The history shaping todays debate over gay equality written by george chauncey describes the history that has set the stage for the debate over gay marriage today 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. Angry debate over gay marriage has divided the nation as no other issue since the vietnam war why has marriage suddenly emerged as the most explosive issue in the gay struggle for equality at times it seems to have come out of nowhere but in fact it has a history. This item why marriage the history shaping todays debate over gay equality by george chauncey paperback cdn2499 in stock ships from and sold by amazonca. Why has marriage suddenly emerged as the most explosive issue in the gay struggle for equality at times it seems to have come out of nowhere but in fact it has a history george chauncey offers an electrifying analysis of the history of the shifting attitudes of heterosexual ame angry debate over gay marriage has divided the nation as no other . Gay marriage is a hotly debated issue today pitting gays and lesbians at one extreme against religious conservatives at the other many gays and lesbians on the one hand believe that the view of marriage as being between one man and one woman is one of the last bastions of legal prejudice like the last whites only country club that devalues and discriminates against gays and lesbians