Courting Equality: A Documentary History of America's First Legal Same-Sex Marriages

The battle for marriage equality with emphasis on “equality” has long been a part of the Massachusetts political spectrum.  This book by Pat Gozemba and Karen Kahn to my knowledge is the first of its kind to address the history and complexity of the LGBT struggle which led to full Constitutional protection on June 14th, 2007.  With Gozemba’s and Kahn’s writing and the amazing photographs by Marilyn Humphries, the reader becomes an active participant in what is becoming known as THE Civil Rights issue of the 21st Century.

Comment by Alexander from Boston — July 7, 2007 @ 3:39 pm

Marilyn Humphries’ photos are what make her so famous. When teamed with the well worded Dr. Pat Gozemba, and the highly talented editorial skills of Karen Kahn, The result you get is something legendary. This book is a must have for those either in the LGBT community, or interested in the quality of historical preservation. The passion communicated in both photo and word bring me right back to the times it heralds, and I should know, because I was there. Visit their website at courtingequality.com and you can see what makes this so special.

Comment by John Hosty from Salem, MA — July 7, 2007 @ 4:21 pm

In Massachusetts we have come to understand that this battle was about equality and about the preservation of democracy by not writing discrimination into our state constitution through a DOMA amendment more than about the right to marry.  Marilyn Humphries’ photographs vividly document the history of the Massachusetts LGBT community’s struggle for equal civil rights on a range of issues including marriage. The eloquent prose of Pat Gozemba and Karen Kahn recount the events that led up to the struggle for equal marriage and how we navigated our way through that struggle.  This is more that a history of marriage rights it is a history of equal rights and the power of democratic process. Courting Equality brings one right to the frontline of the struggle.  A great read.

Comment by Pat from Massachusetts — July 7, 2007 @ 10:27 pm