Gay Rights (Library in a Book)

Praise for the previous edition:
"Kranz and Cusick...have taken on the daunting task of compiling a succinct, one-volume overview of gay rights in America...[and] have successfully covered the topic here...this work may provide a foundation for further research for both general readers and academic and public libraries."—Library Journal

President George W. Bush's attempts to pass a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage prompted fierce debates and made it clear that many Americans have very strong opinions on the matter. While gay rights have made huge steps over the past few decades, the struggle for equal rights continues. Gay Rights, Revised Edition is a concise, comprehensive guide to this highly contested topic.

The new edition includes approximately 40 percent new or greatly revised material, especially in the bibliography. The introduction, certain legal cases, the chronology, and appendixes have all been updated to include appropriate events and policy changes since the publication of the first edition. The biographical listings, glossary, and organizations chapters have been updated, and the annotated bibliography has been completely rewritten. Gay Rights, Revised Edition is perfect for anyone interested in issues related to gay rights, including policymakers, administrators, and attorneys, as well as teachers, students, parents, and the general public.

Gr 9 Up-A somewhat balanced overview of gay rights in the United States. Part I includes the history, laws, culture, significant events, biographical listings, and a glossary that covers an array of terms from a priori to visitation rights. Next, a "Guide to Further Research" offers tips for doing reports, an extensive annotated bibliography, which is slanted toward the pro side of gay rights, and a chapter on GLBT organizations and agencies. Appendixes include excerpts from major court decisions, from statements of government policies and legislation, and from major U.S. historical documents from the gay-rights debate. While this book does include a great deal of accurate information, there are some omissions. For instance, Ellen DeGeneres is included in the biographical listing but Melissa Etheridge, a pioneer activist in the entertainment industry, is not. OutProud is not among the many youth organizations listed. Also, the Deaf Queer Resource Center and the James C. Hormel Gay and Lesbian Center are not included. Finally, fact checking is amiss, as many of the organizations and agencies have changed addresses and now have Web sites that are not provided.-Betty S. Evans, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.