a0While the author does acknowledge the success in legal battles, it stresses the lack of scope, difference, and voice for those who are often left out of the picture when “gay rights” are spoken about.<\/p>\n
Wilchins states that the distinction between sexual orientation and gender in a way prevents awareness within and outside the LGBT community. \u00a0One example she provides is when speaking to a group of gay men, they are all reluctant to admit they are bottoms – often seen as feminine role in gay sex. \u00a0Even in her experiences with “otherwise sophisticated and aware” men, they still seem to have issues with gender. \u00a0Because the issues of sexual orientation and gender are so separated in America, the latter is often forgotten about – or is at least perceived as more taboo. \u00a0In my own experiences, I find discussing my bisexuality a much more comfortable act than expressing femininity publicly, whether that be in the way I act or dress – it seems to create a greater sense of vulnerability. \u00a0This is perhaps due to the increased attention on the new legal rights and successes gay and trans people have had in this country, but the reluctance to include gender as a topic of discussion on mainstream news outlets. \u00a0As now it seems the two are almost entirely separated issues, the widespread issues with gender really need to find themselves into the public sphere of discourse, not only in terms of the current binary i.e. it is ok for boys to like “girly” things but also in a post-modernist way – deconstructing the current notions of gender as something rigid and un-changing.<\/p>\n
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Hollibaugh’s claim that gay liberation movement turned into a “tame civil rights challenge” is sustained primarily by the fact that the focus of the movement became primarily concerned with gay legal rights, as compared to the previous struggles “for sexual, economic and social justice”. \u00a0In this way, the movement has been primarily confined to courts … <\/p>\n