Abstract
Carlos A. Ball’s volume is a rich addition to the study of LGBT issues. The volume considers the state of the US LGBT movement following the legalisation of marriage equality across all states. Separated into three themes, the text firstly concentrates on the potential scope of the LGBT movement following marriage equality. Emphasising the need for the LGBT movement to remain alert to potential backlash from the religious right, the authors warn that funding and support may deteriorate given the attainment of marriage equality. The chapters emphasise the lack of legal protection for US LGBT citizens in terms of hate crimes, positing that a civil rights movement fails to address larger social issues that affect LGBT lives. The text elaborates a difference between legal and lived equality; although LGBT citizens may gain similar legal rights to heterosexuals, LGBT citizens still experience discrimination which makes their life experiences different. Consequently, this theme suggests that the LGBT movement should shift focus from civil rights to education, institutional representation, housing inequalities, and supporting international LGBT rights, which can improve the lived experience of LGBT people.
The second theme explores intersectional issues relevant to the LGBT movement following marriage equality. Contributors highlight the oft-forgotten segments of LGBT populations, emphasising elders, children of LGBT parents, gender-diverse people, people of colour, and those who are in poly relationships. These chapters discuss how equal marriage both benefited and failed particular intersectional identities. For example, marriage equality does not reflect concerns of LGBT elders, many of whom are not ‘out’, have little/no family, and fear homophobia from care services. The diversity of chapters in this theme highlight how the equal marriage debate remained relatively meaningless for large swathes of the LGBT population in the USA, and presents a refreshing consideration of who benefits from marriage equality.
The third and final section focuses on countries where equal marriage has been legalised, and the consequences of doing so. Focusing on Canada, the Netherlands, and France, the authors highlight how marriage equality has benefited the LGBT community, new foci of LGBT movements, and the backlash following the implementation of equal marriage. The case studies provide insights into how the US LGBT movement may develop following marriage equality, as well as the backlash it may experience, with examples of pink-washing and homonationalism, as well as a consideration of the ongoing issues in these international contexts post marriage equality.
Ball’s edited volume gives an excellent overview of the consequences of legalising marriage equality, whilst also demonstrating possible pitfalls internal and external to the LGBT community. The book’s strengths include the diversity of voices invited to contribute to this volume, alongside the compelling base of evidence used, resulting in multifaceted considerations for the US LGBT movement. The volume’s advocacy of shifting from an identity-based politic to a politic designed to emancipate sex and gender expressions offers a radical departure from current practice in mainstream LGBT movements, and is an important consideration for activists in the field.
The text has a few minor issues to consider. Firstly, the slippage between using the terms ‘LGBT’ and ‘lesbian and gay’ at points during the volume is indicative of the lack of engagement with bisexual or trans identities throughout the text. Gender diversity is often acknowledged, however, bisexuality is not specifically discussed, which is concerning considering the issues bisexuals experience, such as increased mental health issues and increased addiction issues when compared to other LGBT sexual identities (Colledge et al., 2015; Jorm et al., 2002). Similarly, although trans* issues are highlighted at various points throughout the text, there is a lack of attention to the material realities of trans* lives as regards physical and sexual violence (Lombardi et al., 2002). The book is predictive in its attempt to chart the LGBT movement’s next moves post marriage equality, however, I am curious to know whether Ball’s volume still stands up in Trump’s America, where an increasing amount of violent anti-LGBT hate crimes are being reported (Brammer, 2017).
Ball draws together strains of thought that demonstrate the way in which the movement could benefit from shifting from a civil rights movement focus to a social justice focus, whilst also questioning whether we should focus on specific identities as opposed to approaching gender and sexuality more broadly. Ball’s volume also elucidates who is not being considered when we discuss LGBT marriage equality. Overall this text makes a good addition to LGBT scholarship, and provides significant guidance for the next iteration of the LGBT movement.