Speech Class

[katie_davis1]

I am giving a speech in class on Wednesday (Baylor University) and my topic is something along the lines of "until some type of union or marriage is legalized for homosexuals they will never be totally accepted in our society." I am not solid on this topic, and I am currently developing it. I would appreciate any advice or ideas of articles I could read or arguments I could use. Part of me is super excited to give this speech, and part of me is anxious because I will probably be the only one in my class of 250 students that is pro-gay union or marriage! But screw conservative thinking! ;)

Thanks for any input!

KAT

[Steven E. Webster]

Katie,

I believe you will be surprised and that you will find more support than you expect.

One aspect of the current situation is the way LGBT people tend to be alienated from their extended families because our culture has no acceptable role for gay relatives. Marriage is how we create and define family relationships.

Even when families are accepting there is an awkwardness about what to call the "roommate" or "friend" of one's gay son or daughter or brother or cousin.

My spouse and I were married last year in Toronto. Saturday we went to a reunion of some of my graduate school classmates. Spouses were invited. Someone started to introduce Jim but was starting to sound a little awkward about saying "partner" and I said--"This is my husband! We just got married last year!"

I'm not even getting into the legal issues here---the social aspects are every bit as important. It's much better to be recognized and treated as spouses and not "roommates" or "friends" or "partners." (I haven't heard the word "lover" in a long time---another subject.)

Good luck on the paper!

Steven Webster

[keltic63]

from another thread, asking for much the same kind of help:

For a Christian perspective in favor of same sex marriage, check out What God Has Joined Together: The Christian Case for Gay marriage by David G Myers and Leatha Dawson Scanzoni. It's very thorough, they are respected theologians, and it's a quick read.

For a more social/cultural treatment of the topic, try Gay Marriage: Why It Is Good for Gays, Good for Straights, and Good for America by Jonathan Rauch.

[Sherrie Z]

Just wondering how your speech went ... I hope it went well ... : )

Hugs,

Sherrie