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Same-Sex Marriage
The Legal and Psychological Evolution in America
Donald Cantor, Elizabeth Cantor, James C. Black, Campbell D. Barrett
Sales Date: 2006-04-28
212 Pages, 6.00 x 9.00 in
A persuasive history and clearly argued case for same-sex marriage
Few recent topics have claimed as much media and political attention as the fight for the right of same-sex couples to marry legally. Striking at the heart of beliefs about sexuality, marriage, family, and child-rearing, the debate has touched off national and international debate. In this practical guide to the issues and their history, the authors present the issues as a courtroom case would be presented to the jury—with an opening statement, expert testimony, and a closing argument in support of same-sex marriage. Chapters explore how we have arrived at our current understandings of homosexuality and marriage, the impact of same-sex marriage on same-sex relationships and families, the practical civil benefits denied to persons who are not allowed to marry, and the 40-year evolution in the law as it relates to sex and reproduction. This book provides a reasoned and informed history of the subject, and is ideal for readers in government, social work, and the law—and anyone curious about where this contentious issue is headed.
Preface
A Note on Definitions
The U.S Supreme Court: Five Cases and One Anomaly - Donald J. Cantor
The Evolution of State Law toward Sexual Privacy - Donald J. Cantor
The Evolution of Understanding Homosexuality within the Fields of Psychology and Psychiatry - Elizabeth Cantor
Gays and Lesbians as Parents and Partners: The Psychological Evidence - Elizabeth Cantor
Same-Sex Parents and Their Children's Development - James C. Black
Homosexuality and Adoption - Campbell D. Barrett
The Present Status of the Law of Marriage in the United States and Abroad - Campbell D. Barrett
The Practical Benefits of Marriage - Donald J. Cantor
Conclusion: The Case for Same Sex Marriage - Donald J. Cantor
Notes
References
Index
About the Authors
DONALD J. CANTOR and CAMPBELL D. BARRETT are lawyers with practices in Hartford, Connecticut. ELIZABETH CANTOR is a licensed clinical psychologist in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. JAMES C. BLACK is Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut. Donald Cantor and James Black co-authored Child Custody (1989).
"This collection of eight essays by two attorneys and two psychologists sets itself apart in the crowded field of books about same-sex marriage by condensing dozens of dense volumes worth of legalese and psychobabble into a surprisingly readable overview... Readers who want to get quickly up to speed on the case for same-sex marriage will want to give this book a look."
~Publishers Weekly
"This well-documented analysis of psychological studies and legal decisions argues that legalization of same-sex marriage is inevitable. A welcome and timely voice based on practical experience in family court."
~Maria J. Trumpler, Assistant Professor of Feminist, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Wesleyan University
"A wonderful resource on the case law and psychological literature regarding same-sex marriage and lesbian and gay parenting. The arguments presented are both balanced and persuasive."
~Mark Strasser, author of On Same-Sex Marriage, Civil Unions, and the Rule of Law
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