Includes bibliographical references (pages 227-271) and index.
Contents:
Lawrence v. Texas reconsidered. Buchanan v. Batchelor and the evolution of the Texas sodomy statute, 1965-1974 -- The Texas homosexual conduct law in action, 1974-1982 -- Resisting the effects of the Texas homosexual conduct law, 1974-1982 -- Baker v. Wade, 1975-1986 -- Morales v. Texas and England v. City of Dallas, 1986-1994 -- Lawrence v. Texas reconsidered.
Summary:
"In Before Lawrence, Wesley Phelps recounts the legal challenges to discriminatory Texas sodomy laws before the major breakthrough in the U.S. Supreme Court's 2003 decision in Lawrence v. Texas. While most scholars and activists recognize the Lawrence decision to be the foundation for all subsequent gains for gay and lesbian equality in the twenty-first century, Phelps argues that the earlier legal challenges laid the necessary groundwork for the modern movement for queer civil rights. By probing the fascinating human stories behind these cases, this book offers a rare glimpse into an important component in the movement for gay and lesbian equality and constitutional reform in the United States. The main contribution of the book is to challenge the widely held assumption that the Lawrence v. Texas decision came out of nowhere in 2003. In reality, over several decades grassroots activists had been busy building the organizational groundwork and legal strategies necessary for this final victory over archaic sodomy laws in the United States. In the process, these activists played significant roles in creating and shaping our modern gay and lesbian rights movement"-- Provided by publisher.
Series:
Jack and Doris Smothers series in Texas history, life, and culture
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.