Bill Boushka. Do Ask, Do Tell: A Gay Conservative Lashes Back. Individualism, Identity, Personal Rights, Responsibility, and Community in a Libertarian Third Millennium. 2000. $27.95. 561 pages.

Twin City author and activist Bill Boushka came to Minnesota State University Moorhead and spoke about his recently republished book titled, "Do Ask, Do Tell: A Gay Conservative Lashes Back." While sadly the free event, hosted by MSUM 3rd Political Parties did not garnish a high attendance I had the good fortune to personally chat with the author at length about his writings.

While the book title may sound rather odd, in reality the political philosophy that is expressed is not conservatism or modern liberalism, but in fact libertarianism. For those of you that do not recall your college political science classes libertarianism is a unique political philosophy that advocates personal responsibility, individual liberty, limited government, and free markets and free trade. To put it in layman's terms conservatives tend to agree with libertarians on economic matters and liberals tend to agree with libertarians on social matters.

However, if advocating a pure free market economy or a desire to re-legalize all drug seems too odd then you should not cross this book off your reading list quite yet. Bill's larger theme is to make connections between gay rights and other issues such as family values, personal growth, and the military draft. Even when Boushka does talk about libertarianism he is quick not to become dogmatic in this thinking and takes the time to explain his thinking so that the reader can get a better grasp of his point of view.

Perhaps the only fault with the book is that his writing will challenge the thinking of both gay and straight liberals and conservatives alike. I would strongly recommend picking up a copy of his book, it does cover a tremendous amount of ground and will certainly challenge the way you look at gay rights, government and society. It is a breath of fresh in ever growing supply of books on the subject of gay rights.