Includes bibliographical references (pages 501-613) and index.

This is a cross-cultural and transhistorical account of the social organization of homosexuality, the ways it is perceived by society, and responded to.

"This sociological history seeks to understand societal response to homosexuality. Part 1 is a primarily anthropological exploration of homosexuality from earliest history through feudalism; part 2 recounts the construction of a modern conception of homosexuality, including its emergence as an identifiable subculture, its medicalization, and the rise of the gay liberation movement. Some scholars may question Greenberg's emphasis on economic structures and class status, but this heavily researched work should be a vital building block in the growing field of gay studies. A final chapter details the problems of sociological research in this area"--Library Journal.

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