Description
Book Synopsis: A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF THE YEAR • The riveting story of the conflict over same-sex marriage in the United States—the most significant civil rights breakthrough of the new millennium "Full of intimate details, battling personalities, heated court cases, public persuasion.” —John Williams, The New York Times
On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that state bans on gay marriage were unconstitutional, making same-sex unions legal across the United States. But the road to that momentous decision was much longer than many know. In this definitive account, Sasha Issenberg vividly guides us through same-sex marriage’s unexpected path from the unimaginable to the inevitable. It is a story that begins in Hawaii in 1990, when a rivalry among local activists triggered a sequence of events that forced the state to justify excluding gay couples from marriage. In the White House, one president signed the Defense of Marriage Act, which elevated the matter to a national issue, and his successor tried to write it into the Constitution. Over twenty-five years, the debate played out across the country, from the first legal same-sex weddings in Massachusetts to the epic face-off over California’s Proposition 8 and, finally, to the landmark Supreme Court decisions of United States v. Windsor and Obergefell v. Hodges. From churches to hedge funds, no corner of American life went untouched.
This richly detailed narrative follows the coast-to-coast conflict through courtrooms and war rooms, bedrooms and boardrooms, to shed light on every aspect of a political and legal controversy that divided Americans like no other. Following a cast of characters that includes those who sought their own right to wed, those who fought to protect the traditional definition of marriage, and those who changed their minds about it, The Engagement is certain to become a seminal book on the modern culture wars.
Details
Discover the captivating journey behind the most significant civil rights breakthrough of our time – America's Quarter-Century Struggle Over Same-Sex Marriage. A powerful and eye-opening account of the battle for marriage equality, this book explores the conflict that culminated in the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark ruling legalizing same-sex unions nationwide. Packed with intimate details, compelling court cases, and intense public persuasion, this New York Times Notable Book sheds light on the unexpected path that led to this historic moment.
In 1990, the fight for marriage equality ignited in Hawaii, where local activists triggered a chain of events that challenged the exclusion of gay couples from marriage. As the debate spread across the nation, it reached the White House, where one president signed the Defense of Marriage Act and another attempted to enshrine it in the Constitution. Over twenty-five years, the battle unfolded in courtrooms, war rooms, bedrooms, and boardrooms, leaving no area of American life untouched.
Author Sasha Issenberg delves into the gripping conflicts and power struggles that defined this polarizing issue. From Massachusetts, where the first legal same-sex weddings took place, to the epic showdown over California's Proposition 8, and finally, to the groundbreaking Supreme Court decisions of United States v. Windsor and Obergefell v. Hodges, this meticulously researched and engrossing narrative offers a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of same-sex marriage.
Through the lens of diverse characters – individuals fighting for their right to marry, defenders of the traditional definition of marriage, and those whose perspectives underwent a profound transformation – The Engagement brings vividness and depth to America's culture wars. It unravels the complex layers of this political and legal controversy, leaving readers with a profound comprehension of the impact of same-sex marriage on our society. Don't miss the chance to immerse yourself in this seminal book that sheds light on one of the most defining struggles in recent history.
Take the first step towards this thought-provoking journey by clicking here. Experience the highs, lows, and groundbreaking triumphs of the fight for marriage equality, and gain invaluable insights into our nation's evolution.
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