Defending Same-Sex Marriage [3 volumes]

by Martin Dupuis, William A. Thompson, Traci C. West

Overview

Today we find ourselves at a crossroads of two powerful, unrelenting currents that are completely at odds with one another. The movement for legal recognition of same-sex unions has gone beyond the separate but equal status of civil unions to demand equality in marriage for all couples. Progress is being made on many fronts: mayoral action, clergy officiating at same-sex marriage and union ceremonies, state legislative responses, and street protests, to name a few. Meanwhile, opposition to same-sex marriage has also been gathering strength. The struggle is sure to continue unabated for some time to come, pitting those who believe in the traditional definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman—and who seek to codify this belief in the U.S. Constitution—against those who find the basis for marriage between two loving, committed individuals not only in the history of our civil rights legislation and court decisions, but also in scripture and sacred religious traditions. Those who believe in extending to same-sex couples the 1,049 rights conferred by marriage as well as the supportive embrace of religious communities seek to strengthen the institution of marriage by making it inclusive and by passing laws and broadening doctrines to uphold marriage rights for all couples. This three-volume set clarifies the legal, political, religious, cultural, and social ramifications of same-sex marriage for gay and lesbian couples and their families and friends, and for the general public interested in the future of civil rights in the United States.

Volume 1: Separate but Equal No More: A Guide to the Legal Status of Same-Sex Marriage, Civil Unions, and Other Partnerships, edited by Mark Strasser, who is also General Editor of the set, includes discussions of different kinds of legally recognized same-sex unions in the United States.

Volume 2: Our Family Values: Same-Sex Marriage and Religion, edited by Traci C. West, contains an array of religious traditions, practices, and leaders that support same-sex marriage, and describes the struggles for its recognition within denominations, including analysis of racial dynamics.

Volume 3: The Freedom-to-Marry Movement: Education, Advocacy, Culture, and the Media, edited by Martin Dupuis and William A. Thompson, explores the political movement to legalize and recognize same-sex marriage and unions, including the movement's education and advocacy efforts and its opposition.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275987725
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	12/30/2006
Series:	Praeger Perspectives Series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	888
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.60(h) x 3.00(d)

About the Author

Mark Strasser is Trustees Professor of Law at Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio. He (with Lynn Wardle, William Duncan, and David Coolidge) is co-editor of Marriage and Same-Sex Unions: A Debate (Praeger, 2003), and is the author of On Same-Sex Marriage, Civil Unions, and the Rule of Law: Constitutional Interpretation at the Crossroads (Praeger, 2002), The Challenge of Same-Sex Marriage: Federalist Principles and Constitutional Protections (Praeger, 1999), Legally Wed: Same-Sex Marriage and the Constitution (1997), and three other books. He has written more than sixty articles in the areas of constitutional law, family law, and tort.

Traci C. West is Associate Professor of Ethics and African American Studies at Drew University Theological School in Madison, New Jersey. She is the author of Disruptive Christian Ethics: When Racism and Women's Lives Matter (2006), Wounds of the Spirit: Black Women, Violence, and Resistance Ethics (1999), as well as several articles on violence against women, clergy ethics, racism, sexuality, and other justice issues in church and society. She is an ordained United Methodist minister who has previously served in parish and campus ministry.

Martin Dupuis is the Assistant Dean of the Burnett Honors College and Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Central Florida. His research on same-sex marriage and gay and lesbian politics has been published in a number of books and journals.

William A. Thompson is a librarian with the rank of Assistant Professor at Western Illinois University. He has been, is now, and ever shall be, an activist for gay and lesbian concerns.

Table of Contents

Volume I

General Editors Foreword, Mark Strasser

Introduction

1. Massachusetts: Cradle of Liberty

2. Civil Union: A Reappraisal

3. Domestic Partnerships

4. The Right to Marry, the San Francisco Experience and Lessons Learned

5. Corporate Domestic Partner Benefits

6. The Role of Anti-Gay Family Amendments in the 2004 Election

7. The Defense of Marriage ActFederal Level

8. Four Arguments Against a Marriage Amendment That Even an Opponent of Gay Marriage Should Accept

9. Adoption, Custody and the Rights of Children

About the Editor and Contributors

Selected Resources

Index

Acknowledgements

Volume II

Introduction

Part I: Faith, Culture, and History

1. Hindu Traditions

2. Married in the Sight of God: Martin Luther, Theology, and Same-Sex Unions

3. Religion and the Freedom to Marry: Historical Reflections on Marriage Equality in America

4. Testifying to the Blues: Sexuality and the Black Church

Part II: Faith and Practice

5. Same-Sex Marriage and Roman Catholicism

6. Kiddushin: An Equal Opportunity Covenant, Not Only for Heterosexuals

7. Speaking of Lutherans: The Journey of an Odd Advocate

8. A Buddhist Argument for Same-Sex Unions

9. A Methodist Supports Homosexual Marriage: A Study of Scripture and Tradition

10. A Christian Apologetic for Same-Sex Marriage

11. Each Muslim Has the Right to Find Their Mate Who Is Their Comfort and Cloak

Part III: Faithful Struggle

12. Marriage in a New Key: A Presbyterian Maps the Terrain of a Progressive Christianity

13. Naming the Problem: Black Clergy, U.S. Politics, and Marriage Equality

14. The Reformed Church in America: One Denominations Response to Same-Sex Marriage

15. Making Justice/Showing Love: The Episcopal Church and Same Sex Marriage

16. Love Wins: An Easy Gospel for Unitarian Universalism

17. Embracing Marriage Equality: A Faithful Call to Pentecostal Christians

Part IV: Faithfully Practicing Equality

18. Reconstructionist Judaism and Marriage Equality

19. When Covenant-Making Becomes Justice-Making: A San Francisco Pastors Story

20. Affirmation of Marriage Equality in the UCC: The Historic Moment at Our Synod

Appendix: A Sampling of Religious Wedding and Holy Union Ceremonies for Same-Sex Couples

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Volume III

Introduction

Part One: Advocacy and Activism

1. Marriage Equality and Some Lessons for the Scary Work of Winning

2. The Gay Marriage Struggle: Whats at Stake and How Can We Win?

3. Laying the Ground Work: Early Organizing in Vermont

4. Grass Roots Organizing: Lessons from the Garden State

5. The Wedding Party

Part Two: Education and Media

6. Deconstructing Arguments Against Same-Sex Marriage

7. PerfectUnion.net: Cyber-Organizing to Democratize Marriage

8. From Gay Bashing to Gay Baiting: Public Opinion and

News Media Frames for Gay Marriage

9. Introduction to American Government: What College Students Are Reading about Same-Sex Marriage

Part Three: Cultural Perspectives

10. Arnt We a Couple? A Historical Comparison of Slave Marriages and Same-Sex Marriages

11. African American Responses to Same-Sex Marriage

12. Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace: Same-Sex Relationships in Native American Culture

13. Hispanic and Latino Same-Sex Couple Households in the United States: A Report from the 2000 Census

About the Editors and Contributors

Editorial Reviews

"This work on same-sex marriage is about inequalities and injustices experienced by families. The essayists seem certain that same-sex marriage has become the alpha and omega of the gay and lesbian cause, humanizing both the issues and lesbian and gay people. And it is successful. Since the book's publication, New Hampshire has joined Massachusetts, Vermont, California, Hawai'i, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia in recognizing same-sex unions. Oregon follows in 2008. Highly recommended. All levels/libraries." - Choice

"As the title to this three-volume set makes clear, contributors share the belief of chief editor Strasser that individuals, the state, and society as a whole would benefit were marriage laws to made more inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersexual (LGBTI) people. Each volume addresses these benefits and related issues from different perspectives." - Reference & Research Book News

From the Publisher