An in-depth examination of the relationship between gay rights, public opinion, and legislation since the late 1800s. In this comprehensive overview of how the American legal system has approached issues pertaining to sexual orientation and how the law has advanced-or hindered-civil rights, author Lee Walzer reveals that while the United States has the world's most developed lesbian and gay community, it lags other countries on equality for sexual minorities. Gay Rights on Trial focuses on four significant cases that have shaped the development of gay rights, including detailed discussion of majority and dissenting decisions and analysis of their legacy and impact. Also included are a chronology; a section of key people, laws, and concepts; a table of cases; key legal documents such as the Defense of Marriage Act and the Vermont Civil Union Act; and an annotated bibliography. Introductory essay covers issues from the changing notions of morality and the law to the various sides in gay rights disputes Contains edited excerpts of key legal documents such as Bowers v. Hardwick (1986), in which the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of state laws prohibiting homosexual conduct

An examination of how the U.S. court system has shaped the boundaries of a central building block of American society from the colonial era to the present day. Marriage on Trial: A Handbook with Cases, Laws, and Documents explores the evolution of marriage, a seemingly static institution that, in reality, has been dramatically redefined over time. An illuminating introduction tracing the reasons for ongoing controversies leads to a historical overview of the ways in which marriage has evolved, with a particular emphasis on women, racial minorities, polygamists, and homosexuals. A review of significant court cases that represent key arguments regarding marriage-legal identity of women, polygamy, interracial marriage, rights of unmarried couples, and same-sex marriages-illustrates how the legal system has shifted with the changing mores of society. Will Americans ever tolerate polygamy? Will gay marriages be legally recognized? Scenarios of these and other possibilities for the future suggest that more change is in store. A-Z entries on critical events like the feminist movement, issues such as palimony, and key individuals Chronology of the most important events in the legal history of marriage, including the Loving v. Virginia case, which overturned the state's ban on interracial marriage

This introductory volume examines the relationship between same-sex legal issues, public opinion, and legislation since the late 1800s and explores the ways in which the American legal system has advanced--and hindered--the civil rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals. An extensive collection of important documents is provided, along with a glossary of key people, events, and concepts; a chronology; a table of cases cited; an annotated bibliography; and a comprehensive index.

The life of Jesus, told in pictures and poetic meditations.

Astonishingly, Israeli lesbians and gays have been able to achieve many political goals that still elude America's gay community. Israel's Supreme Court has mandated same-sex spousal benefits; the military, which never barred gays to begin with, has removed its last official restrictions; Israel's parliament boasts a Subcommittee for the Prevention of Sexual Orientation Discrimination; and school curricula are gay-friendly -- all of this in a country where religious interests wield extraordinary power and whose identity today is the object of fierce struggle.

"Between Sodom and Eden, " the first book to explore this rapidly changing landscape, is based on interviews with over one hundred Israelis, as well as Palestinians. Lee Walzer explores how, within a decade, Israel has evolved from a society that marginalized homosexuals to one that offers some of the most extensive legal protections in the world. He traces the political, religious, and social factors that make Israel a gay rights trendsetter, examining the interplay between Judaism and homosexuality, the growing prominence of gay themes in Israeli literature, film, music, and television, and the role of the media in advancing lesbian and gay political progress.