"Why Marriage Matters" offers a compelling and clear discussion of a question at
the forefront of our national consciousness. It is the work of a brilliant civil
rights litigator who has dedicated his life to the protection of individuals'
rights and our Constitution's commitment to equal justice under the law. Above
all, it is a thoughtful, straightforward book that brings into sharp focus the
human significance of the right to marry in America -- not just for some
couples, but for all.
Whatever your personal beliefs, we all can agree that marriage equality provokes
both passion and tension, and looms large in our nation's politics. Marriage
means many things to many people -- emotionally, spiritually, intellectually --
but in these pages, Evan Wolfson demonstrates a truth that is undeniable:
Marriage is the legal gateway to a vast array of tangible and intangible
protections, responsibilities, and benefits, most of which cannot be replicated
in any other way.
Wolfson is a formidable legal thinker who has participated in landmark cases to
end race discrimination in jury trials, to secure the rights of battered married
women, and to challenge the abuse of power at the highest level in government.
Now, with extraordinary clarity, fascinating stories, and legal and historical
examples, he addresses the questions we as Americans are asking ourselves as we
consider how marriage equality will affect our lives. Why is the word "marriage"
so important? What are the stakes for America in this civil rights movement? How
can people of different faiths reconcile their beliefs with the idea of marriage
for same-sex couples? How will allowing gay couples to marry affect children?
Here you will find thorough, honest answers -- some that may surprise you, some
that will persuade you, many that will move you. Wolfson recalls the history of
past battles over marriage and movements for equality, and articulates the
everyday acts of discrimination that frame this current movement -- acts of
discrimination that, if faced by non-gay Americans, would provoke a resounding
cry of injustice.
Marriage matters because it is a foundation upon which most Americans build
dreams. It is the cornerstone of commitment one individual makes to another -- a
commitment we are taught is the highest expression of love, dedication, and
responsibility. In this, the most powerful, authoritative, and fairly
articulated book on the subject, Wolfson demonstrates why the right to marry is
important -- indeed necessary -- for all couples and for America's promise of
equality.
A a clear and honest essay explaining why gay marriage is important to the
health of marriage in America today, grounding his argument in common sense,
mainstream values and confronting the social conservatives on their own turf.
Andrew Sullivan, a pioneering voice in the debate, has brought together
two thousand years of argument in an anthology of historic
inclusiveness and evenhandedness.
A personal account of a gay couple's struggle to be married in the eyes
of both church and state.
On July 13, 2002, that Bourassa and Varnell received a favorable
decision from the Ontario superior court in their suit against the
provincial government.
Kevin Bourassa and Joe Varnell made international news headlines and
human rights history in January 2001 when they became the first gay
couple anywhere in the world to be issued a government marriage
certificate. The marriage would not become fully legal, however, until
the Ontario provincial government registered the marriage, and it refused
to do so. Bourassa, Varnell, and their church have brought a lawsuit
asking for legal registration, but the case is still in the courts.
Just Married is an account by Bourassa and Varnell of how their
church, the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto, decided to test the
Canadian marriage laws, and how they and a lesbian couple agreed to be
the ones to make the attempt. Under the Ontario Marriage Act, any adult
couple can be granted a marriage license if a church, following ancient
tradition, reads the marriage banns on the three Sundays prior to the
wedding. Joe and Kevin had long wished to be legally married in their
church. They expected controversy, but little expected the massive scale
of the international coverage that occurred, as reporting on their
intentions and their wedding of them shot across the Internet and their
photographs appeared in newspapers not only across North America but also
in Europe, Asia, and South America.
Despite the legal and political wrangling, the opposition and support
they received, the disputes among religious denominations and
organizations, and the glare of the media lights, this remains a story of
two people who chose to make a life together and sought the support of
both church and state for their marriage. They believe they have taken
part in an incredible event?one that will change the world, not just for
Canadians, but for citizens, families, and communities everywhere.
In 2000 Vermont became the first state to grant gay and lesbian couples the
right to join in civil unions-a groundbreaking decision that has inspired
similar legislation in six states thus far. But it was not an easy victory; the
ruling sparked the fiercest political conflict in the state's memory. David
Moats was in the thick of it, writing a series of balanced, humane editorials
that earned a Pulitzer Prize. Now he tells the intimate stories behind the
battle and introduces us to all the key actors in the struggle, including the
couples who first filed suit; the lawyers who spent years championing the case;
and the only openly gay legislator in Vermont, who ensured victory with an
impassioned, deeply personal speech on the House floor at a crucial moment.
Civil Wars is a remarkable drama of democracy at work on a human scale.
This anthology collects a diverse array of queer voices on the subject of
marriage: including poetry, prose, personal essays, nonfiction,
interviews, vows, rants, love letters, sermons, photography, sketches,
cartoons, and doodles. Silly to serious. In favor and against. Yay and
nay, in between, neither, or D) all of the above.
