I never believed I would live to write this sentence, but gay couples now have the right to marry in America. Congratulations to all those, gay and straight, who can now exercise their civil rights. There will be time for the inevitable reaction and renewed debate. But for a moment, I just want to wish all those embarking on a new life of love and commitment a happy life together.
THE BOOK: Blogging will be light this week as I’m on a week-long tour for my new book, “Same-Sex Marriage, Pro and Con: A Reader.”
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The word “new” is stretching it a bit, since a large part of the book is unchanged from the first edition, brought out a few years ago. It’s an anthology of writing on the issue of marriage rights for gays, from every conceivable perspective. I did my best to include all the strongest pieces from the anti-gay marriage advocates, as well as the best arguments in favor. So if you want to read Stanley Kurtz, Antonin Scalia, Maggie Gallagher, Dennis Prager, Bill Bennett or Charles Krauthammer, then this anthology has them all on great form. But this is also the best collection of pro-marriage articles I could find, from Jonathan Rauch to Evan Wolfson, Doug Ireland and E.J. Graff. There’s also a wealth of factual material: accounts of same-sex marriages in sixteenth century Italy, native American America, Byzantine Europe, and seventeenth century China. The book includes all the relevant, religious arguments and passages from Leviticus, St Paul and other Biblical sources, as well as theological commentary (from Jean Elshtain to John Shelby Spong and Rabbi Yoel Kahn); all the pertinent legal decisions from the Hawaii case through Lawrence vs Texas and the Massachusetts Goodridge decision (edited so you don’t have to slog through the entire opinions to read the critical passages); a whole chapter on the polygamy question; another chapter collecting all the data on child-rearing; conservative voices in favor of equality, including Richard Posner, Jonathan Rauch, the Economist, and David Brooks; and even left-wing voices against. Then there are a few entries that defy categorization – from Camille Paglia to Hannah Arendt, Sonny Bono, Plato and Ann Landers. Both George W. Bush and John Kerry are included. So, of course, are a few of my own essays, from my 1989 New Republic piece that helped kick off this debate to my most recent Time magazine column, “The ‘M-Word.'” I’ve also written an introduction and new preface. It is, I think, the best and most comprehensive resource on the whole topic, from every imaginable angle, in a cheap paperback, perfect for teachers, students, and anyone who simply wants to think this subject through. Have I sold you on it yet? You can buy it here at Amazon. Please do.
The Dish 