In her book “LGBT Inclusion in American Life,” Susan Burgess traces the history of LGBTQ+ rights in the United States, focusing on the evolution of political institutions and cultural norms. Burgess challenges the conventional narrative of the LGBTQ+ movement as a linear progression from Stonewall to Obergefell, arguing that a deep shift in attitudes and norms regarding LGBTQ+ individuals was required for the movement’s success.
Burgess frames her analysis within the subfield of American political development (APD), which studies how political institutions change over time while remaining structurally stable. She argues that change in political institutions cannot be understood solely through political ideas, rules, or policies, but must also take into account cultural norms and expectations about home life, consumption, and proper behavior.
Burgess traces the roots of LGBTQ+ exclusion in Cold War-era American political culture, which relied on excluding perceived deviants from society in order to maintain stability and security. She highlights the “lavender scare” that targeted homosexuals as security risks and rendered them almost entirely invisible in the public sphere. The LGBTQ+ movement was thus not only challenging entrenched prejudices but an entire political and cultural operating system.
Burgess also explores the role of popular culture in shaping norms and expectations regarding gender, sexuality, and family. She argues that media and pop culture have been as powerful as political institutions in transmitting and challenging prevailing norms, and that the exchange of influence between the two flows in both directions.
Overall, Burgess offers a nuanced and complex account of the history of LGBTQ+ rights in America, emphasizing the deep and broad shift in attitudes and norms that was required for the movement’s success. Her analysis challenges political scientists to broaden their perspectives and consider the ways in which cultural norms and institutions intersect with politics to shape social change.