George Chauncey is Professor and chair of History and former chair of LGBT Studies at Yale University in the U.S. He testified as an expert witness on the history of marriage and anti-gay discrimination at the Prop 8 trial in California (2010) and most of the other recent American court cases challenging the laws limiting marriage to heterosexual couples. Drawing on this experience, he will discuss the historical factors that led to the emergence of marriage as a major political issue in the US and why the courts and public opinion have become more supportive of marriage equality. He will also discuss the role of historical scholarship in these court cases and reflect on what it has been like as an academic historian to testify in them.

Cezayir meeting room is located in the same building with Cezayir Restaurant in Taksim. Cezayir is located on Hayriye Street, just behind the Galatasaray High School on İstiklal Street.

Note: Due to financial limitations, unfortunately, no translation will be provided during the conference.