What's the Harm? Does Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage Really Harm Individuals, Families or Society?

by Wardle, Lynn D.; Bailey, Martha; Byrd, A Dean; Carlson, Allan; Carpenter, Dale; Carroll, Jason S.; Christensen, Bryce; DeSerres, Louis; Dollahite, David C.; Duncan, William C.; FitzGibbon, Scott; Gantt, Edwin; Jennings, Marianne M.; Kohm, Lynne Marie; Rei

• ISBN13: 9780761843160
• ISBN10: 0761843167
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-08-22
• Publisher: UPA

Summary

"What's the Harm? is an interdisciplinary collection of perspectives on the question of harm - whether legalizing same-sex marriage will cause harm to society, and whether the denial of same-sex marriage causes harm to society. This clarifying and illuminating book explores the societal, familial, individual, and jurisprudential harms of the legalization or prohibition of same-sex marriage. The contributors wrestle with the "what's the harm" question from a variety of academic and professional perspectives, emphasizing the significance and impact of legalizing same-sex marriage for law, government, family relations, and child welfare. What's the Harm? is a valuable resource of diverse insights, arguments, and information that contributes to a deeper understanding of what may be the defining issue of the first decade of the twenty-first century,"--BOOK JACKET.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. v
Preface: "What's The Harm?" And Why It Matters	p. vii
Does Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage Harm Families and Childrearing?	p. 1
Conjugal Marriage Fosters Healthy Human and Societal Development	p. 3
The Alleged Harms of Recognizing Same-Sex Marriage	p. 27
"Who's My Daddy?" How the Legalization of Same-Sex Partnerships Would Further the Rise of Ambiguous Fatherhood in America	p. 47
Unintended Consequences: The Flaws in "It Doesn't Affect Anyone But Us" Argument in Favor of Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage	p. 69
What's the Harm to Women and Children? A Prospective Analysis	p. 79
Same-Sex Marriage and the Rights of the Child	p. 103
Does Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage Harm Responsible Sexual Behavior and Procreation?	p. 123
The Principles of Justice in Procreative Affiliations	p. 125
Dwelling Among Us	p. 155
Meaning, Morality, and Sexual Attraction: Questioning the Reductive and Deterministic Assumptions of Biologism and Social Constructionism	p. 163
Sexual Virtue, Sexual Vice, and the Requirements of the Good Society: Lessons from Ancient Rome	p. 179
Does Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage Harm the Relationship and Meaning of Marriage?	p. 205
The Morality of Marriage and the Transformative Power of Inclusion	p. 207
The Case for Treating Same-Sex Marriage As A Human Right and the Harm of Denying Human Dignity	p. 239
Equality or Ideology? Same-Sex Unions in Scandinavia	p. 263
Same-Sex "Marriage" As Verbicide: Reaffirming the Linguistic and Cultural Heritage that Once Made "Marriage" a Vibrant Word of Substance and Hope	p. 275
Does Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage Harm Basic Human Freedoms and Institutions?	p. 295
The Erosion of Marriage: A Pyrrhic Victory?	p. 297
The Unconservative Consequences of Conservative Opposition to Gay Marriage	p. 319
Or for Poorer? How Same-Sex Marriage Threatens Religious Liberty	p. 325
Same-Sex Marriage and Public School Curricula: Reflections on Preserving the Rights of Parents to Direct the Education of their Children	p. 355
Redefinition of Marriage and the Rule of Law	p. 375
About the Contributors	p. 389
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