This work traces the development of lesbian and gay politics in the US during the Reagan and Bush administrations. It combines a critical commentary with a rich and varied collection of news articles, interviews and reports. The work: chronicles the debates that shaped the radical lesbian and gay movement - from the inauguration of Ronald Reagan and the abortion rights movement to the founding of the ACT-UP and the recent explosion on the scene of Lesbian Avengers; documents the political history of the era; provides insights into lesbian and gay cultural developments; highlights the intrinsic homophobia of American society during the Reagan/Bush years, and provides the basis for discussions about the ways forward in the fight for equality in Britain and the rest of the world; and includes detailed and illustrated excerpts from the Lesbian Avenger's Handbook.