Andrew Sullivan, former editor of The New Republic, has created some controversy in his time, but those expecting to find side-show style hype in his first book, "Virtually Normal: A Politics of Homosexuality," (Vintage Books) will be sorely disappointed.
Sullivan, the youngest editor ever of the venerable political journal, doesn't shy away from publicity. He appears on national news programs such as "Crossfire," posed for a Gap ad and his dismissal / resignation (choose one) from The New Republic caused commotion earlier this year. Sullivan's arguments in favor of gay rights, however, are anything but sensationalistic.
"Virtually Normal" ignores polemics and coolly analyzes the political arguments surrounding the debate over gay rights. Sullivan distinguishes himself from other writers on the subject by reframing the traditional arguments into distinct categories - prohibitionist, liberationist, conservative and liberal. Sullivan takes on each position and finds them all lacking. In their stead, he creates his own model of legal compromise, in which the government grants gays and lesbians the right to serve in the military and marry, but doesn't force the private sector to do business with them. Are Sullivan's theories sensible? Decide for yourself when he speaks at Borders tomorrow night at 7:30.
A central strength of "Virtually Normal" is its judicious tone. Sullivan's arguments are thoughtful and well-researched, particularly those on the Catholic church's policy and natural law. Both sides of the debate over gay marriage are meticulously represented in "Virtually Normal." Andrew Sullivan hopes that this respect may be the key to real dialogue on the issue. "The book is, I hope, very self-consciously reasonable," Sullivan said in an interview with The Michigan Daily last week. Sullivan hopes his status as a gay advocate and political conservative will give his words added weight. "I'm not very politically correct, in many ways, and yet I've always been very openly gay, so I think I have a certain amount of credibility on both sides."
Sullivan's own image has been a focal point of media attention. Since he is both Catholic and gay, as well as a British conservative that once edited a traditionally liberal American political journal, the press has sometimes emphasized Andrew Sullivan's identity more than his journalistic ability. He isn't bothered by the fuss: "I think that when someone comes along who doesn't quite fit into existing categories ... people need to find a place for them, so they stick labels on the person before they listen to him or her. ... I hope, over the last few years ... the labels have become less important. I don't want to be merely a gay writer. On the other hand, I want to be someone who's proud and completely candid abut the fact that he is homosexual."
Though the Defense of Marriage Act is now law, Andrew Sullivan has high hopes for state-authorized gay marriage in the near future. "I think it's quite likely in the next 18 months, somewhere in America, there will be legal same-sex marriage," Sullivan said. He warns that it will take time, however, for Americans to accept the changes. "Ten years ago, the notion of openly gay people in the military or legal same sex marriage were regarded as unthinkable. ... We have really redescribed who gay people are from being people who are alleged radicals interested in sex, we have become increasingly in the public mind, main-stream people interested in love and serving our country and affirming such values as responsibility and commitment."
Sullivan stresses that gay rights will not be achieved automatically with a single president or election. "This is a civil rights movement. It's going to take a generation or two generations. We have to keep our eyes on the prize," he said.
On a similar note, Sullivan enjoys dialogue with audiences during his public appearances: "I hope that we can have a really good debate. I hope people of all opinions show up ... generally these things turn into town meetings, but I hope they also buy the book."
Andrew Sullivan will read tonight at Borders.