Dying to Be Normal: Gay Martyrs and the Transformation of American Sexual Politics

265 Pages·2019·11.656 MB·English

by  Brett Krutzsch

DYING TO BE NORMAL

DYING TO 
BE NORMAL
Gay Martyrs and the Transformation
of American Sexual Politics

Brett Krutzsch
1
1
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To Kevin

CONTENTS

List of Illustrations ix
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction: Memorialization, Gay Assimilation, and
American Religion 1
1. “The Gay M.L.K.”: Harvey Milk 15
2. The “Crucifixion” of “Anyone’s Gay Son”: Matthew Shepard 47
3. The “Epidemic of Bullying and Gay Teen Suicide”: Tyler Clementi
and It Gets Better 85
4. “The Place Where Two Discriminations Meet”: Race, Gender, and the
Threat of Violence 117
Epilogue: The Pulse Nightclub Massacre and the Queer Potential
of Memorialization 149
Notes 167
Selected Bibliography 227
Index 239
vii

ILLUSTRATIONS

1.1 “Saint Harvey” exhibit at the GLBT History Museum.
© 2003 by Daniel Nicoletta. 16
2.1 Fence where Matthew Shepard was murdered.
© 1999 by Kevin Moloney. 54
2.2 Reverend Fred Phelps. © 1999 by Kevin Moloney. 67
2.3 The Advocate magazine cover, November 24, 1998.
© Here Publishing Inc. 71
ix