Same-Sex Marriage: The Moral and Legal Debate

By: Rosenbaum, Stuart E.

On May 17, 2004, Massachusetts began performing marriages of same-sex couples. That state's Supreme Judicial Court had ruled in Goodridge v. Massachusetts Department of Public Health that "barring an individual from the protections, benefits, and obligations of civil marriage solely because that person would marry a person of the same sex violates the Massachusetts Constitution." Fearing that courts in other states would follow suit, President George W. Bush called for a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. More than a decade ago, the Hawaii Supreme Court came to a decision similar to Goodridge in Baehr v. Lewin, which prompted the passage of the Defense of Marriage Act.The issue of same-sex marriage has attracted the attention of the nation and has become one of the most heated social controversies. This completely revised and updated second edition of Same-Sex Marriage presents a balanced selection of the latest, the most diverse, and the most clearly argued positions advocated by academics, politicians, journalists, attorneys, judges, and activists. Divided into three sections, the first section covers the Massachusetts decision and reactions to it. Section 2 explores the emotional dimensions of the debate. Section 3 examines the philosophical arguments for and against officially sanctioning same-sex marriage.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1591022746
• ISBN13: 9781591022749
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Prometheus Books
• Length: 313 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.1" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Excellent assortment of readings

While this book does not have as many readings as Andrew Sullivan's _Gay Marriage: Pro and Con_, and while several of the readings exist in both books, it does contain much more scholarly information, such as court decisions and theological papers pertaining to the same-sex marriage debate. In addition to pieces such as Daniel Maguire's lengthy essay, "The Morality of Homosexual Marriage," which includes a fascinating introduction to the theory of probabilism (a theory which I have seen fit to wholeheartedly adopt in my own ethical writings), it also provides equally reasoned and researched arguments from the detractors of same-sex marriage, which I have been hard pressed to find elsewhere, that position having been mostly presented as self-evident.

just a starting point

The debate regarding same-sex marriages appears as if it will be a huge issue in 2004. For example,at the courthouse in San Francisco performed over 400 marriages (same sex) on February 14, 2004. They normally only perform a little over 400 weddings (opposite sex) a month. This means that many gay couples are committed to each other and want to make it legal in the eyes of the law.This book takes many point of views - some extremists that feel same-sex marriage will ruin their own heterosexual marriages. Lesbians who feel that the idea of marriage is outdated and repressive to the females involved in it. And some folks who seem to have given this issue a bit more thought and express their viewpoints well.No matter where you stand on this important issue, you will find an essay that will reflect your view. I would suggest you also read the other essays to find out how other people feel about the issue so when it comes down to debating this hot topic, you will know the various opinions of your supporters as well as your opponents. You'll be able to state your case in a way that should be able to get your point across. I recommend this book highly.