From the Closet to the Courtroom:
Five LGBT Rights Lawsuits That
Have Changed Our Nation
by Carlos Ball
KF4754.5 .A53 B35 2010
New Book Island, 2nd floor
Given that last week’s landmark decision made in California, I thought that this week’s featured title would be a very timely addition to the discussion.
Ball, law professor at Rutgers University, looks at the struggle faced by LGBT individuals, fighting for equality in all aspects of life. He closely examines five cases, ranging from harassment and discrimination to family and marriage, and their impact on the LGBT community and society as large. Instead of a regurgitation of the court decisions, the author explores the back stories of the cases, providing a human connection to the parties named in the lawsuits. Furthermore, the narratives include the brave people that defended these cases as well.
Interestingly enough, the chapter on harassment contains the case of Nabozny v Podlesny, which takes place right here in Wisconsin.
It all supports the viewpoint of a “sociocultural determinism, monistic, simplistic, etc.” We can’t think outside the current Box–yesteryear, women and the vote?? interracial mirage?? dekriminalising sodomy?? “Horrors, outlandish!” … today, all “Hail, Of-Course,” whereas saim-sex mirage?? Hmmmm. … Tomorrow, “Huh? Ho-Hum.” “Yeah of course G/L folk can marry, what’s your point??” … And that’ll be nice; only, nobody klarevoiently thought creatively and bravely outside the Box of Today’s Truths & Taboos. No; we are only puppets, can dance only to the tunes of the Puppetmaster of the Norms & Mores…) Otherwise, if Justice was valid earlier, why didn’t it arrive earlier?… [P.S.–Good thing however that today we all know what’s what, and no other overlooked, misunderstood injustices exist, eh… ]