LGBTQ Historian; Author of "Gay New York"; Director, Columbia Research Initiative on the Global History of Sexualities

New York, NY, USA
Live Event: Please Contact Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000 More Fee Info

George Chauncey Biography

George Chauncey is a historian of LGBTQ life in the United States, recognized for helping to establish LGBTQ history as a significant area of academic research. Chauncey serves as the DeWitt Clinton Professor of American History and director of the Columbia Research Initiative on the Global History of Sexualities at Columbia University, focusing on the history of gender, sexuality, and urban life. When Chauncey began his graduate studies, he was one of just two doctoral researchers in gay and lesbian history nationwide. At that time, LGBTQ history was not widely recognized as a field, and he encountered both hostility and marginalization in the academic job market. Despite these challenges, Chauncey contributed to transforming the discipline.

Chauncey is best known for the book "Gay New York: Gender, Urban Culture, and the Making of the Gay Male World, 1890–1940," which challenged the notion that gay life existed only in secrecy before the 1960s. The book draws on newspapers, police records, oral histories, diaries, and other primary sources to demonstrate the visibility and vibrancy of gay communities in New York. It received five book awards, including the Merle Curti Award in social history, the Frederick Jackson Turner Prize, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for History, and the Lambda Literary Award for Gay Men's Studies. Chauncey also authored "Why Marriage? The History Shaping Today's Debate Over Gay Equality," which examines the history of gay and anti-gay activism and the origins of the movement for marriage equality. He has conducted extensive research on gay male culture, politics, and daily life in postwar New York City.

Chauncey has served as an expert witness in more than 30 gay rights cases, including Romer v. Evans, Lawrence v. Texas, and Supreme Court marriage equality cases. He organized and led the Historians' Amicus Brief in Lawrence v. Texas, which was influential in the Supreme Court's decision to overturn sodomy laws. His brief was also cited in the Supreme Court's marriage equality decision.

In addition to his scholarship, Chauncey has been recognized for his teaching. At Yale, he served as chair of the History Department, chair of the Committee for LGBT Studies, and director of graduate and undergraduate studies for the American Studies program. He received Yale's teaching prize for his lecture course on U.S. Lesbian and Gay History, which drew more than 300 students. Chauncey has also worked as a historical consultant for public history projects, including exhibitions and lecture series at the New York Public Library, Chicago History Museum, and New-York Historical Society, as well as several documentary films. He serves on the Board of Trustees of The New York Historical Society and was chief historian for the exhibition "The Gay Harlem Renaissance."

The Library of Congress awarded Chauncey the John W. Kluge Prize for Achievement in the Study of Humanity, making him the first scholar in LGBTQ studies to receive the honor. He is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Society of American Historians.

BOOK George Chauncey

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 06/09/2026.

George Chauncey Videos

Kluge Prize Award Ceremony

Kluge Prize Award Ceremony

George Chauncey 2022 winner of the John W. Kluge Prize for Achievement in the Study of Humanity will formally receive the award from ...

From Sexual Regulation to Antigay Discrimination

From Sexual Regulation to Antigay Discrimination

Library of Congress Chief Communications Officer Roswell Encina interviews Kluge Prize winner George Chauncey.

2022 Kluge Prize: George Chauncey

2022 Kluge Prize: George Chauncey

Historian George Chauncey will receive the 2022 John W. Kluge Prize for Achievement in the Study of Humanity. Chauncey is the DeWitt Clinton ...

  • How do I book George Chauncey to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like George Chauncey for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for George Chauncey, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for George Chauncey or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for George Chauncey

    Speaking fees for George Chauncey, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book George Chauncey are available upon request for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire George Chauncey, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does George Chauncey speak about?

    George Chauncey is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, Civil Rights, Education, History, LGBTQ, Professors, Social Activism, Social Justice, Social Sciences
  • Where does George Chauncey travel from?

    George Chauncey generally travels from New York, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is George Chauncey’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like George Chauncey for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book George Chauncey for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host George Chauncey or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

George Chauncey is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book George Chauncey for your event is available upon request. George Chauncey generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Lillian Faderman, Timothy Patrick McCarthy, Channing Gerard Joseph, Margot Canaday and AJ Hikes. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling George Chauncey for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email
  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP