Whether by accident or design, SPEAK NOW: Australian Perspectives of Same-sex Marriage contributes mightily to the current debate, having regard to the forthcoming Labor Party conference in December.
The compilation of essays and contributions from a wide range of writers on the issue of same-sex marriage, gives pause for considerable thought, regardless of the perspective a reader may have when first opening the book.
With an insightful foreword by The Hon Michael Kirby, AC, CMG, in which he provides a considered and useful overview, the thirty-odd writers cover a variety of views both pro and con, together with poignant stories of their individual experiences.
As Michael Kirby rightly points out, the absence of any pieces in vehement opposition to same-sex marriage maybe a shortcoming, although it may also be suggested that those perhaps rather more bigoted views add little to sensible debate.
The book is arranged alphabetically by writer and so in no particular order as to perspective. Rather it introduces the reader to a stimulating, rollercoaster variety of inter-mixed views, that challenge and nourish the formation of a contemporary outlook on the question of marriage and of same-sex marriage.
Whereas in olden days marriage was arguably mostly about "property" and legitimacy, social arrangements and inheritance, the modern generational views are seemingly, and thankfully, based more on "love", mutual respect and equality.
Some writers question why the same-sex community would even contemplate wanting to join the institution of marriage, the longevity record of which is arguably in the decline, however such considerations are perhaps subsumed by the disparity in treatment between heterosexual "married" couples and their same-sex counterparts. There seems little logic and rather more discrimination in maintaining that inequality.
More well-known authors and contributors are interspersed with perhaps lesser and even unknown contributors, all of whom provide worthwhile insights. Professor Denis Altman, Associate Professor Lynne Hillier, Rodney Croome, Dr Kerryn Phelps, Peter Tatchell are doubtless among the names many are familiar with.
The book contains 35 "chapters" spread over 248 C-format pages, with an Appendix setting out a chronological overview of legal recognition of same-sex couples in the countries of the world.
For further information, see also: Speak Now: blogspot
(GayLawNet® 20 November 2011 – David Allan)
