Let’s Talk About Same-Sex Marriage
Review MAMMA’s other pages for additional conversation starters:
MAMMA Says MAMMA’s Resources MAMMA’s Movies
Talking with Kids
MAMMA knows it’s as easy to teach a child to love as to hate. Teach love, kiddos, teach love! And raise a new generation of children who don’t have to be taught to “tolerate” another human being.
1. From Psychology Today
“The Important of Teaching Children About Homosexuality” by Joe Kort, is a good, succinct article that overviews the types of homophobia and describes the risks homophobia poses to children, gay, straight and questioning.
2. From Teaching Tolerance, a Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center
“Talk to Kids about Gay Marriage” by Elizabeth Bauchner, is a nice personal essay that might help some opponents to at least consider another approach.
Send MAMMA suggestions for content.
Talking with Faith-based Opponents
MAMMA cautions you about “debating” faith. However eloquent and fact-based your debate, your points can be trumped by belief, which does not require fact — only the desire to believe. While your knowledge of ancient Hebrew and Greek biblical verse surely makes your mother proud, it is likely to be left in the dust as your faith-based opponent takes that seemingly inevitable “leap.” Nonetheless, if you feel up to the task, here are some resources.
1. Soulforce has a helpful essay by co-founder, the Rev. Mel White, “What the Bible Says — and Doesn’t Say — About Homosexuality” and a wonderful booklet that addresses concerns about the messages from Focus on the Family, “A False Focus on My Family.”
2. The California Council of Churches’ Congregational Study Guide, Living Lovingly: Talking About Marriage Equality From a Faith Perspective, by Rev. Dr. Linda Pickens-Jones, has very helpful talking points, including discussion of civil rights compared to sacramental rights. MAMMA highly recommends this downloadable guide for those who want to take a loving and rational approach to a faith-based discussion. The introduction is a little dated, but the primary content makes the whole thing well worth downloading.
3. Faith In America, Ending the Harm Caused by Religion-based Bigotry
The website is rich in information, articles, opportunities for action. In particular, review the group’s articles about homosexuality, Christianity and the Bible.
4. Most impressive — to the point of making MAMMA’s head spin — are the extensive, in-depth essays available at Religious Tolerance. Read their backgrounder on same-sex marriage and then, if you dare, click on their “massive section” on the topic. MAMMA could spend days on this site, but we have laundry to do — and a strategic planning session to prepare.
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Talking Turkey
1. The essay “Gay Marriage: The Arguments and the Motives,” by Scott Bidstrup, does a nice job of reviewing the issues on both sides of our debate.
2. Lambda Legal has advocated in and out of the courts for LGBT civil rights since 1973. MAMMA recommends you do your homework and read everything on Lambda’s site about marriage and same-sex relationships. Their Five Key Reasons for Marriage Equality and Civil Unions Are Not Enough offer some good talking points.
3. Lambda Legal also has a great survey of the Status of Same-Sex Relationships Nationwide, which will be updated shortly to reflect New Hampshire’s vote to legalize same-sex marriage — yippee! States’ laws still vary widely — or is that wildly?
4. Let California Ring has a webpage of facts about same-sex marriage legislation and gay and lesbian couples, and a comparison of marriage and domestic partnership in California — some good talking points. The site is also pitching the “I Do” campaign paraphernalia, which can serve as a good conversation starter.
Send MAMMA suggestions for content.
Multimedia Resources
MAMMA worries that reading books might go the way of the girdle (of course, the girdle deserves extinction!), but we do know many folks these days prefer watching and listening to reading, alas. So…
1. Saving Marriage, a documentary of the campaign for marriage equality in Massachusetts
Wow, what’s a MAMMA to say? Even the Saving Marriage trailer brought tears to our eyes. You might send this to people with a fundamentalist background, but an open heart. See other videos MAMMA recommends.
2. Podcast Interviews on LBGT Rights
Producer Charlotte Robinson has some great audio interviews with leadership in the LGBT rights movement, including “America’s Road to Gay Marriage,” with Arlene Isaacson, co-chair of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus.
