In 1957, Frank Kameny, an astronomer working for the US Defense Department in Hawaii, received a summons to report immediately to Washington, D.C. The Pentagon had reason to believe he was a homosexual, and after a series of humiliating interviews, Kameny-like countless gay men and women for before him-was promptly dismissed from his government job. Unlike many others, though, he fought back. Eric Cervini tells the story of what followed in this pathbreaking history of an early champion of gay liberation. Based on firsthand accounts, recently declassified FBI records, and forty thousand personal documents, The Deviant's War, the first book of LGBTQ+ history to hit the New York Times best seller list in over 25 years, is a story of America (and Washington) at a cultural and sexual crossroads, of shocking, byzantine public battles with Congress, of FBI informants, murder, betrayal, sex, love-and ultimately victory.

The celebrated New York Times bestselling story--previously untold--of a revolution for gay rights that began a generation before Stonewall

About the Author
Eric Cervini is an award-winning historian of LGBTQ+ history. He graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College and received his Ph.D. in history from the University of Cambridge, where he was a Gates Scholar. The Deviant's War is his first book.


Book Information
ISBN 9781250798503
Author Eric Cervini
Format Paperback
Page Count 512
Imprint St Martin's Press
Publisher St Martin's Press
Weight(grams) 372g
Dimensions(mm) 209mm * 137mm * 25mm