The Regulation of Desire
Gary Kinsman

In The Regulation of Desire, Gary Kinsman offers a revolutionary social history of sexuality in Canada, revealing how categories like “gay,” “lesbian,” and “heterosexual” are not natural facts, but products of shifting social, political, and economic forces. Originally published in 1987, this pioneering work explores how sexual identities are shaped by broader struggles around class, gender, and state power.

Kinsman traces the emergence of Canadian gay and lesbian communities, the systems that have organized their oppression, and the movements that have challenged it. More than a history, the book is a call to imagine new ways of organizing desire and pleasure, beyond the limits imposed by the state and dominant social norms.

A sociologist, writer, and longtime activist, Kinsman draws on his experience in the gay liberation movement and the socialist left to offer one of the first sustained analyses of sexuality from a Canadian perspective. The Regulation of Desire remains a vital resource for anyone interested in the history of sexuality, queer liberation, and radical social change. This revised second edition bolstered its success as an essential work of scholarship. 

Praise for The Regulation of Desire

"A classic of queer Marxism." - Alan Sears, Against the Current

"Once in awhile, a book comes along that asks entirely new questions, poses important theoretical issues, and indeed, opens a whole new field for historical investigation. For Canadian history, The Regulation of Desire has done just that." - Steven Maynard, Queen's University

"A pioneering work that should be read by anyone interested in the history and sociology of sexuality in Canada." - Sara Stratton, York University

Gary Kinsman is a Canadian sociologist, writer, and activist, who frequently contributes to several magazines and journals. His work focuses on LGBT issues, having first encountered the gay liberation movement during his involvement in the Young Socialists in the early 1970s. He is the author of Whose National Security? (2000) and The Canadian War on Queers (2010). 

1996; 233 pages

The Regulation of Desire (Second Edition) Retail Prices
Paperback:
9781551640402 $23.99
Hardcover:
9781551640419 $52.99