Milton A. Cohen
- Published in print:
- 2021
- Published Online:
- January 2022
- ISBN:
- 9781949979749
- eISBN:
- 9781800852501
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Liverpool University Press
- DOI:
- 10.3828/liverpool/9781949979749.003.0003
- Subject:
- Literature, American, 20th Century Literature
This chapter studies war novels in which various minorities—Blacks, gays, Jews and Latinos—suffer from and often oppose the military’s dominant White, Christian, “straight” ethos. Three ...
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This chapter studies war novels in which various minorities—Blacks, gays, Jews and Latinos—suffer from and often oppose the military’s dominant White, Christian, “straight” ethos. Three novels—Chester Himes’s If He Hollers Let Him Go, John Olliver Killens’s And Then We Heard the Thunder and James Gould Cozzens’s Guard of Honor—depict Black-White conflicts in industry (Himes) or in the racially segregated American military (Killens, Cozzens). Though the war introduces new opportunities for Blacks in industry and the military, White racism blocks or distorts these opportunities. The three novels sharply contrast in their authors’ racial perspectives: Black in Himes and Killens, exclusively White in Cozzens. Gay themes appear in John Horne Burns’s The Gallery and James Jones’s From Here to Eternity. Several novels—Mailer’s, Shaw’s, Jones’s, etc.—contrast two or more Jewish characters, and two—Shaw’s and Martha Gellhorn’s Point of No Return—show Jewish soldiers encountering the Holocaust. Finally, Mailer’s novel depicts the exploitation of a Mexican sergeant.Less
This chapter studies war novels in which various minorities—Blacks, gays, Jews and Latinos—suffer from and often oppose the military’s dominant White, Christian, “straight” ethos. Three novels—Chester Himes’s If He Hollers Let Him Go, John Olliver Killens’s And Then We Heard the Thunder and James Gould Cozzens’s Guard of Honor—depict Black-White conflicts in industry (Himes) or in the racially segregated American military (Killens, Cozzens). Though the war introduces new opportunities for Blacks in industry and the military, White racism blocks or distorts these opportunities. The three novels sharply contrast in their authors’ racial perspectives: Black in Himes and Killens, exclusively White in Cozzens. Gay themes appear in John Horne Burns’s The Gallery and James Jones’s From Here to Eternity. Several novels—Mailer’s, Shaw’s, Jones’s, etc.—contrast two or more Jewish characters, and two—Shaw’s and Martha Gellhorn’s Point of No Return—show Jewish soldiers encountering the Holocaust. Finally, Mailer’s novel depicts the exploitation of a Mexican sergeant.
Jeremiah J. Garretson
- Published in print:
- 2018
- Published Online:
- January 2019
- ISBN:
- 9781479822133
- eISBN:
- 9781479824236
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- NYU Press
- DOI:
- 10.18574/nyu/9781479822133.003.0005
- Subject:
- Political Science, American Politics
Chapter 5 begins the book’s examination of mass opinion change by first looking at the effects of Clinton’s endorsement of gay rights in 1992 and the 1993 gays-in-the-military debate. Using the ...
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Chapter 5 begins the book’s examination of mass opinion change by first looking at the effects of Clinton’s endorsement of gay rights in 1992 and the 1993 gays-in-the-military debate. Using the American National Election Study, a small movement of Democrats in the public appear to have shifted more liberal on gay rights in 1992, but the magnitude of the effect was small. Likewise, the 1993 gays-in-the-military debate only resulted in polarization along political lines, not liberalization. However, declining fear of AIDS in the mid-1990s appear to have caused some attitude change. This leads to the conclusion that media coverage of gay rights in 1992 and 1993 only moved public opinion in a relatively minor fashion.Less
Chapter 5 begins the book’s examination of mass opinion change by first looking at the effects of Clinton’s endorsement of gay rights in 1992 and the 1993 gays-in-the-military debate. Using the American National Election Study, a small movement of Democrats in the public appear to have shifted more liberal on gay rights in 1992, but the magnitude of the effect was small. Likewise, the 1993 gays-in-the-military debate only resulted in polarization along political lines, not liberalization. However, declining fear of AIDS in the mid-1990s appear to have caused some attitude change. This leads to the conclusion that media coverage of gay rights in 1992 and 1993 only moved public opinion in a relatively minor fashion.
Jeremy M. Teigen
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- May 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780813042077
- eISBN:
- 9780813043456
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Florida
- DOI:
- 10.5744/florida/9780813042077.003.0012
- Subject:
- History, American History: 20th Century
This chapter analyzes veterans’ policy preferences between the start of the Iraq War, in 2003, and 2008. Conventional wisdom describes veterans as more conservative, hawkish, and sympathetic to ...
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This chapter analyzes veterans’ policy preferences between the start of the Iraq War, in 2003, and 2008. Conventional wisdom describes veterans as more conservative, hawkish, and sympathetic to Republican issue areas than the general electorate. Using nationally representative survey data, these analyses, however, find that twenty-first-century veterans hold views that accord closely with the nonveteran population on most political matters. Once one controls for important correlates of political attitudes, including gender, age, race, and partisan identity, veterans resemble nonveterans on most policy preferences. On questions about domestic matters, including fundamental questions of redistribution, veterans hold the same views as nonveterans despite being a group frequently seen as a special beneficiary of government programs. On foreign policy, including attitudes toward the war in Iraq, veterans do not differ substantially from nonveterans. One notable exception is veterans’ distinctive views on gays serving openly in the military.Less
This chapter analyzes veterans’ policy preferences between the start of the Iraq War, in 2003, and 2008. Conventional wisdom describes veterans as more conservative, hawkish, and sympathetic to Republican issue areas than the general electorate. Using nationally representative survey data, these analyses, however, find that twenty-first-century veterans hold views that accord closely with the nonveteran population on most political matters. Once one controls for important correlates of political attitudes, including gender, age, race, and partisan identity, veterans resemble nonveterans on most policy preferences. On questions about domestic matters, including fundamental questions of redistribution, veterans hold the same views as nonveterans despite being a group frequently seen as a special beneficiary of government programs. On foreign policy, including attitudes toward the war in Iraq, veterans do not differ substantially from nonveterans. One notable exception is veterans’ distinctive views on gays serving openly in the military.
Andrew E. Stoner
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- January 2020
- ISBN:
- 9780252042485
- eISBN:
- 9780252051326
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of Illinois Press
- DOI:
- 10.5622/illinois/9780252042485.003.0013
- Subject:
- Society and Culture, Gay and Lesbian Studies
Shilts turns his attention to the struggle for gays and lesbians to remain in active duty for the U.S. military. Shilts highlights the struggles of Edward Modesto, Leonard Matlovich and Margarethe ...
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Shilts turns his attention to the struggle for gays and lesbians to remain in active duty for the U.S. military. Shilts highlights the struggles of Edward Modesto, Leonard Matlovich and Margarethe Cammermeyer (among others) amidst gay purges. Shilts examines efforts to repeal the gay ban in the run-up to the Persian Gulf War. Shilts traces the history of the ban military ban to include the heart-breaking story of Thomas Dooley. The issue of outing is explored with Shilts in opposition to more radical opinions that closeted persons (especially those in positions of power) should be outed. Writing process for “Conduct Unbecoming” is explored as Shilts battles life-threatening health episodes as his HIV status advances to an AIDS diagnosis.Less
Shilts turns his attention to the struggle for gays and lesbians to remain in active duty for the U.S. military. Shilts highlights the struggles of Edward Modesto, Leonard Matlovich and Margarethe Cammermeyer (among others) amidst gay purges. Shilts examines efforts to repeal the gay ban in the run-up to the Persian Gulf War. Shilts traces the history of the ban military ban to include the heart-breaking story of Thomas Dooley. The issue of outing is explored with Shilts in opposition to more radical opinions that closeted persons (especially those in positions of power) should be outed. Writing process for “Conduct Unbecoming” is explored as Shilts battles life-threatening health episodes as his HIV status advances to an AIDS diagnosis.
Michael J. Rosenfeld
- Published in print:
- 2021
- Published Online:
- November 2021
- ISBN:
- 9780197600436
- eISBN:
- 9780197600474
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780197600436.003.0005
- Subject:
- Sociology, Marriage and the Family, Gender and Sexuality
In his campaign for president in 1992, Bill Clinton did something surprising: he advocated for gay rights. After winning the presidency, however, he was unable to integrate gay soldiers into the ...
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In his campaign for president in 1992, Bill Clinton did something surprising: he advocated for gay rights. After winning the presidency, however, he was unable to integrate gay soldiers into the military as he had promised to do. Congress instead created a program known as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, which forced gay soldiers back into the closet. Congress also passed, and President Clinton signed, the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevented the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages and allowed states to continue to deny marriage rights to same-sex couples. In 1997 television star Ellen DeGeneres came out as a lesbian both in person and in character on her TV show Ellen, becoming one of the most prominent out-of-the-closet gay people in the US.Less
In his campaign for president in 1992, Bill Clinton did something surprising: he advocated for gay rights. After winning the presidency, however, he was unable to integrate gay soldiers into the military as he had promised to do. Congress instead created a program known as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, which forced gay soldiers back into the closet. Congress also passed, and President Clinton signed, the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevented the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages and allowed states to continue to deny marriage rights to same-sex couples. In 1997 television star Ellen DeGeneres came out as a lesbian both in person and in character on her TV show Ellen, becoming one of the most prominent out-of-the-closet gay people in the US.
Andrew E. Stoner
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- January 2020
- ISBN:
- 9780252042485
- eISBN:
- 9780252051326
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of Illinois Press
- DOI:
- 10.5622/illinois/9780252042485.003.0009
- Subject:
- Society and Culture, Gay and Lesbian Studies
Shilts steps out as a spokesman against gay bathhouses, admitting he once patronized them himself. ACT-UP members focus their vitriol on Shilts, Shilts turns his criticism on ACT-UP tactics. Although ...
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Shilts steps out as a spokesman against gay bathhouses, admitting he once patronized them himself. ACT-UP members focus their vitriol on Shilts, Shilts turns his criticism on ACT-UP tactics. Although tapped to host a public television special, “Wrestling with AIDS,” Shilts ends a prolific year of writing about AIDS by announcing he was leaving the beat at the start of 1990. Shilts criticizes “lavender fascists” involved with the National Gay & Lesbian Journalists Association. Shilts states opposition to outing unless under specific circumstances. Shilts keeps focus on elimination promiscuous sexual contact among gay men as a means to stop AIDS crisis.Less
Shilts steps out as a spokesman against gay bathhouses, admitting he once patronized them himself. ACT-UP members focus their vitriol on Shilts, Shilts turns his criticism on ACT-UP tactics. Although tapped to host a public television special, “Wrestling with AIDS,” Shilts ends a prolific year of writing about AIDS by announcing he was leaving the beat at the start of 1990. Shilts criticizes “lavender fascists” involved with the National Gay & Lesbian Journalists Association. Shilts states opposition to outing unless under specific circumstances. Shilts keeps focus on elimination promiscuous sexual contact among gay men as a means to stop AIDS crisis.
Andrew E. Stoner
- Published in print:
- 2019
- Published Online:
- January 2020
- ISBN:
- 9780252042485
- eISBN:
- 9780252051326
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University of Illinois Press
- DOI:
- 10.5622/illinois/9780252042485.001.0001
- Subject:
- Society and Culture, Gay and Lesbian Studies
First-ever biography of controversial journalist and author Randy Shilts, one of the nation’s first openly gay reporters for a major daily newspaper. Known for his tenacity in reporting, he quickly ...
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First-ever biography of controversial journalist and author Randy Shilts, one of the nation’s first openly gay reporters for a major daily newspaper. Known for his tenacity in reporting, he quickly became the “AIDS scribe” among American journalists. His work was not without controversy, however, with posthumous reviews of his “new journalism” techniques called into question, including the accuracy of some of his research. Review is provided of Shilts’s childhood struggles with physical abuse, his adult battles with alcohol and drug addiction, and his ultimate death from AIDS. The critical review of Shilts is most focused on his 1987 book, And the Band Played On: Politics, People and the AIDS Epidemic – although his work on The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk (1982) and Conduct Unbecoming: Gays & Lesbians in the U.S. Military (1993)Less
First-ever biography of controversial journalist and author Randy Shilts, one of the nation’s first openly gay reporters for a major daily newspaper. Known for his tenacity in reporting, he quickly became the “AIDS scribe” among American journalists. His work was not without controversy, however, with posthumous reviews of his “new journalism” techniques called into question, including the accuracy of some of his research. Review is provided of Shilts’s childhood struggles with physical abuse, his adult battles with alcohol and drug addiction, and his ultimate death from AIDS. The critical review of Shilts is most focused on his 1987 book, And the Band Played On: Politics, People and the AIDS Epidemic – although his work on The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk (1982) and Conduct Unbecoming: Gays & Lesbians in the U.S. Military (1993)