johncorvino - John Corvino

Civil Unions Better than Nothing

First published at Between the Lines News on May 26, 2011 By the time you read this, the Rhode Island House will have passed a civil-unions bill that no one seems to want. Many gay-rights advocates in the state, led by Marriage Equality Rhode Island, are opposing the civil-unions bill because it doesn’t go far… Continue reading Civil Unions Better than Nothing

What Makes ‘Real’ Parents?

First published at 365gay.com on May 13, 2011 Many years ago, when I was about 10 years old, my father was driving me to school one day when a story came on the radio about a man convicted of abusing his own children. I said something like “I can’t believe a father would do that… Continue reading What Makes ‘Real’ Parents?

Biological Bonds and Gay Marriage

First published at 365gay.com on May 6, 2011 I’ve spent the last two weeks helping my sister care for my 5-month-old niece, Tess. I have two nieces: my sister’s baby, Tess, and my partner’s sister’s baby, Hadley. They were born a few weeks apart, and Mark and I have been reveling in the joys of… Continue reading Biological Bonds and Gay Marriage

So, you Think I’m a Sell-Out?

First published at 365gay.com on April 29, 2011 In response to my last column [http://www.365gay.com/opinion/corvino-what-the-bible-doesn’t-say/], a reader comments, “I’m sorry, but every time I read anything by Corvino I can’t help but think ‘What a sell-out!’ I personally don’t see him as helping our community at all. He is an apologist and I for one… Continue reading So, you Think I’m a Sell-Out?

What the Bible Doesn’t Say

First published at 365gay.com on April 22, 2011 Gay-rights advocates often complain that our opponents are selective in their use of the Bible. Indeed they are. But so are our allies. I confronted this problem recently after a talk I gave in rural Pennsylvania, when fielding comments from two audience members from opposite sides of… Continue reading What the Bible Doesn’t Say

The Meaning of Transgender

First published at 365gay.com on April 15, 2011 A friend recently asked, “Do you ever have doubts about the whole transgender thing?” My friend has a habit of referring to anything she hasn’t wrapped her mind around as a “thing,” which has the unfortunate effect of making whatever it is sound like a trend or… Continue reading The Meaning of Transgender

Is There One ‘Real’ Kind of Gay Sex?

First published at 365gay.com on April 8, 2011 This column is about anal sex. So if you don’t like reading about such things, stop reading now. Many years ago I lived next door to a young born-again-Christian rock singer. (He probably would dislike reading about anal sex. Glad you’re still here, though.) While Jason strongly… Continue reading Is There One ‘Real’ Kind of Gay Sex?

Why I’m Proud that Detroit is my Home

First published at 365gay.com on March 25, 2011 I’ve been in Mexico for the last few weeks. I’ve met people from all over North America, who occasionally ask me where I’m from. In the past, such conversations have often gone like this: Me: “I’m from Detroit.” Stranger: “No, really, where are you from?” Me: “Detroit.”… Continue reading Why I’m Proud that Detroit is my Home

Are we Defined by our Sexuality?

First published at 365gay.com on March 18, 2011 Why does “love the sinner; hate the sin” ring so hollow in the gay-rights debate? One reason, as I’ve argued before [http://www.365gay.com/opinion/corvino-why-%E2%80%9Clove-the-sinner%E2%80%9D-rings-hollow/], is that part of loving the “sinner” is making an effort to understand him—something our opponents seldom do. If they did make that effort, it… Continue reading Are we Defined by our Sexuality?

Will Gay Marriage Undermine Monogamy?

First published at 365gay.com on March 11, 2011 Recently I received the following inquiry via my website [http://johncorvino.com/]: “As a single older closeted gay man. I don’t understand how we can ask for marriage rights when so many gay couples don’t even understand monogamy. Care to explain?” My first reaction was, “No, not really.” That… Continue reading Will Gay Marriage Undermine Monogamy?