Since the late 1960s, the burgeoning gay rights movement has begun to have a profound effect on the politics of many American cities. This book presents a comprehensive exploration of gay and lesbian politics in urban settings. The study presents a window into how sexual identity has fostered political alliances and investigates the mayoral voting patterns in America's three largest cities - New York, Los Angeles and Chicago - offering case studies of specific urban political settings. The author addresses such issues as how policy is swayed in cities not known as gay centres and how specific issues are influenced in urban areas where gays and lesbians become part of the governing regime.