Description
Book SynopsisThe relationship between religious belief and sexuality as personal attributes exhibits some provocative comparisons. Despite the nonestablishment of religion in the United States and the constitutional guarantee of free exercise, Christianity functions as the religious and moral standard in America. Ethical views that do not fit within this consensus often go unrecognized as moral values. Similarly, in the realm of sexual orientation, heterosexuality is seen as the yardstick by which sexual practices are measured. The notion that "alternative" sexual practices like homosexuality could possess ethical significance is often overlooked or ignored. In her new book, An "Argument for Same-Sex Marriage", political scientist Emily Gill draws an extended comparison between religious belief and sexuality, both central components of one's personal identity. Using the religion clause of the First Amendment as a foundation, Gill contends that, just as US law and policy ensure that citizens may express religious beliefs as they see fit, it should also ensure that citizens may marry as they see fit. Civil marriage, according to Gill, is a public institution, and the exclusion of some couples from a state institution is a public expression of civic inequality. An "Argument for Same-Sex Marriage" is a passionate and timely treatment of the various arguments for and against same-sex marriage and how those arguments reflect our collective sense of morality and civic equality. It will appeal to readers who have an interest in gay and lesbian studies, political theory, constitutional law, and the role of religion in the contemporary United States.
Trade ReviewThis book has a broad potential audience, due to its subject matter and the wide range of subtopics that Gill touches on under the rubric of advocating for same-sex marriage. For political philosophers, her reliance on John Stuart Mill's 'On Liberty' will prove rewarding. For those more concerned with the contemporary cultural climate, her concluding chapter highlighting the culture wars will be particularly apt. Gill's close reading of Supreme Court decisions such as Thomas v. Review Board and Romer v. Evans will intrigue legal scholars. And for the general reader energized by the recent rulings in Hollingsworth v. Perry and United States v. Windsor, Gill offers a clear, succinct, and reasoned argument in support of same-sex marriage. Political Science Quarterly This smoothly written work does an extraordinary job of presenting a breadth of previous normative arguments for and against same-sex marriage and then placing its arguments in the context of existing literature on the subject. Choice
Table of ContentsPreface 1. Religion and Sexuality: Setting the Stage 2. The Impossibility of Neutrality 3. Same-Sex Marriage: Social Facts and Conflicting Views 4. Religious Establishment and the Endorsement Test 5. Free Exercise and the Right to Conscience 6. Establishment and Free Exercise: Who Should Be Outsiders? References
