Homosexuality and the European Court of Human Rights

"Johnson's book provides an incredibly thorough discussion of the sheer range of cases dealing with homosexuality that have come before the Court since its inception. It is clearly a useful and thought-provoking text for anybody interested in the Court's jurisprudence in regard to homosexuality and its engagement with 'moral' issues more generally" - Flora Renz, Social and Legal Studies, 2014, Vol.23(2), 275-277.

"Johnson's book provides an incredibly thorough discussion of the sheer range of cases dealing with homosexuality that have come before the Court since its inception. It is clearly a useful and thought-provoking text for anybody interested in the Court's jurisprudence in regard to homosexuality and its engagement with 'moral' issues more generally" - Flora Renz, Social and Legal Studies, 2014, Vol.23(2), 275-277.

"[Homosexuality and the European Court of Human Rights] provides an extremely well detailed and clear analysis, that combines descriptive sections and prescriptive suggestions. The peculiar socio-legal perspective offers an original interpretation of the reasoning of the Court and it highlights how the legal culture of the Court, the scope that judges attribute to law and the moral judgment about the issue at stake shape the structure of legal actions and the judicial interpretation of the Convention. In conclusion, the Author's final remarks appear decisively convincing. Johnson, indeed, argues in favour of an explicit recognition of the Court in terms of a moral equality between heterosexuality and homosexuality and he advocates for a redefinition of the legal notion of homosexuality, so as to better legitimate the wide range of homosexual claims and secure the European safeguard of rights to which gay and lesbians are entitled. - Silvia Falcetta (University of Milan), Sociologia del diritto, 2(2), 2013.