Product Description: With same-sex marriage igniting a firestorm of controversy in the press and in the courts, in legislative chambers and in living rooms, Andrew Sullivan, a pioneering voice in the debate, has brought together two thousand years of argument in an anthology of historic inclusiveness and evenhandedness. Among the selections included here:
- The 2003 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling in support of same-sex marriage - Justice Kennedy’s majority opinion and Justice Scalia’s dissent in the 2003 landmark Supreme Court decision striking down anti-sodomy laws - President George W. Bush’s call for a Federal Marriage Amendment - John Kerry’s Senate speech urging defeat of the Defense of Marriage Act - Harvard historian Nancy F. Cott's testimony before the Vermont House Judiciary Committee - Reverend Peter J. Gomes on the distinction between civil and religious marriage - Stanley Kurtz on the politics of gay marriage - Evan Wolfson on the popularity of the right to marry among lesbians and gay men - New York Times op-ed columnistDavid Brooks’ conservative case for same-sex marriage - Excerpts from Genesis, Leviticus, and other essential biblical texts - Aristophanes’s classic theory of same-sex love, from Plato’s Symposium - Hannah Arendt on marriage as a fundamental right - Camille Paglia’s skepticism
Representing the full range of perspectives and the most cogent and arresting arguments, Same-Sex Marriageis essential to a balanced understanding of the most pressing cultural question we face today.
Amazon.com Review: At the end of Virtually Normal, Andrew Sullivan called for the legalization of gay and lesbian marriages as a recognition of an individual's right to enter into a committed relationship with the person he or she loves. Same-Sex Marriage: Pro and Con is, as the title suggests, a collection of arguments for and against such unions. Sullivan provides little commentary, allowing the various authors gathered here to speak for themselves. No matter which side one supports on this issue, this anthology will enable both an intellectual support of one's own beliefs and a better, fuller understanding of the contrary position.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Fantastic resource!
This book is a fantastic resource and I would recommmend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about the topic.
Rating: - Both Sides Now
"Same-Sex Marriage:Pro&Con" is an excellent summation of the gay marriage debate. Before the once-controversial Vermont civil unions, before Gavin Newsom had same-sex couples tie the knot in San Francisco,Andrew Sullivan begins by chronicling with the Hawaiian Supreme Court case. He has the original documents from the Defense of Marriage Act debate (an act that Pres. Bill Clinton reluctantly signed)
"Pro&Con" shows both sides fairly. Conservatives are given plenty of space to voice their views,as do liberals. What an advantage is the original documents. It's had to be considerably ... Read More
Rating: - Highly Recommended; I Use It In Class
I can't recommend Andrew Sullivan's "Same-Sex Marriage: Pro and Con" highly enough.
It's an anthology, and the pieces excerpted do exactly what the title says: they provide a reader into pro and con positions in the same sex marriage debate. Sullivan is very fair. He really does present a variety of points of view.
The reader is so thorough, after you've read it, you may realize that it would be hard to say anything new on the topic.
In addition to being useful, I found the book fascinating. It's intriguing to read of how marriage between persons of the ... Read More
Rating: - I did not order it, but now I guess I own it
As I did not order two of these titles, I am wondering how I should respond. Well, suffice it to say, I guess that's how Amazon makes its money these days, apparently one of those mistaken one-click purchases a customer can't cancel because the system doesn't recognize it, doesn't even say the shipment is being processed or sent, until .. it's there, on your front porch. Why is it that the one's you don't want are the ones that make it through with no problem, and the one's you really need, take weeks to get to you.
Rating: - Not Bad At All
I can't stand Sullivan's right-wing political views, but I commend him on his pro-gay marriage position. The homophobes out there have never been able to answer this question: Why shouldn't I be gay? What, in other words, is wrong exactly with being gay? I'm an atheist, so shallow religious rantings aren't going to work with me. I love being a gay man and I wouldn't want it any other way. I have a great life AS a gay man and I couldn't imagine "going straight" without, at the same time, being totally miserable. But the point is, gay men not only have the right to be gay, but should be proud of ... Read More
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