 "Gay Science" received positive reviews from James Edward Van Buskirk in "Library Journal" and R. W. Smith in "Choice" and a mixed review from the biologist Ruth Hubbard in "The Times Literary Supplement".The book was also reviewed by the gay writer Gabriel Rotello in "New Scientist".Van Buskirk described the book as an "important addition to the field" and a useful complement to LeVay's "Queer Science" (1996).