Today we find ourselves at a crossroads of two powerful, unrelenting currents that are completely at odds with one another. The movement for legal recognition of same-sex unions has gone beyond the separate but equal status of civil unions to demand equality in marriage for all couples. Progress is being made on many fronts: mayoral action, clergy officiating at same-sex marriage and union ceremonies, state legislative responses, and street protests, to name a few. Meanwhile, opposition to same-sex marriage has also been gathering strength. The struggle is sure to continue unabated for some time to come, pitting those who believe in the traditional definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman-and who seek to codify this belief in the U.S. Constitution-against those who find the basis for marriage between two loving, committed individuals not only in the history of our civil rights legislation and court decisions, but also in scripture and sacred religious traditions. Those who believe in extending to same-sex couples the 1,049 rights conferred by marriage as well as the supportive embrace of religious communities seek to strengthen the institution of marriage by making it inclusive and by passing laws and broadening doctrines to uphold marriage rights for all couples. This three-volume set clarifies the legal, political, religious, cultural, and social ramifications of same-sex marriage for gay and lesbian couples and their families and friends, and for the general public interested in the future of civil rights in the United States.

Volume IGeneral Editors Foreword, Mark StrasserIntroduction1. Massachusetts: Cradle of Liberty2. Civil Union: A Reappraisal3. Domestic Partnerships4. The Right to Marry, the San Francisco Experience and Lessons Learned5. Corporate Domestic Partner Benefits6. The Role of Anti-Gay Family Amendments in the 2004 Election7. The Defense of Marriage ActFederal Level8. Four Arguments Against a Marriage Amendment That Even an Opponent of Gay Marriage Should Accept9. Adoption, Custody and the Rights of ChildrenAbout the Editor and ContributorsSelected ResourcesIndexAcknowledgementsVolume IIIntroductionPart I: Faith, Culture, and History1. Hindu Traditions2. Married in the Sight of God: Martin Luther, Theology, and Same-Sex Unions3. Religion and the Freedom to Marry: Historical Reflections on Marriage Equality in America4. Testifying to the Blues: Sexuality and the Black ChurchPart II: Faith and Practice5. Same-Sex Marriage and Roman Catholicism6. Kiddushin: An Equal Opportunity Covenant, Not Only for Heterosexuals7. Speaking of Lutherans: The Journey of an Odd Advocate8. A Buddhist Argument for Same-Sex Unions9. A Methodist Supports Homosexual Marriage: A Study of Scripture and Tradition10. A Christian Apologetic for Same-Sex Marriage11. Each Muslim Has the Right to Find Their Mate Who Is Their Comfort and CloakPart III: Faithful Struggle12. Marriage in a New Key: A Presbyterian Maps the Terrain of a Progressive Christianity13. Naming the Problem: Black Clergy, U.S. Politics, and Marriage Equality14. The Reformed Church in America: One Denominations Response to Same-Sex Marriage15. Making Justice/Showing Love: The Episcopal Church and Same Sex Marriage16. Love Wins: An Easy Gospel for Unitarian Universalism17. Embracing Marriage Equality: A Faithful Call to Pentecostal ChristiansPart IV: Faithfully Practicing Equality18. Reconstructionist Judaism and Marriage Equality19. When Covenant-Making Becomes Justice-Making: A San Francisco Pastors Story20. Affirmation of Marriage Equality in the UCC: The Historic Moment at Our SynodAppendix: A Sampling of Religious Wedding and Holy Union Ceremonies for Same-Sex CouplesDedicationAcknowledgmentsVolume IIIIntroductionPart One: Advocacy and Activism1. Marriage Equality and Some Lessons for the Scary Work of Winning2. The Gay Marriage Struggle: Whats at Stake and How Can We Win?3. Laying the Ground Work: Early Organizing in Vermont4. Grass Roots Organizing: Lessons from the Garden State5. The Wedding PartyPart Two: Education and Media6. Deconstructing Arguments Against Same-Sex Marriage7. PerfectUnion.net: Cyber-Organizing to Democratize Marriage8. From Gay Bashing to Gay Baiting: Public Opinion andNews Media Frames for Gay Marriage9. Introduction to American Government: What College Students Are Reading about Same-Sex MarriagePart Three: Cultural Perspectives10. Arnt We a Couple? A Historical Comparison of Slave Marriages and Same-Sex Marriages11. African American Responses to Same-Sex Marriage12. Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace: Same-Sex Relationships in Native American Culture13. Hispanic and Latino Same-Sex Couple Households in the United States: A Report from the 2000 CensusAbout the Editors and Contributors