Same-Sex Marriage and the ConstitutionDoes the Constitution protect the right to same-sex marriage? Taking a careful look at the issue, Evan Gerstmann looks at the legal debate, and asks whether, in a democratic society, the courts, rather than voters, should resolve the question. Gerstmann also asks whether such a court-created law could be effective in the face of public opposition. Evan Gerstmann argues that this problem is one of the most significant constitutional issues facing society because it challenges society's commitment to true legal equality. After graduating with honors from the University of Michigan Law school in 1986, Evan Gerstmann practiced law in New York City for five years. Subsequently, he completed his Masters and Ph.D. in Political Science at the University of Wisconsin. He studies the interaction between law and politics. He has published a book on constitutional law, The Constitutional Class: Gays, Lesbians and the Failure of Class-Based Equal Protection (University of Chicago, 1999), as well as articles on subjects ranging from freedom of speech to how criminal law affects victims of domestic violence. |
What people are saying - Write a review
Reviews aren't verified, but Google checks for and removes fake content when it's identified
Same sex marriage and the Constitution
User Review - Not Available - Book VerdictIn this provocative legal study, Gertsmann drills deep into the gay marriage debate, beyond the well-mined rhetoric of"gay rights," to focus on the true bedrock of Americans' freedom: the Constitution ... Read full review
Same sex marriage and the Constitution
User Review - Not Available - Book VerdictIn this provocative legal study, Gertsmann drills deep into the gay marriage debate, beyond the well-mined rhetoric of"gay rights," to focus on the true bedrock of Americans' freedom: the Constitution ... Read full review
Contents
Introduction | 3 |
Reason and Prejudice Is the Heterosexual Monopoly on Marriage Rational? | 13 |
Looking for Stricter Scrutiny Sexism Heterosexism and ClassBased Equal Protection | 41 |
Marriage as a Fundamental Constitutional Right | 65 |
The Fundamental Right to Marry | 67 |
SameSex Marriage and the Fundamental Right to Marry | 85 |
Rights and Equality | 113 |
Should Courts Create New Rights? | 115 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
actually allow Amendment American apply approach argue argument association basis believe benefits Chapter child cited civil clear concerns constitutional right debate decision defined definition democratic denied discrimination discussed due process equal protection clause Eskridge example expression fact federal freedom fundamental rights gays and lesbians gender groups Harvard Law Review held heterosexual hold homosexual idea important individual institution interest issue Journal judges judicial justices Law Review legislation less liberty limited Loving majority means Michigan minorities moral nature noted opinion original parents person political practice Press principle problem question race racial raise rational reason relationship requires result right to marry role rule same-sex couples same-sex marriage same-sex marriage ban scrutiny sexual social society speech standards substantive Supreme Court theory tion traditional Unions University values vote women