Dennis Altman
Encyclopedia
Dennis Patkin Altman is an Australian academic and pioneering gay rights activist.
Altman was a Fullbright scholar
at Cornell University
in the 1960s when he met and began working with leading gay activists in the United States. Returning to Australia in 1969, he taught politics at the University of Sydney
, and in 1971, published his book Homosexual: oppression and liberation—considered an important intellectual contribution to the ideas that shaped gay liberation movements in the English-speaking world. Among his prophetic constructions were "the polymorphous whole" and his posing of the notion of "the end of the homosexual", in which the potential for both heterosexual and homosexual behaviour becomes a widespread cultural and psychological phenomenon. In 2005, he also published Gore Vidal's America, a study, as the title suggests, of Gore Vidal
and his writings on history, politics, sex, and religion.
In 1985, Altman accepted an appointment at La Trobe University
, where he later became professor of politics; he was appointed the Visiting Chair of Australian Studies at Harvard University
from January 2005. Since 2009 Altman is the director of the Institute for Human Security
at La Trobe University
.
Altman has delivered speeches on the topic of sexual liberation, one of his most known and appreciated speeches, Human beings can be much more than they have allowed themselves to be, was delivered at the first Gay Liberation Group meeting at the University of Sydney on 19 January 1972.
In his preface to The city and the pillar, Gore Vidal writes that Altman brought the book back with him but it was seized at Sydney Airport
and subsequently declared obscene by a judge who also observed that the law was "absurd", thus leading to its repeal some time later.
Altman is also an active member of organisations that are dedicated to creating a better life for homosexuals, serving on the Australian National Council on AIDS and other international organisations including the AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific, of which (as of the 2005 Kobe ICAAP Congress) he is president. Although strongly identified with gay rights, Altman contributes to more widely based organisations. In October 2006 he was elected to the board of Oxfam Australia
. In 2010 he stepped down from this position.
In 1997 Altman wrote an essay, "Global gaze/global gays", in which he proposes that there are cultural connections between homosexuals in different countries, and that there is a nascent global gay culture.
Altman was a Fullbright scholar
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in the 1960s when he met and began working with leading gay activists in the United States. Returning to Australia in 1969, he taught politics at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, and in 1971, published his book Homosexual: oppression and liberation—considered an important intellectual contribution to the ideas that shaped gay liberation movements in the English-speaking world. Among his prophetic constructions were "the polymorphous whole" and his posing of the notion of "the end of the homosexual", in which the potential for both heterosexual and homosexual behaviour becomes a widespread cultural and psychological phenomenon. In 2005, he also published Gore Vidal's America, a study, as the title suggests, of Gore Vidal
Gore Vidal
Gore Vidal is an American author, playwright, essayist, screenwriter, and political activist. His third novel, The City and the Pillar , outraged mainstream critics as one of the first major American novels to feature unambiguous homosexuality...
and his writings on history, politics, sex, and religion.
In 1985, Altman accepted an appointment at La Trobe University
La Trobe University
La Trobe University is a multi-campus university in Victoria, Australia. It was established in 1964 by an Act of Parliament to become the third oldest university in the state of Victoria. The main campus of La Trobe is located in the Melbourne suburb of Bundoora; two other major campuses are...
, where he later became professor of politics; he was appointed the Visiting Chair of Australian Studies at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
from January 2005. Since 2009 Altman is the director of the Institute for Human Security
Human security
Human security is an emerging paradigm for understanding global vulnerabilities whose proponents challenge the traditional notion of national security by arguing that the proper referent for security should be the individual rather than the state...
at La Trobe University
La Trobe University
La Trobe University is a multi-campus university in Victoria, Australia. It was established in 1964 by an Act of Parliament to become the third oldest university in the state of Victoria. The main campus of La Trobe is located in the Melbourne suburb of Bundoora; two other major campuses are...
.
Altman has delivered speeches on the topic of sexual liberation, one of his most known and appreciated speeches, Human beings can be much more than they have allowed themselves to be, was delivered at the first Gay Liberation Group meeting at the University of Sydney on 19 January 1972.
In his preface to The city and the pillar, Gore Vidal writes that Altman brought the book back with him but it was seized at Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport may refer to:* Sydney Airport, also known as Kingsford Smith International Airport, in Sydney, Australia* Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport, in Nova Scotia, Canada...
and subsequently declared obscene by a judge who also observed that the law was "absurd", thus leading to its repeal some time later.
Altman is also an active member of organisations that are dedicated to creating a better life for homosexuals, serving on the Australian National Council on AIDS and other international organisations including the AIDS Society of Asia and the Pacific, of which (as of the 2005 Kobe ICAAP Congress) he is president. Although strongly identified with gay rights, Altman contributes to more widely based organisations. In October 2006 he was elected to the board of Oxfam Australia
Oxfam Australia
Oxfam Australia is an Australian, independent, not-for-profit, secular, community-based aid and development organisation, and an affiliate of Oxfam International. Oxfam Australia's work includes long-term development projects, responding to emergencies and campaigning to improve the lives of...
. In 2010 he stepped down from this position.
In 1997 Altman wrote an essay, "Global gaze/global gays", in which he proposes that there are cultural connections between homosexuals in different countries, and that there is a nascent global gay culture.
External links
- Professor Dennis Altman AM, La Trobe University staff page.
- Institute for Human Security List of opinion pieces by Professor Altman and present appointment at La Trobe
- What Kevin Rudd should tell the Pope Opinion piece by Dennis Altman on the La Trobe University website.
- The Olympic spirit? It's a simple, shared global experience Opinion piece by Dennis Altman on the La Trobe University website.
- US Election 2008: Knife-edge race now favours McCain Opinion piece by Dennis Altman on the La Trobe University website.
- An excerpt from Altman's book Global Sex