Rethinking the Gay and Lesbian Movementprovides a new narrative history of the gay and lesbian movement, drawing on primary research in the field as well as the research and writing of the best scholars in the field who have offered new perspectives on the history of the movement. Marc Stein begins with the background of the gay and lesbian movement in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and goes on to contextualize and narrate half a century worth of key legal and political developments. The author defines key terms and explains the focus on "gay and lesbian" history, which are conceptualized as a field of knowledge that intersects with "trans," "queer," and "intersex" history. Rethinking the Gay and Lesbain Movementprovides a short, accessible overview of this important social and political movement, highlighting key events and key figures, the movement's strengths and weaknesses, how it intersected with other social and political movements of the time, and its lasting effect on the country. It is perfect for anyone wanting to obtain an introduction to Gay and Lesbian history and activism.