The prospect of a "defense of marriage" amendment proves how urgently the state needs to sue the church for divorce. And there is one clear way to do it: Grant civil unions to all-including straights. If government must insist on offering special privileges to pledged pairs as a means of social engineering and sexual containment, let it provide ( Read more... )

Abstract This essay asks a seemingly simple question: Can it ever be ethical to take a benefit that is invidiously denied others? Posed in such stark terms, the question seems to admit only one answer: "no." But many, many heterosexuals voluntarily accept the benefits of marriage that are invidiously denied to their gay friends and family. This ( Read more... )