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It is a historical analysis and explanation which is a necessity for anyone who wants to understand the arguments that are raging today. In the 80s the AIDS epidemic started as did gay stereotyping but the gay community began to solidify and by the 90's there was gay representation in the media. Chauncey, George. The debates have divided this country like no other issue has since the war in Vietnam and even though it seems to have come out of nowhere, it does have quite a history.Chauncey starts by giving a history of the struggle for acceptance of individuals (up until the 1930s) but when the great depression hit there was a trend toward traditional families and this continued until the 1950s when theaters and movies were not allowed to deal with gay issues and gay places of meeting were continually being closed. He writes with skill and his book flows. Chauncey looks at the way attitudes have changed toward gay people from the tremendous acceptance to the explosive issue of gay marriage. Birth control began its popularity and sex was being seen as a source of pleasure and not just for procreation.
In 2004 gay couples received the right to mart in Massachusetts and California (and lost it soon after) but the idea was now planted into the consciousness of America. "Why Marriage: The History Shaping Today's Debate Over Gay Equality", Basic Books, 2005.Gay RightsAmos LassenMany who favor the concept of gay marriage and gay rights have little idea of how the issue came into being and in this slim volume, George Chauncey tells us. Marriage began to evolve to a system of love and compassion. The issue of gay marriage seems to have come out of nowhere to become a major issue in American life. By he 70s, opinion began to shift and heterosexual couples were "shacking up" before marriage. Chauncey presents a lot of information here and he moved from a factual account to a philosophical analysis.This is a wonderful account of the history of the quest for gay rights and it is concise and easy to read. I certainly feel much better prepared for any argument that may come my way.
During the 1950's Broadway plays were band from having gay themed plays and an agreement was made in Hollywood not to represent gay characters or issues. Politically it was used as another way to prove gay inferiority. Birth control was gaining popularity and sex was being viewed as a means of pleasure and not just for reproduction. During the 1970's public opinion was shifting and heterosexual couples were living together before marriage. The tone of this book was informative and I did not find it to be biased.
During the 1990s gay characters could be seen in the media and movies such as Philadelphia were hits and gay support was increasing significantly. There was a lot of information presented and many different movements were occurring simultaneously so I benefited from taking short breaks to layout what I had learned within the greater picture. Chauncey describes how marriage has evolved overtime from a system of control, where people wed for political reasons and one could not choose a partner, to a system of love and compassion. Gay individuals were targeted as social outcasts and heterosexual people did not want to eat or drink from where an individual with AIDS may have eaten or drank from. The book begins with a history of gay and lesbian individuals in the US and their struggle to enter and gain acceptance in the public sphere.
Why Marriage. During the great depression there was a push for traditional families when men lost their jobs and no longer had the same role in their family and found homosexuals to be a threat. Being unbiased was important to me because I believe individuals from any walks of life would benefit from this book and not feel as if they were being attacked. I found this to be very helpful in understanding the context of this book. Gay men came together with the support of female activists, who had experience in health due to work in the women's movement, to battle discrimination. In 2004 gay couples received the right to marry in Massachusetts and California along with other counties throughout the US.
In 1993 the military enacted a "Don't ask, Don't tell" policy on homosexuality forcing many gay individuals to lead a double life. During the 1980s through the 1990s the AIDS epidemic started and gay men were both stereotyped and feared as being diseased by the public and healthcare workers. Up until the 1930s during the great depression gay and lesbians were not viewed with such critique and demonization. Texas (2003), which resulted in the Supreme Court's landmark decision overturning the nation's remaining sodomy laws.Topics to discuss:1)Does the AIDS epidemic still affect gay culture. When reading similar information on gay marriage the argument tends to be emotional and philosophical but the factual way this book was presented was much more beneficial to me as a reader. I liked the way Chauncey approached the subject from a very factual and less philosophical frame. In 1987 78% of the US viewed homosexual relations as wrong. Marriage is desired by gay and lesbian couples because without the privilege they are second class citizens with no rights and protection if a partner becomes ill, as seen in the AIDS epidemic, or dies along with protection for their children.
Gay individuals were affected personally, socially, economically, and politically. The History Shaping Today's Debate Over Gay Equality written by George Chauncey describes the history that has set the stage for the debate over gay marriage today. He was also a head author of the Historians' Amicus Brief in Lawrence v. Chauncey is able to present the material from a factual approach because he is an expert in the field and has testified as an expert witness in several major gay rights cases. Taking notes through this reading allowed me to reflect on what I was writing its significance to the overall issue of gay marriage. Gay individuals were personally affected in the 1980s because the majority of those infected with the disease were gay men. Gay partners had no right to visitation and upon death lost financial stability and security. Continued discriminatory practices continued in the following decades and gay clubs and restaurants were closed and individuals presumed to be homosexual were jailed.
Healthcare professionals were also scared of the disease. Since the nineteenth century marriage has evolved and the freedom to choose a partner is viewed as a right, gender roles with in married families have changed and no longer need a stereotypical "man" or "woman", marriage is economically beneficial and often necessary, and is thought of less on the basis of religion, even though some churches do allow it. Gay couples flocked to get married but this ability to wed was short lived when President Bush two weeks later set forth a constitutional amendment to end gay marriage. These men suffered from health issues and had to pay inflated amounts for healthcare because pharmaceutical companies did not want to treat a "gay" disease.
The examples of discrimination that homosexuals have faced throughout history, especially in the past fifty years, would be shocking to even the most educated person. However, both of these examples have changed to be somewhat more accepted in society today. George Chauncey gives a detailed argument in support of same-sex marriage in his book, "Why Marriage." First of all, Chauncey introduces the issue of same-sex marriage on a positive note of writing how much society has progressed in its opinions of same-sex marriage and other gay issues. In the next part of the book, Chauncey discusses many of the ways in which the fundamental structure of marriage has changed in favor of gay marriage. Finally, Chauncey discusses the current issues at hand and what can be done to allow same-sex marriages by looking at the political, religious, and social aspects of our country in relation to the same-sex marriage issue. We see throughout the book, especially in the beginning, the significance of other movements, such as the feminist movement and the civil rights movement, in helping homosexuals to rise above the discrimination and to ultimately, fight valiantly for their cause. Marrying someone of a different religion was looked down upon, if not completely illegal.
We then are given the reasons that homosexual do want to get married and be together legally in the eyes of the government and others of society. Chauncey then begins the book with a history of the struggle for not only same-sex marriage, but also gay rights as a whole. Chauncey argues that by looking at trends, it is hopeful that same-sex marriage will become more acceptable. Chauncey also discusses the history of the struggle to bring AIDS to the forefront as not only as a homosexual issue, but as an issue that everyone must deal with. For example, interracial marriages were not allowed in past. Chauncey gives us several examples of committed couples wanting to officially become married. As someone who before felt somewhat informed on this highly contested issue, I have certainly become more knowledgeable about the argument from Chauncey's book, "Why Marriage."
This book is a really good run down of gay history leading up to the gay marriage issue of today. It is concise, easy to read and a great history lesson for those not too familiar with gay history. I would definitely recommend it for those who are not too familiar with the issues surrounding the gay marriage issue-and leading up to it.
it was wonderful. i am getting married to my girlfriend of 4 years, and last night was our engagement party. we had 65 friends and family celebrating our big-fat lesbian wedding. marriage is so important in the collective coming out process - it legitimizes our relationship, recognizes us as a serious, devoted couple, and gives us an opportunity to have a fantastic party. I am giving the book to all the members of my family, and people in my wedding party to help educate and enlighten everyone on the history and significance of marriage and how it is not a privilege, but a right for everyone.
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