Contemporary Debates – serie

This is the first reference book to provide a detailed assessment of the Affordable Care Act, explaining the realities and myths surrounding one of the most divisive political struggles in recent U.S. history.The Affordable Care Act—also known as Obamacare—is one of the most controversial and politicized topics in the United States today. This timely book examines prominent claims about the legislation's drafting, debate, passage, and implementation, and discerns what is true and false about the law. Each of the text's eight chapters delves into the common beliefs, misinterpretations, and myths surrounding the act, tracing the history of the assertion and supporting or challenging its veracity through nonpartisan research and analyses.Chapters begin with an objective look at the claim's origins—with a brief focus on the person or group that conceived it and why—then set about clarifying or debunking it using evidence from research studies and reports from authoritative sources. Entries feature primary documents, a further reading section, and tables and graphs. Topics include the impact on health care costs for families, states, and the federal government; the effect of the Affordable Care Act on employer-sponsored insurance; and the role of health status on coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

What are the myths and truths regarding immigration in the United States? This book provides readers with an impartial understanding of the true state of immigration and immigration policy in the United States by refuting falsehoods, misinformation, and exaggerations surrounding this topic—and confirming the validity of other assertions.Immigration: Examining the Facts provides a one-stop resource for straight answers on the impact—both positive and negative—of immigration trends on the United States. Its coverage of key issues serves students as well as members of the general public who want to better understand immigration trends and their effect on various aspects of American society. By utilizing quantifiable information from objective, authoritative sources, readers will be able to make informed judgments about immigration claims made by both liberals and conservatives.The book analyzes specific claims about immigration that are perpetuated through media or public discourse, identifies the origins of these claims, and then offers empirical data from impartial research sources to consider the veracity of those claims. Organized into subject chapters, each of which addresses assertions about specific immigration topics, this resource gives students and other users the tools to gain a more accurate understanding of the issue, improve their critical thinking skills, and increase their awareness of the views and strategies of political parties, lawmakers, news organizations, and advocacy groups on this important subject.

Climate change is one of the most controversial and misunderstood issues of the 21st century. This book provides a clear understanding of the issue by presenting scientific facts to refute falsehoods and misinformation—and to confirm the validity of other assertions.Is public understanding of global warming suffering from politically biased news coverage? Is it true that the global scientific community has not reached a consensus on whether humans are causing climate change? This important book addresses these questions and many more about global warming, identifying common claims about climate change and using quantifiable, evidence-based information to examine their veracity.The authors of this work examine 35 specific claims that have been made about global climate change by believers and skeptics. These assertions—some true, some false—will guide readers to a much deeper understanding of the extent of climate change; whether any climate change that is taking place is human-caused; whether climate change is likely to be a serious problem in the future; whether scientists agree on the fundamentals of climate change; and whether climate change impacts can be mitigated. Examples of specific issues that are scrutinized and explained in the book include: trends in the extent and condition of Arctic and Antarctic Sea ice packs, the accuracy of climate forecasting models, whether extreme weather events are increasing as a result of climate change, and the benefits and drawbacks of various schemes to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

Drawing on scientific evidence from medicine, psychology, criminology, and sociology, this book explores the veracity of claims about marijuana use and misuse.Is marijuana an innocent recreational pleasure and medicinal boon or an evil that must be outlawed to protect the American public? With the legal and social status of marijuana in transition, accurate and objective information regarding its use is necessary for informed decisionmaking in both the personal and political arenas. To distinguish truth from fiction, this book draws on scientific evidence from medicine, psychology, criminology, and sociology, exploring many of the most commonly held beliefs about marijuana and documenting the scope and impact of its use—and abuse—in the United States.The work is organized around five broad topics: patterns and trends; risks and benefits; causes and consequences; criminalization; and practice and policy. It opens with examinations of use and abuse trends among various U.S. subpopulations, then goes on to scrutinize claims about the medical risks associated with the substance. Social and interpersonal causes and consequences of marijuana use are addressed, as is the history and future of marijuana legislation in the United States. Readers will come away from this book with broad-based knowledge about marijuana—and a scientifically grounded understanding of the benefits and risks of marijuana use.

Synthesizing recent scholarship in law and the social sciences on criminal sentencing and corrections, this book provides a thorough, balanced, and accessible survey of the major policy issues in these fields of persistent public interest and political debate.After three decades of explosive growth, the American incarceration rate is impracticably high. Drawing on leading research in law and the social sciences, this book covers a range of topics in sentencing and corrections in America in a manner that is accessible and engaging for general readers.Tackling high-level issues in the criminal justice system, it outlines the scale and causes of mass incarceration in the United States. To complement this, it details the roles and relative power of judges and prosecutors, the severity of punishment for drug offenders and white-collar offenders, the abuse of prisoners and the enforcement of prisoner rights, and repeat offending by released prisoners. Readers will better understand the challenges that come with a high incarceration rate, such as the management of mental illness in the criminal justice system, the management of sex offenders, and the impact of parental incarceration on children. Looking ahead, this timely resource also considers prospects for reducing current incarceration levels, the availability and effectiveness of alternatives to incarceration, and the future of capital punishment.

This book closely examines controversial claims and beliefs surrounding poverty and anti-poverty programs in the United States. It authoritatively dismantles falsehoods, half-truths, and misconceptions, leaving readers with an unbiased, accurate understanding of these issues.Poverty and Welfare in America: Examining the Facts, like every book in the Contemporary Debates series, is intended to puncture rather than perpetuate myths that diminish our understanding of important policies and positions; to provide needed context for misleading statements and claims; and to confirm the factual accuracy of other assertions. This book clarifies some of the most contentious and misunderstood aspects of American poverty and the social welfare programs that have been crafted to combat it over the years. In addition to providing up-to-date data about the extent of American poverty among various demographic groups in the United States, it examines the chief causes of poverty in the 21st century, including divorce, disability, and educational shortfalls. Moreover, the book provides an evenhanded examination of the nation's social welfare agencies and the effectiveness of various social service programs managed by those agencies in addressing and reducing poverty.

This installment in the critically acclaimed Contemporary Debates series uses evidence-based documentation to provide a full and impartial examination of beliefs and claims made about Muslim individuals, families, and communities in the United States.Muslims in America: Examining the Facts provides an objective overview of the realities and experiences of Muslims in the United States, both historically and in the present day, and of their relationship with their fellow Americans. It surveys the history of American Muslims' settlement and integration into the United States; explores the dominant social, political, cultural, and economic characteristics of American Muslim families and communities; and studies the ways in which their experiences and beliefs intersect with various notions of American national identity. In the process, the book critically examines the more dominant social and political narratives and claims surrounding American Muslims and their religion of Islam, including false or malicious claims about their attitudes toward terrorism and other important issues. Muslims in America: Examining the Facts thus gives readers a clear and accurate understanding of the actual lives, actions, and beliefs of Muslim people in the United States.

This book provides a comprehensive and impartial overview of laws and norms regarding free speech and censorship in the United States, with a particular focus on free speech rights and restrictions for individuals, politicians, corporations, and news organizations.Free Speech and Censorship: Examining the Facts is part of a series that uses evidence-based documentation to examine the veracity of claims and beliefs about high-profile issues in American culture and politics. This volume examines beliefs, claims, and myths about free speech and censorship issues in American society, including landmark court decisions and evolving cultural values that have shaped our understanding of the First Amendment and the liberties it enshrines and protects. Specific chapters in the volume explore basic principles of free speech; unprotected types of speech; conditionally protected speech; restrictions and regulations governing protected speech; free speech limitations in school settings; the corrosive impact of politicians and social media platforms that spread distortions and falsehoods under free speech pretexts; and free speech as a general cultural ideal. Together, these chapters will provide readers with a thorough and accurate grounding in their First Amendment rights and responsibilities.

This book provides a comprehensive and impartial overview of the state of American journalism and news-gathering in the 21st century, with a special focus on the rise—and meaning—of "fake news."A part of ABC-CLIO's Examining the Facts series, which uses evidence-based documentation to examine the veracity of claims and beliefs about high-profile issues in American culture and politics, this volume examines beliefs, claims, and myths about American journalism and news media. It offers a comprehensive overview of the field of American journalism, including contemporary issues and historical foundations, and places modern problems such as "fake news" and misinformation in the context of larger technological and economic forces. The book illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of journalistic practices so readers can feel empowered to navigate the complex information environment in which we live and to understand the level to which various news sources can (or can't) be trusted to provide accurate and timely coverage of issues and events of import to the public and the nation. These skills and knowledge structures are necessary for any citizen who wishes to be an informed participant in a self-governing democratic society.

"A convenient, information-rich source for anyone interested in schooling." – Library JournalThis title gives readers a clear understanding of the true state of public and private education systems in the USA by refuting falsehoods, misunderstandings, and exaggerations – and confirming the validity of other assertions.Issues covered include categories of public and private schools and variations in academic performance and socioeconomic status therein; controversies surrounding school choice, including school vouchers and charter schools; accountability and assessment of private and public schools; debates about school environment, safety, and curricula; and teacher and administrator quality. All of these issues are examined in individualized entries, with objective responses grounded in evidence.

An authoritative, comprehensive overview of economic, political, and environmental drivers of America's energy picture, from trends in the production and consumption of fossil fuels and renewables to the state of the national energy grid.Energy Resources: Examining the Facts is part of a series that uses evidence-based documentation to examine the veracity of claims and beliefs about high-profile issues in American culture and politics. Each book in the Contemporary Debates series is intended to puncture rather than perpetuate myths that diminish our understanding of important policies and positions; to provide needed context for misleading statements and claims; and to confirm the factual accuracy of other assertions.This installment in the series provides a comprehensive overview of all energy resources used in the United States, including fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal), nuclear power, hydropower, other major renewables (solar and wind), and even smaller energy sources, such as wood products (biomass), ethanol, plant-based fluids/gases, and geothermal, that have meaningful potential for future growth. The framework of laws and regulations in which energy resources are developed, produced, and overseen is described, as are the ways in which economic development powered by different energy resources is impacting people and ecosystems in the United States and around the world.

This work provides readers with an authoritative resource for understanding the true extent and nature of gun violence in America, examining the veracity of claims and counterclaims about mass shootings, gun laws, and public attitudes about gun control.This work is part of a series that uses evidence-based documentation to examine the veracity of claims and beliefs about high-profile issues in American culture and politics. Each book in the Contemporary Debates series is intended to puncture rather than perpetuate myths that diminish our understanding of important policies and positions; to provide needed context for misleading statements and claims; and to confirm the factual accuracy of other assertions.This particular volume examines beliefs, claims, and myths about gun violence, gun laws, and gun rights in the United States. Issues covered in the book include trends in firearm violence, mass shootings, the impact of gun ownership on rates and types of crime, regulations and Supreme Court decisions regarding gun control and the Second Amendment, and the activities and influence of organizations ranging from the National Rifle Association to Everytown for Gun Safety. All of these topics are examined in individualized entries, with objective responses grounded in up-to-date evidence.

This title gives students and other users a clear understanding of the true state of voting and representative democracy in the United States by impartially examining claims surrounding voter fraud, voter suppression, gerrymandering, and other voting-related issues in the U.S.This work is part of a series that uses evidence-based documentation to examine the veracity of claims and beliefs about high-profile issues in American culture and politics. Each book in the Contemporary Debates series is intended to puncture rather than perpetuate myths that diminish our understanding of important policies and positions; to provide needed context for misleading statements and claims; and to confirm the factual accuracy of other assertions.This particular volume examines beliefs, claims, and myths about voting and elections in the United States. Issues covered include constitutional provisions concerning the franchise, constitutional amendments expanding the vote to previously disenfranchised groups, the specific provisions of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965, and modern-day controversies swirling around claims of voter suppression for partisan gain, voter fraud, and partisan gerrymandering. All of these issues are examined in individualized entries, with objective responses grounded in up-to-date evidence.

"A balanced and thorough look at the United States' most important contemporary race issues, with timely content and excellent supporting documentation." – Library JournalThis book is an essential resource for anyone who wants to understand race in America, drawing on research from a variety of fields to answer frequently asked questions regarding race relations, systemic racism, and racial inequality.Readers will gain a better understanding of high-interest topics such as white privilege, racial bias in criminal justice, media bias, housing segregation, educational inequality, disparities in employment, racial stereotypes, and personal attitudes about race and ethnicity in America. The authors draw from scholarly research in biology, genetics, medicine, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and economics to answer these questions, and in doing so they prepare readers to enter any conversation about American race relations in the 21st century as informed citizens.

"Given the current sociopolitical climate, this reference provides much-needed informationon the challenges the LGBTQ community faces today." – ChoiceThis indispensable book debunks common myths and misconceptions about the LGBTQ community while providing accurate information about LGBTQ people, their successes and shared history, and the current challenges they face in American society.This book provides readers with a clear and unbiased understanding of what it means to be LGBTQ in the United States in the 2020s. Beginning with the origins of LGBTQ identity and history, the book addresses the current status of the LGBTQ community; gender expectations and performance in American culture; transgender and non-binary identity; behaviors and outcomes associated with LGBTQ people; and, finally, diversity within the community. Utilizing authoritative sources and lay-friendly definitions and explanations, this work punctures myths, misconceptions, and incorrect assumptions about sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expectations and norms. In addition, it provides an illuminating record of the history of discrimination and mistreatment to which LGBTQ people have historically been subjected in America. At a time when information itself is increasingly fraught in American political discourse, this book provides facts and context for the most important questions facing LGBTQ Americans, past, present, and future.

This wide-ranging resource uses evidence-based documentation to examine claims and beliefs – and provide the facts – about sexual assault and harassment and other forms of sexual violence in the United States.Each title in the Contemporary Debates series examines the veracity of controversial claims or beliefs surrounding a major political/cultural issue in the United States. They do so to give readers a clear and unbiased understanding of current issues by informing them about falsehoods, half-truths, and misconceptions – and confirming the factual validity of other assertions – that have gained traction in America's political and cultural discourse. Ultimately, this series has been crafted to give readers the tools for a fuller understanding of issues, events, policies, and laws that occupy center stage in American life and politics.This volume in the series addresses the issue of sexual violence in the U.S. It includes chapters devoted to quantifying the extent of the problems of sexual assault and harassment; demographic groups most likely to experience sexual violence; physical, emotional, and societal impacts of sexual assault; how investigations of sex-related charges are conducted; laws and policies pertaining to both victims and offenders; and sexual violence prevention and response services outside of the criminal justice system.

This vital resource is devoted to providing nonpartisan, objective analysis of the national debt, including leading drivers of the debt, the budgetary process, and claims and counter-claims about national debt benefits and drawbacks.This indispensable resource provides readers with a clear and unbiased understanding of the national debt and its relationship to the US economic system. The book addresses the foundations and major elements of America's budgetary process, details how government taxing and spending priorities impact the nation's debt, explains the difference between deficits and debt, and summarizes dominant conservative and liberal economic perspectives on the national debt and related fiscal issues.Utilizing authoritative resources and accessible, lay-friendly terminology, this book punctures popular myths and misconceptions about America's national debt. It also shines a light on the numerous economic, social, and political drivers of our national conversation about the debt — and the ways in which the national debt is likely to influence the lives of future generations of Americans. At a time when American political discourse often descends into fact-free zones of wishful thinking and deceptive claims, this book provides information for readers to truly understand the national debt.

A RUSA Outstanding Reference Source 2023This resource provides clear, unbiased, and up-to-date information on vaccination, which protects the world's populations not only from pandemics like COVID-19 but other dangerous diseases as well.Everyone has opinions about vaccines, but what are the facts? This book asks – and answers – questions such as how vaccines work, what causes side effects, and how COVID-19 vaccines were developed so quickly. It also addresses broader questions, such as how to protect vaccine supply chains and how to prevent public health issues from being politicized. In addition to correcting well-known misinformation and misunderstandings about vaccines (such as false claims that they have been linked to autism), this book also provides up-to-date research on ways to counter misinformation and decrease vaccine hesitancy.

This volume explores the many ways in which politics shapes the allegedly nonpartisan judicial system in America, ranging from how judges are selected to the bench to how they rule when they get there. Each title in the Contemporary Debates series examines the veracity of controversial claims or beliefs surrounding a major political/cultural issue in the United States. Each book gives readers a clear and unbiased understanding of current high-interest issues by informing them about falsehoods, half-truths, and misconceptions — and confirming the factual validity of other assertions — that have gained traction in America's cultural and political discourse.This volume in the series provides a deeply researched and even-handed account of the relationship between America's judicial branch — which is supposed to view law through a nonpartisan lens — and the sometimes poisonous partisanship that is such a notorious factor in the nation's other two branches of government. Is political combat over judicial nominations worse than ever before? What impact is the politicization of the courts having on public faith in the legitimacy of the courts and our wider political system? Was former Supreme Court justice Sandra Day right when she asserted that "judicial independence is a bedrock principle of our court system, and we are losing it"? This work will provide insights into all these questions and more.

Domestic violence has a devastating impact on partners, spouses, families and communities. This resource explores the emotional and physical toll of domestic violence as well as the programs and reforms that have been crafted to intervene in abuse situations and provide assistance to victims. This book helps readers understand the extent to which domestic violence permeates American society, the socioeconomic and psychological drivers of that violence, and efforts to reform legal and law enforcement systems to make their policies and practices more sensitive to those who have been abused and victimized. It asks and answers questions related to root causes of domestic violence, risk factors, legal options for people in domestic violence situations, and violence prevention programs and services.

Gives readers the resources to explore and understand the wide range of factors that shape American foreign policy, as well as a fact-based approach to examining partisan debates about national security priorities, economic prosperity, capitalism, and human rights.How much foreign aid does the United States give foreign countries? How many military bases do US forces have around the world, and for what reasons? Why are US attitudes about the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) so important to economic and political stability in Europe? Where do America's political parties stand on issues of free trade, counterterrorism, human rights, economic exploitation, and international cooperation on environmental issues such as climate change? How have US relations with China and Russia changed over the last half century?This fact-checking resource answers all these questions and more, drawing on essential primary sources, authoritative government studies and reports, and top experts in the field. Rather than a specific ideological approach to the topic, this book presents the facts pertaining to the most consequential issues in American foreign policy and international relations today.

Written in vivid prose and with a keen eye for detail, Women's Equality in America is a valuable resource for understanding the issues and trends that dominate public discourse in discussions of women's rights and gender equality in America.Since its inception, the women's equality movement in America has been criticized for moving too slowly, moving too quickly, being too demanding, or not being demanding enough. Some of its goals have aroused passionate opposition in those who believed women's equality contradicted not only basic human biology, but also the word of God. Meanwhile, Americans voice starkly different opinions about where women stand in their quest for equality in American workplaces, classrooms, boardrooms, and homes.Women's Equality in America: Examining the Facts presents sensibly-organized and accurate summaries of the relevant facts concerning all of these claims and counterclaims. But while the volume is primarily concerned with providing an accurate picture of the state of women's equality in the 21st century, it also provides vital contextual coverage of major historical turning points and important historical figures, from leaders of the Seneca Falls women's rights convention in 1848 to the organizers of the #MeToo movement.

This resource uses evidence-based documentation to examine the veracity of claims and beliefs about the state, nature, and extent of media bias in American news media, including social media, television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and other media outlets. The book provides students and other readers with a clear and accurate understanding of claims of media bias (both conservative and liberal) in the United States by refuting falsehoods, misunderstandings, and exaggerations surrounding this topic – and confirming the validity of other assertions. In addition, this sourcebook examines claims and assertions about media bias in other realms of American life, from popular entertainment to social media platforms.Media Bias: Examining the Facts has been specifically crafted to give readers the tools for a fuller and more accurate understanding of the facts surrounding controversial issues, policies, and laws that occupy center stage in American life and politics. Specific areas of focus in this volume include defining and understanding conscious and unconscious bias; the evolution of the news industry and partisan news sources in the digital age; the ways in which political polarization exacerbates media bias, laws and practices that govern the operations of news media; and clear examples of conservative and liberal bias in such media sectors as cable and broadcast news, radio, newspapers and magazines, talk radio, and online platforms.

Deeply researched and scrupulously even-handed, this work provides readers with a clear and accurate understanding of human trafficking and related issues related to socioeconomic inequality, human rights, and international law.Human Trafficking: Examining the Facts exposes falsehoods, half-truths, and distortions about trafficking that have gained traction in America's political and cultural discourse. When warranted, it also confirms the veracity of other claims about the nature and infrastructure of trafficking networks and the harrowing experiences of women, men, and children trapped in those dehumanizing systems.Special areas of focus include chapters devoted to quantifying the scope and reach of human trafficking around the world; prosecution and prevention strategies; the experiences of trafficking survivors and the important role they play in anti-trafficking efforts; and the successes and failures of anti-trafficking initiatives carried out by governments and law enforcement agencies around the world.

How did industrialization drive the development of consumer rights and protections in the USA? How have these laws defended consumers against business fraud, deceptive advertising, industrial pollution, and unsafe or unethical practices? Why have opinions about the value of consumer rights and the need for business regulation become so politically polarizing? Which activists, laws, events, and agencies have had the greatest impact on consumer rights? This all-in-one resource answers these questions and many more, providing readers with insights into the past, present, and possible futures of consumer rights in America.The book's opening chapters explore the history and evolution of consumer rights, paying particular attention to the laws and arguments upon which those protections were built and hold continued importance. Later chapters explore how consumer rights have evolved in specific industries, including food and beverage; cosmetics; health care and pharmaceutical; transportation; and banking and finance. Together, this coverage provides a wide-ranging resource for understanding the state of consumer protection and business regulation in the 21st century.

Authoritative and insightful, this wide-ranging overview of police abuse and violence in American society offers a one-stop primer for understanding the forces driving abusive and violent police misconduct. In addition to chronicling specific notorious and controversial examples of police violence and abuse, this work delves into the root causes of police misconduct, details the varied responsibilities and culture of law enforcement in American communities, and examines the arguments for and against efforts and proposals to reform and improve police departments. In the process, Police Abuse and Reform in America gives readers a clear and unbiased understanding of the issue by carefully examining claims about the root causes and extent of police violence and abuse in the USA, as well as the efficacy of efforts to reform and improve law enforcement performance. For example, featured essays tackle such questions as whether policing has become more dangerous over time, whether police abuse is more prevalent in communities of color, and whether reforms to address and curb incidents of police abuse are effective or counterproductive. In addition, the book examines events such as the Rodney King beating of 1992, the 2014 killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020 as pivot points in American police history and the social movement landscape.

"A balanced and thorough look at the United States' most important contemporary race issues, with timely content and excellent supporting documentation." – Library JournalThis book is an essential resource for anyone who wants to understand race in America, drawing on research from a variety of fields to answer frequently asked questions regarding race relations, systemic racism, and racial inequality.Readers will gain a better understanding of high-interest topics such as white privilege, racial bias in criminal justice, media bias, housing segregation, educational inequality, disparities in employment, racial stereotypes, and personal attitudes about race and ethnicity in America. The authors draw from scholarly research in biology, genetics, medicine, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and economics to answer these questions, and in doing so they prepare readers to enter any conversation about American race relations in the 21st century as informed citizens.

"A convenient, information-rich source for anyone interested in schooling." – Library JournalThis title gives readers a clear understanding of the true state of public and private education systems in the USA by refuting falsehoods, misunderstandings, and exaggerations – and confirming the validity of other assertions.Issues covered include categories of public and private schools and variations in academic performance and socioeconomic status therein; controversies surrounding school choice, including school vouchers and charter schools; accountability and assessment of private and public schools; debates about school environment, safety, and curricula; and teacher and administrator quality. All of these issues are examined in individualized entries, with objective responses grounded in evidence.

"Given the current sociopolitical climate, this reference provides much-needed informationon the challenges the LGBTQ community faces today." – ChoiceThis indispensable book debunks common myths and misconceptions about the LGBTQ community while providing accurate information about LGBTQ people, their successes and shared history, and the current challenges they face in American society.This book provides readers with a clear and unbiased understanding of what it means to be LGBTQ in the United States in the 2020s. Beginning with the origins of LGBTQ identity and history, the book addresses the current status of the LGBTQ community; gender expectations and performance in American culture; transgender and non-binary identity; behaviors and outcomes associated with LGBTQ people; and, finally, diversity within the community. Utilizing authoritative sources and lay-friendly definitions and explanations, this work punctures myths, misconceptions, and incorrect assumptions about sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expectations and norms. In addition, it provides an illuminating record of the history of discrimination and mistreatment to which LGBTQ people have historically been subjected in America. At a time when information itself is increasingly fraught in American political discourse, this book provides facts and context for the most important questions facing LGBTQ Americans, past, present, and future.