What's the Harm?: Does Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage Really Harm Individuals, Families or Society?
Perhaps no question so alerts both sides in the ongoing 'culture wars' as that of same-sex 'marriage'. It is anathema and oxymoronic to one side and simple common sense and fairness to the other.What's the Harm?is the most valuable, forthright, and thoughtful discussion of the question I have yet seen. It should be required reading for any legislature (or court) called upon to consider the legal status of same-sex couples, and should receive close attention from anyone interested in being fully informed on this question. (Dr. A. Scott Loveless, Acting Managing Director, World Family Policy Center, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University)What's the Harm?is an invaluable resource for legislators, lobbyists, students, and anyone else interested in the legal and social policy implications of same-sex relationships. With chapters written by both supporters and opponents of same-sex marriage, the book provides an unparalleled and unique glimpse into the research, the evidence, and the philosophies that fuel one of the most important social policy debates in the last forty years. (Robert Destro, Professor of Law, Director of the Marriage Law Project, and Director of the Interdisciplinary Program in Law and Religion, Colum)Across America, judges and other political elites are starting to strike down duly and democratically determined prohibitions against same-sex marriage as a matter of individual rights. In response, a set of thoughtful and courageous scholars step forward here with careful argument and evidence that same-sex marriage is not just a private concern between equal and consenting adults. Rather, they show—even as they engage openly with those who see things differently—that same-sex marriage is an issue with broad and deeply problematic ramifications for our democratic order. This is a crucial book for an absolutely crucial moment. (Matthew S. Holland, Associate Professor of Political Science, Brigham Young University)What's the Harm?zeros in on the central question of the gay marriage controversy. Wardle has drawn together serious scholars who sift the evidence and find some surprising answers. The book is a model of how intellectual inquiry on contentious topics should be pursued. (Dr. Peter W. Wood, Executive Director, National Association of Scholars)