Homosexuality: Debating the Issues

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

This, the latest in Prometheus's Contemporary Issues series, provides a balanced approach to a provocative topic through journalistic articles and original documents. Addressing philosophy, psychology/science, law, the military, and religion, these previously published writings come from sources as diverse as the New York Times and Parameters: U.S. Army College Quarterly and, predictably, represent an equally wide range of thinking. While sections on the philosophy and psychology of homosexuality are all too brief, those on the legal and religious issues have great breadth. Any citizen should read the Supreme Court's Bowers v. Hardwick decision upholding Georgia's sodomy laws and Commonwealth v. Wasson, in which Kentucky's state supreme court found that its Constitution granted more protection than the federal Constitution. On the religious front, both Margaret Susan Thompson and Paul Duke offer moving testimonies to some Catholics' accommodation of homosexuality, while a closeted rabbi makes a pseudonymous plea for greater understanding from Orthodox Judaism. Even hard science can be co-opted by politics with pro/opponents of homosexuality putting their own spin on the emerging work of Simon Levay on the hypothalamus as the site of male-typical sexual behavior and Dean Hamer on a chromosomal basis for homosexuality. As embryonic as the studies may be, readers will benefit from the original scholarship as opposed to processed reportage. Aside from the absence of writing from the gay media itself, this is an excellent reference book for those that wish to explore opposing points of view; it is timely, considered, and generally representative. Nov.

Library Journal

Providing a "balanced" review of homosexuality, this anthology features essays from both camps on such issues as gay life, genetics vs. environmental causes, gay rights, gays in the military, and gays and religion. While this is indeed a "balanced" text-it is not just a liberal-vs.-conservative issue: gays themselves debate genetics vs. environment-it is unfortunate that this topic and volume are part of the publisher's "Contemporary Issues" series, which also covers animal experimentation, euthanasia, and gun control. Why are there not titles in this series on Lithuanians, Presbyterians, and Hispanics? Because these groups simply are; there is nothing to debate. It is sad when bigotry gets passed off as "balance." It will be a good day when people realize that gays and lesbians simply exist. Recommended with reservations.-Lee Arnold,

Booknews

An account of the early years of the city of Anniston, Alabama, and its roots as a model town for developing the iron resources of the region after the devastating effects of the Civil War. Chronicles the city's economic booms and busts, details the social and racial composition of the town's population, and discusses Anniston and the New South credo. Includes b&w photos. This paperback edition is identical to the first edition published in 1978. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)