First published in Between the Lines on March 23, 2006. In his nationally syndicated column of March 17, Charles Krauthammer uses the HBO series “Big Love” (about a modern-day polygamist family in Utah) as a springboard to telling gay-rights advocates “I told you so.” Krauthammer writes: In an essay 10 years ago, I pointed out […]
Polygamy Illogic Strikes Again Read More »
First published in Between the Lines, March 9, 2006 Question: What’s worse than a dozen or so states contemplating gay marriage bans during an election year? Answer: A dozen or so states contemplating gay adoption bans during an election year. Welcome to 2006. At least sixteen states are considering laws or ballot initiatives restricting the
Battling for Our Children Read More »
First published October 27, 2005, in Between the Lines. During a recent debate in Bar Harbor, Maine, I was confronted with a seemingly novel argument against same-sex marriage. Rev. John Rankin of the Theological Education Institute of Hartford, Connecticut, claimed that same-sex marriage, far from being a civil right, actually undermines the very foundation of
Same-Sex Marriage: The End of Rights? Read More »
First published April 14, 2005, in Between the Lines. In recent weeks I have been traveling the country doing lectures and debates on gay marriage. The first was at Texas A&M University, a school I hadn’t visited since 1992. At that time I was working on my Ph.D. at the University of Texas at Austin,
Marrying Sheep and Cell Phones — Not Read More »
First published January 20, 2005, in Between the Lines Some of the nastiest mail I receive is not from right-wing homophobes, or even bitter ex-boyfriends, but from members of our own community who think I’m not progressive enough. For example, shortly after I argued in Second Thoughts on Civil Unions that we ought to fight
Civil Discourse on Civil Unions Read More »
First published January 6, 2005, in Between the Lines. New Year’s is a time for looking at where we’ve been and where we’re going. It’s a time for resolutions, such as “I resolve not to eat so much and spend so much during next year’s holiday season.” (Yeah, sure.) As a college professor, I tend
It Was a Good Bad Year Read More »
First published in “Between the lines” in December of 2004. On December 17 my current state of residence (Michigan) will amend its constitution to declare that “the union of one man and one woman in marriage shall be the only agreement recognized as a marriage or similar union for any purpose.” Same-sex marriage is already
First published November 18, 2004, in Between the Lines. Given our losses in the last election — all eleven states with same-sex marriage bans passed them, some by a wide margin — is it time to put aside the marriage fight? You’re probably expecting me to say, “No, of course not!” But I won’t. Let
Second Thoughts on Civil Unions Read More »
First published September 9, 2004, in Between the Lines. Gay-rights opponents are fond of noting that the majority of Americans are against same-sex marriage. This is a reasonable claim for them to make. For one thing, it’s true (although by increasingly narrow margins). Furthermore, it’s rhetorically effective. America is, in spirit if not always in
200 Million Americans Can Be Wrong Read More »
First published August 12, 2004, in Between the Lines One of the most persistent debates surrounding homosexuality regards whether gays are “born that way” or whether homosexuality is a “chosen lifestyle.” The debate is ill-formed from the start, in that it conflates two separate questions: 1. How did you become what you are? (By genetics?
Nature? Nurture? It Doesn’t Matter Read More »