What happens when the freedom of association collides with the equally cherished principle that every individual should be free from invidious discrimination? This is the question posed in Boy Scouts of America v. James Dale, a lawsuit that made its way through the courts over the course of a decade. Richard J. Ellis tells the fascinating story of the Dale case, placing it in the context of legal principles and precedents, Scouts policies, gay rights and the "culture wars” in American politics.