Marriage print Ayers Tess Paul Brown The Essential Guide to Lesbian and Gay Weddings Los Angeles Alyson Publications 1999 304 pp. 1555834841 This is indeed the complete guide for same-sex grooms and brides, including a fascinating historical look at gay and lesbian unions and practical advice like breaking the news to your family and the straight world. It takes you from planning the glorious event (with helpful tidbits like how to address invitations and how to find two-groom or two-bride cake toppers) to negotiating vendor contracts to the aftermath. Witty anecdotes, proper etiquette, and unexpected trivia make this an indispensable and truly entertaining resource for same-sex couples who want to plan an unforgettable and perfectly orchestrated wedding. Sprinkled with true stories of men and women who have tied the knot, The Essential Guide to Lesbian and Gay Weddings is a must for anyone just thinking about it or ready to jump into matrimony. http://store.yahoo.com/alysonbooks/esguidtolesa.html _blank print Berzon Betty Permanent Partners: Building Gay & Lesbian Relationships That Last revised New York Plume 1990 368 pp. 0452263085 Today, more than ever before, gay and lesbian couples want long-lasting, fulfilling, happy relationships. But in order to accomplish this, the notion of 'partnership' itself must be radically reinvented. Gay men and lesbians must learn to imbue relationships with the same importance that their heterosexual counterparts do - in a society that still offers none of the same support. This book, written by a psychotherapist who specializes in working with lesbian and gay male couples, offers clear, compassionate advice and counseling on the internal and external problems faced by two men or two women as they create a life together. Warmly supportive, Dr. Betty Berzon draws on real-life examples from her professional practice and her own long-term partnership to help couples improve communication, 'fight fair,' resolve conflicts, and affirm both their love and their commitment in a relationship that works today, tomorrow, and forever. http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,0_0452286212,00.html _blank print United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns Blessing Ceremonies: Resources for Same-Gender Services of Commitment Cleveland United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns 1998 72 pp. A packet of materials including theological background, five sample services, liturgical resources, and "Personal Witnesses" by those who have been part of such services. http://www.ucccoalition.org/resources/ona.html _blank print Boswell John Same-Sex Unions in Premodern Europe BoswellSSU.jpg New York Vintage Books 1995 464 pp. 0679751645 Both highly praised and intensely controversial, this brilliant book produces dramatic evidence that at one time the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches not only sanctioned unions between partners of the same sex, but sanctified them - in ceremonies strikingly similar to heterosexual marriage ceremonies. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0679751645/qid=1134076545/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-2047862-5702422?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 _blank print Boyd Malcolm Take Off the Masks Philadelphia New Society Publishers 1984 184 pp. 0865710481 "I was deeply in love on three different occasions when I knew myself as a 'queer' and a 'homosexual.' In none of these cases was there any way for us to build a relationship by living openly together with any permanence or peace, due to social anger and churchly condemnation. The fire that burned in my on these occasions could not be extinguished by alcohol, tears, or semen. The fire had to burn itself out. I asked myself: Instead of maintaining a double standard for gay people, why doesn't society permit an honest public legitimization of relations between consenting adults as well as of gay civil rights?" http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0865710481/qid=1134076721/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/002-2047862-5702422?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 _blank print Butler Becky Ceremonies of the Heart: Celebrating Lesbian Unions Seattle Seal Press 1997 328 pp. 1878067877 Whether you are planning a ceremony of your own or simply want to look into the lives of lesbians who have taken this affirming step, Ceremonies of the Heart is the perfect book to read and savor. Filled with ideas on creating unique rituals, the book describes the transformative experiences of twenty-seven couples who celebrated their relationships in wide-ranging ways - from a gala wedding with gowns and cake to a high-spirited Buddhist event under desert skies. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1878067877/qid=1134072383/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-2047862-5702422?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 _blank print Cherry Kittredge Sherwood Zalmon editors Equal Rites: Lesbian and Gay Worship, Ceremonies, and Celebrations Louisville Westminster John Knox Press 1995 188 pp. 0664255353 Equal Rites is a much-needed collection of worship services, ceremonies, and celebrations that is attuned to the unique needs of sexual minorities. The selections, written primarily by lesbians and gay men, include rites of spiritual beginnings, healing, blessings, holy communion, and pride and empowerment. Also included are funeral memorial services, seasonal and holiday rites for couples. More that a collection, Equal Rites can also serve as a reference book for creating unique and meaningful worship services that address significant aspects of lesbian and gay spirituality. https://www.ppcbooks.com/Details.asp?BookID=0664255353 _blank print Chilstrom Herbert Lowell Erdahl Sexual Fulfillment for Single and Married, Straight and Gay, Young and Old Minneapolis Augsburg Fortress 2001 182 pp. 0806640472 What is healthy sexuality for a Christian? This book approaches some of the more difficult-to-discuss areas of human sexuality: the human need for sexual fulfillment; singles and sexual fulfillment; sexual fulfillment in marriage; heterosexual marriage; same sex relationships; and sexual fulfillment in the elder years. The authors distinguish between "life-giving sex" and "life-degrading sex" by establishing four criteria for a healthy relationship: mutual love, mutual respect, mutual openness, and mutual faithfulness. They then discuss healthy sexuality in a variety of life stages and relationships. With a compassionate tone, the authors explore the issues Christian people face with respect to the experience and expression of their sexuality. http://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/item.asp?clsid=112344&isbn=0806640472 _blank print Clark J. Michael James B. Nelson Doing the Work of Love: Men & Commitment in Same-Sex Couples Harriman, TN Men's Studies Press 1999 172 pp. 0967179408 Doing the Work of Love creates a bridge between academic work on men and sexuality and popular work on gay male relationships. Clark celebrates the goodness of men's sexual relationships, while adamantly rejecting an "anything goes" approach to gay male sexuality. Clark proposes an ethics of sexual accountability in-relation as a middle ground between those who espouse anonymous multi-partnered sex as the crux of gay identity and those whose current sex panic resounds with sex-negativity. http://mensstudies.com/newlook/online/page3/page3.php?cover=DWL.jpg&cat=pur&vart=b _blank print Deakin Michelle Bates Gay Marriage, Real Life: Ten Stories of Love and Family gaymarriagereallife.jpg Boston Skinner House Books 2005 144 pp. 1558964916 This intimate account of ten same-sex couples brings to life how the decision to marry has affected them and their extended families. These personal journeys present a range of experiences, from a mother who became a gay rights activist when her youngest child came out as a lesbian, to a girl whose realization that her fathers were not married spurred the men to join the gay marriage lawsuit in Massachusetts, to a lesbian couple and devoted mothers of twins who fight for same-sex adoption rights in Oklahoma. Deakin chronicles both their private strides toward acceptance and their public struggles to advance gay rights. Thoughtful and timely, Gay Marriage, Real Life tells the powerful and dramatic story of same-sex marriage in America today. http://www.uua.org/skinner/3969.html _blank print Ellison Marvin M. Same-Sex Marriage?: A Christian Ethical Analysis samesexmarriage.jpg Cleveland The Pilgrim Press 2004 198 pp. 0-8298-1560-0 This critical book is written by a gay man and progressive Christian ethicist who places justice making at the heart of contemporary spirituality. In dialogue with both legal scholars and theologians, Ellison examines the strengths and weaknesses of how marriage traditionalists, advocates of same-sex marriage, and LGBT critics of marriage analyze the issues and frame their arguments. The book offers constructive proposals for revitalizing Christian sexual ethics and moving the debate forward, regardless of whether the right to marry is won or lost. http://thepilgrimpress.com/class_smy.taf?site_uid1=149&hallway_uid1=149&search_id=435&_UserReference=8BCF461BCA3AC97B4356CB6C&checksum=0 _blank print Eskridge William N., Jr. The Case for Same-Sex Marriage: From Sexual Liberty to Civilized Commitment New York Free Press 1996 304 pp. 0684824043 Issues involving gay rights have a tendency to separate those who normally fall on opposing sides and join those who are usually at odds. Both Clinton and Dole, for example, have supported a recent bill in the Senate to allow other states the right not to recognize same-sex marriages made in Hawaii. Eskridge, a Georgetown University professor, has produced a thoughtful book on this polarizing issue, taking the position that Americans should extend the right of legal marriage to same-sex couples because of the civilizing influence of the marriage bond. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0684824043/qid=1134078739/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/002-2047862-5702422?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 _blank print United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns The Greatest of These Is Love Cleveland United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns 2005 41 pp. Eight same-gender couples' joyful, historic, legal marriages in faith communities in Massachusetts. At least one person in each couple is a member of the UCC. The resource includes photos of the couples and their reflections on marriage, with additional comments by officiants, family and friends. http://www.ucccoalition.org/resources/ona.html _blank print Johnson William Stacy A Time to Embrace: Same-Gender Relationships in Religious, Law, and Politics time2embrace.jpg Grand Rapids, MI Eerdmans Publishing Co. 2007 330 pp. 08028296X As rhetoric continues to heat up on both sides of the debate over same-gender unions, clearly reasoned statements are in short supply. Watching this debate unfold, lawyer-theologian William Stacy Johnson found that he could be silent no longer. The result is this finely honed book. In A Time to Embrace Johnson presents a brilliant analysis of the religious, legal, and political stakes in the debates over gay marriage, civil unions, and the place of committed gay couples in a democratic society. Carefully weighing the pros and cons from across the moral and religious spectrum, Johnson here offers a fresh, thought-provoking examination of one of the most controversial issues in the West today. http://www.eerdmans.com/shop/product.asp?p_key=9780802829665 _blank print Lavender Shonnie Bruce Mulkey I Do! I Do! The Marriage Vow Workbook idoido.jpg Morrisville, NC Lulu.com 2006 112 pp. 1847280382 This guide offers a step-by-step resource for couples who want to write unique, eloquent and inspiring wedding vows. The authors have consciously aimed to live up to their vision that all of us are children of God — and thus have created a book inclusive of GLBT people. http://www.amazon.com/I-Do-I-Do-Marriage-Vow/dp/1847280382/sr=8-1/qid=1156864170/ref=sr_1_1/104-0113982-3540765?ie=UTF8 _blank print Lehr Valerie Queer Family Values: Debunking the Myth of the Nuclear Family queerfamilyvalues.jpg Philadelphia Temple University Press 1999 212 pp. 1-56639-683-2 In this book, Valerie Lehr calls into question the forms of oppression - gender, racial, and economic - that lead society to privilege the nuclear family. Lehr asks why debate over the rights of gays and lesbians to take part in a socially defined institution - marriage - that is, she argues, designed to perpetuate inequalities among people? Queer Family Values calls for an approach to family issues and individual liberty that challenges power rather than demands access to privilege. Lehr urges activists to counter conservative discourses that recognize the nuclear family as the only responsible and mature family alternative, and encourages them to advocate social policies that champion the freedoms of all people. http://www.temple.edu/tempress/titles/1354_reg.html _blank print Lewin Ellen Recognizing Ourselves: Ceremonies of Lesbian & Gay Commitment New York Columbia University Press 1998 288 pp. 0231103921 Lewin, who has consecrated her own lesbian relationship with a commitment ceremony, decided to explore the myriad ways in which lesbians and gay men create meaningful ceremonies for themselves. She offers the first comprehensive account of lesbian and gay weddings in modern America. A series of richly detailed profiles-the result of extensive interviews and participation in the planning and realization of many of these commitment rituals-is woven together to show how new traditions, and ultimately new families, are emerging within contemporary America. Just as the book is a moving portrait of same-sex couples today, it is also a significant political document on a new arena in the struggle for lesbian and gay rights. In a larger sense, Lewin's work is about the politics surrounding same-sex marriages and the ramifications for central dimensions of American culture such as kinship, community, morality, and love. http://www.columbia.edu/cu/cup/catalog/data/023110/0231103921.HTM _blank print Marcus Eric Together Forever: Gay and Lesbian Marriage New York Anchor 1998 368 pp. 0385488769 Based on Marcus' extensive interviews with 40 long-term lesbian and gay couples from all walks of life about the issues they face, including courtship and commitment, monogamy, communication, work, money, family, sex and intimacy, aging and loss. http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385488761 _blank print McWhirter David P. Andrew M. Mattison The Male Couple: How Relationships Develop Englewood Cliffs, NJ Prentice Hall 1985 334 pp. 0135476615 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0135476615/qid=1134080055/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-2047862-5702422?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 _blank print Miner Jeff John Tyler Connoley The Children Are Free: Reexamining the Biblical Evidence on Same-Sex Relationships childrenarefree.jpg Indianapolis Jesus Metropolitan Community Church 2002 112 pp. 0971929602 “Can two people of the same sex live in committed, loving relationship with the blessing of God?” That's the question The Children Are Free brings to Scripture. This book is a comprehensive yet easy-to-read examination of the biblical evidence regarding loving same-sex relationships and God's attitude toward them. This book speaks the language of conservatives while thoughtfully weighing the Biblical evidence in favor of welcoming lgbt people. http://jesusmcc.org/resource/free.html _blank print Myers David G. Letha Dawson Scanzoni editors What God Has Joined Together?: A Christian Case for Gay Marriage whatgodhasjoined.jpg San Francisco HarperSanFrancisco 2005 192 pp. 0060774614 An effort to bridge the divide between marriage-supporting and gay-supporting people of faith by showing why both sides have important things to say. By affirming marriage for all, What God Has Joined Together concurs with conservatives' call for marriage renewal and a more marriage-supporting culture. And it concurs with liberals' affirmation of everyone's right, regardless of sexual orientation, to seal love with commitment and to participate fully in the church's life and ministry. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060774614/qid=1140237481/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_5/102-5249414-6888935?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 _blank print Nugent Robert editor A Challenge to Love: Gay and Lesbian Catholics in the Church New York Crossroad Publishing 1983 290 pp. 0824505182 Daniel Maguire's essay, "The Morality of Homosexual Marriage", appears on pp. 120-121. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0824505182/qid=1134079099/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-2047862-5702422?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 _blank print Tennov Dorothy Love and Limerance: The Experience of Being in Love 2nd Chelsea, MI Scarborough House 1999 357 pp. 0812862864 What a wealth of information Dorothy Tennov offers. What a resource for those who become love obsessed with one particular person. Apparently it is not all of us. Some of us become "limerant" (her name for being "in love") and some of us never do. Some of us are limerant sometimes and other times not. It is key to know that the condition is NOT LOVE. That it is INVOLUNTARY, that it is NORMAL, that it has existed since the beginning of history, that there are probably EVOLUTIONARY REASONS for it, that there are TRIGGERS which set it in motion, that "sufferers", are legion, that practically nothing is known about preventing it, or ending it at will. Ouch! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812862864/qid=1134080664/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-2047862-5702422?s=books&v=glance&n=283155 _blank print Tessina Tina Gay Relationships for Men and Women: How to Find Them, How to Improve Them, How to Make Them Last Los Angeles Tarcher/Penquin 1990 227 pp. 0874775663 http://www.penguinputnam.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,0_0874775663,00.html _blank print Wolfson Evan Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality, and Gay People's Right to Marry whymarriagematters.jpg New York Simon & Schuster 2004 242 pp. 978-0-7432-6458-7 Why is the word marriage so important? Will marriage for same-sex couples hurt the "sanctity" of the institution? How can people of different faiths reconcile their beliefs with the idea of marriage for same-sex couples? How will allowing gay couples to marry affect children? In this quietly powerful volume, the most authoritative and fairly articulated book on the subject, Wolfson demonstrates why the right to marry is important-indeed necessary-for all couples and for American's promise of equality. http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?sid=33&pid=491390 _blank live Act for Action A Leap of Faith: An interactive play encouraging dialogue on the issue of Christianity and gay marriage leap_of_faith.gif A Leap of Faith is a touring interactive performance that explores the issue of gay marriage and Christianity by looking at both theology and the day-to-day lives of congregational members. A Leap of Faith can be performed during or after services, at retreats or conferences or during educational meetings. The program lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. Act for Action developed A Leap of Faith in collaboration with the Community of Welcoming Congregations, Love Makes a Family, church leaders and members of faith communities to encourage community dialogue andunderstanding on issues pertaining to gay marriage. Each performance can include a facilitated dialogue concerning the issue of gay marriage. Additionally, we will provide curriculum that the hosting organization may choose to utilize before and after the performance. If you are interested in booking a show or want more information, contact: Jeannie LaFrance at 503.287.9628 ext 2 or email info@actforaction.org. This project is made possible through the generous support of the Regional Arts and Culture Council and the McKenzie River Gathering Foundation. leapoffaith.pdf _self online Chellew-Hodgem Rev. Candace editors A Seal Upon My Heart by Rev. Candace Chellew-Hodgem http://www.whosoever.org/v8i4/seal.shtml _blank online Haffner Rev. Debra W. Timothy Palmer Love, Integrity and Justice for All by Rev. Debra W. Haffner, and Timothy Palmer loveintegrityjustice.htm _self online Harris Rev. Sally Lock Down by Rev. Sally Harris, United Church of Canada lockdown.htm _self online Hoffman Rev. Joe editors It's Time for This to Change The Rev. Joe Hoffman, pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Asheville, NC made the announcement in his Sunday morning sermon (Feb. 19, 2006) in an effort to treat his gay and lesbian parishioners the same as heterosexuals - a move that he believes is a first in this area. hoffman021906.htm _self online Moore Fintan editors Gathered Around Him Was a Great Crowd A Sermon given by Fintan Moore at First United Church of Christ, Northfield, MN, February 11, 2007 fintan021107.htm _self online Moore Fintan editors That They All May Be One: Re-Membering the Body of Christ A Sermon on Marraige Equality given by Fintan Moore at First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, River Falls, Wisconsin, Sunday, October 22, 2006. fintan102206.htm _self online Nelson Dr. James B. editors Relationships: Blessed and Blessing 1992 Keynote address at the 1992 National Gathering of the United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns given by Dr. James B. Nelson. http://www.ucc.org/justice/pdfs/emr15.pdf _blank online Portwood Rev. Don editors A Prophetic Witness Given by Rev. Don Portwood to Lyndale United Church of Christ on Palm/Passion Sunday, April 9, 2006. propheticwitness.htm _self online Selders Bishop John, Jr. editors Black Voice For Gay Marriage Bishop John Selders Jr., pastor of the Amistad United Church of Christ in Hartford, is one of only a few black pastors who support gay marriage. A longtime activist on HIV issues in the African-American community, he helped organize the first Black Church Summit in Atlanta this past January to discuss making churches more welcoming to gays and lesbians. Selders recently became a consultant to Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) and Love Makes A Family in an effort to gain African-American support of marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples. Selders, who has a wife and two children, spoke with Staff Writer Frances Grandy Taylor about why he supports same-gender marriage, and what he thinks it will take to move change the stance of African-American clergy. http://www.courant.com/news/local/northeast/hc-3q0423.artapr23,0,1660441.story _blank online Voelkel Rev. Rebecca editors O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing A Presentation on Marriage Equality given by Rev. Rebecca Voelkel to First Congregational Church, Cannon Falls, December 7, 2005. rvmarriageeq.htm _self print United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns Youth and Young Adult Program Same Gender Marriage: A Study Guide for Youth Groups and Campus Ministries Cleveland United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns 2004 Prepared by the Youth and Young Adult Program of the United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns http://www.ucccoalition.org/resources/yya.html _blank online editors Support Grows in New York for Right of Gay People to Marry Three-Year Trend Shows Growing Majority of New Yorkers Support Ending Discrimination in Marriage 2006marriagepollpr.pdf _self online editors Equal Marital Rights: Resource Packet, Resources for Study and Discussion 1999 160 pp. Produced by Wider Church Ministries and Justice and Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ. (downloadable pdf file) http://www.ucc.org/justice/pdfs/emrcomplete.pdf _blank online editors Human Rights Campaign's Guide to Conversations about GLBT Issues Need help talking about GLBT issues? Coming out as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and straight allies each day means having conversations with family, friends, coworkers and acquaintances almost every day. Do you know what to say if a coworker says, "I don't see why gay marriage is such a big deal. Can't same-sex couples get the same benefits through civil unions?" The Human Rights Campaign has a fun, interactive online guide to keep the conversation going. This new resource literally walks you through conversations about important issues impacting GLBT Americans and their families. http://anon.newmediamill.speedera.net/anon.newmediamill/tom/conversation/index.html _blank online editors Map of Proposed State Constitutional Amendments 2006 Limiting Marriage And/Or Other Forms of Relationship Recognition in 2006 Const_Amd_Map_02-11-06.pdf _self online editors Marriage/Partner Recognition Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) families deserve the same respect, recognition and protection as all other families. Family recognition and the many rights and protections it provides is essential to the well-being of our families. Same-sex couples, even those legally recognized by their states, are denied the 1,138 federal benefits available to or required of married opposite-sex couples. The denial of those benefits hurts our families. http://www.thetaskforce.org/issues/marriage_and_partnership_recognition _blank online editors An Open Letter to Religious Leaders about Sex Education From the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing http://www.religiousinstitute.org/Open_Letter.pdf _blank online editors Jumping the Broom: A Black Perspective on Same-Gender Marriage From the National Black Justice Coalition (PDF document) http://nbjcoalition.org/jump_broom1.pdf _blank online editors Black Leaders Speak Out From the National Black Justice Coalition (Word document) http://nbjcoalition.org/assets/docs/BLACK-LEADERS-SPEAK-OUT.doc _blank multimedia Emery Drew editors Inlaws and Outlaws inlawsoutlaws.gif True Stories Project 2005 1:33 As the gay marriage debate rages, this film goes beyond the rhetoric and straight to the heart. Whether loving inside or outside marriage, struggling to get in or suing to get out, this film follows the lives of ordinary folks as they navigate their own path to happily every after. DVD http://www.inlawsandoutlawsfilm.com/ _blank multimedia Wilson Debra A. editors Jumpin' the Broom: The New Covenant jumpinthebroom.gif MOYO Entertainment 2005 0:29 This film highlights Black lesbian and gay couples who share personal and heartfelt stories that challenge levels of intimacy between two people. Their commitment redefines and honors love, family values, politics and religion in today's society. Features best-selling author Dr. Michael Eric Dyson. DVD http://www.moyoentertainment.com/ _blank multimedia Hildebran Gretchen editors Out in the Heartland USA Frameline 2005 0:18 Out in the Heartland explores how Kentucky's recent constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage affects three families and their communities. As momentum pushes the issue from the mega-churches to the ballot box, gay parents begin to fear for their families' safety and future. Out in the Heartland gives a face to those at the center of these amendments, illuminating their long-term consequences for all. DVD/Rental http://cart.frameline.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=T621 _blank multimedia de Sève Jim editors Tying the Knot tyingtheknot.jpg USA Outcast Films 2004 1:22 Three years in the making, Jim de Sève's powerful documentary on same-sex marriage provides a much needed historical and legal perspective to the political war being waged in the nation today. By using archival footage, news clips, and heartfelt interviews, Tying the Knot examines the institution of marriage today and how it has changed through history: from an historical trip to the middle ages to gay hippies storming the Manhattan marriage bureau in 1971. This eye-opening exploration of the embattled institution looks at rights, privilege and love as gay activists and right-wing politicos lock horns in the fight for marriage. DVD & VHS http://www.outcast-films.com/films/ttk/index.html _blank multimedia Butler Ryan editors A Union in Wait (Director's Cut) unioninwaiting.jpg USA Frameline 2001 0:47 Susan Parker and Wendy Scott were members of the Wake Forest Baptist Church in North Carolina. In 1997 the couple decided to have a union ceremony in Wake Forest University's Chapel, but the university prevented this from happening. A Union in Wait recounts the struggle of Parker and Scott to have their union recognized and the controversy that divided a community. DVD/Rental http://cart.frameline.org/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=T531 _blank print United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns ONA Blessing Ceremony Certificate Cleveland United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns 1999 1 pp. An embossed certificate to be presented to a couple at their covenant service. Comes with envelope. (6" high by 5" wide) http://www.ucccoalition.org/resources/ona.html _blank online editors Open Letter to Religious Leaders on Marriage Equality A theological framework for marriage equality from the Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing http://www.religiousinstitute.org/publications.html _blank print Russell William D. editor Homosexual Saints: The Community of Christ Experience homosexualsaints.gif Ann Arbor John Whitmer Books 2008 276 pp. 1934901059 Members of Community of Christ (formerly the RLDS church) have polarized opinions concerning the status of their fellow members who are homosexual. The two major issues are priesthood ordination (in a predominantly lay church) and whether the church will marry and bless same-sex weddings. Homosexual Saints explores these issues with twenty-four narratives that explain the experience of gay and lesbian members of Community of Christ, as well as the experiences of their family members and supporters. The volume includes a detailed history of the status of homosexuals in the church since 1954, and a preface by celebrated Mormon historian D. Michael Quinn. http://www.johnwhitmerbooks.com/books/title_details.asp?title=6 _blank print Munday John S. Hate is the Sin: Putting Faces on the Debate over Human Sexuality hateisthesin.jpg New York Routledge 2008 160 pp. 0789036398

Arguments based in doctrine and scripture over the inclusion of homosexual people within Christian congregations and sacraments have done little to persuade the faithful on either side of this debate. Hate is the Sin: Putting Faces on the Debate over Human Sexuality approaches this divisive subject through portraits of the faith of gay and lesbian persons, presents both sides of the controversy, revealing how preformed opinions shape widely divergent interpretations of biblical and theological issues. Included are the true stories of Mary Albing, serving as a pastor while in a lesbian relationship; Jay Wiesner, whose congregation defied the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America by ordaining and installing him in an Extraordinary Candidacy Project ceremony; David Glesne, who sought to heal relationships with gays and lesbians and yet deny them ordination and cohabitation; and other accounts of the ways that many congregations have struggled to welcome homosexual people and to realize the Christian message within their own churches. Hate is the Sin is an insightful and detailed account of this contemporary debate and required reading for any person hoping to understand Christianity and the spiritual lives of contemporary Christian people.

 http://www.routledge.com/books/Hate-is-the-Sin-isbn9780789036391 _blank multimedia Wilson and Dean Hamer Joe Out in the Silence outinthesilence.jpg qWaves 2009 1:06 This inspirational and gripping documentary uses the story of a small American town confronting the firestorm of controversy ignited by a same-sex wedding announcement to illustrate the challenge of being an outsider in a conservative environment and catalyze new ways of making resources and support available for those working for change.

The film and accompanying outreach campaign are supported by grants from the Sundance Documentary Film Program and Pennsylvania Public Television Network.

 DVD http://www.outinthesilence.com _blank online editors Marriage Equality Marriage equality in the United States is a very touchy subject. Countless couples get married every day, just as many couples also divorce. More and more, same-sex couples are winning the right to get married. http://www.datehookup.com/content-marriage-equality.htm _blank print Tigert Leanne McCall Maren C. Tirabassi All Whom God Has Joined: Resources for Clergy and Same-Gender Loving Couples AllWhomGod.jpg Cleveland The Pilgrim Press 2010 192 pp. 978-0-8298-1838-3 All Whom God Has Joined provides – in one accessible volume – a unique collection of liturgical and ceremonial resources as well as pastoral care tools and insights on same-sex covenanting ceremonies for clergy and couples addressing these issues. Those who want a clearer understanding of this subject will also benefit from this one-of-a-kind book. http://www.amazon.com/All-Whom-God-Has-Joined/dp/0829818383/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266521106&sr=8-1 _blank print Rickard Judy Torn Apart: United by Love, Divided by Law TornApart.jpg Dyke, Scotland Findhorn Press 2010 256 pages 1844095487 The uphill battle that thousands of lesbian and gay couples face are described in these moving stories about immigration, injustice, and love. As Judy and Karin's story shows, when only one person in a gay couple is an American citizen, it is virtually impossible to obtain legal residence for the other partner. The result is that families are ripped apart, children are separated from their parents, gravely ill people die alone in the hospital, careers are abandoned, and relationships are strained to the breaking point. Organizations working to stop this situation are listed as resources. The good work that has been done is woven into the pages to give you hope when you may be drowning in despair. http://www.findhornpress.com/relationships-43/torn-apart-392.html _blank print White Mel Holy Terror: Lies the Christian Right Tells Us to Deny Gay Equality holyterror.jpg New York Magnus Books 2012 350 pages 1936833093 A deeply religious man who sees fundamentalism as "evangelical Christian orthodoxy gone cultic," Mel White believes that it is not a stretch to say that the true goals of today's fundamentalists are to break down the wall that separates church and state, superimpose their "moral values" on the US Constitution, replace democracy with theocratic rule, and ultimately create a new "Christian America" in their image. As he writes, "These are not just Neocons dressed in religious drag. These men see themselves as gurus called by God to rescue America from unrighteousness. They believe this is a Christian nation that must be returned forcibly to its Christian roots.

White is also a gay man who made news when he came out more than fourteen years ago. He has gained a unique understanding of the fundamentalist agenda because, since the fall of "godless Communism," homosexuality and abortion have become the primary targets through which fundamentalists have created fear, raised money, and mobilized recruits. Originally published in hardcover under the title Religion Gone Bad , Holy Terror documents the thirty-year war that fundamentalist Christians have waged against gays and lesbians and offers dramatic, heartbreaking evidence that fundamentalist leaders are waging nothing less than a "holy war" against sexual minorities. The paperback edition includes a new introduction, which takes into account, among other current events, the Obama presidency and the rise of the Tea Party Movement. http://www.amazon.com/Holy-Terror-Christian-Right-Equality/dp/1936833093/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1335896474&sr=8-9 _blank online editors Be not Afraid - Help is on the Way! PFLAG National 2012 46 pages In a world where people look for definitive answers, finding resolution between what our religion teaches us and our support (and even love) for GLBT people often leaves people frustrated, hurt, and unwilling to even talk about the topic. And with the ever-growing numbers of people who say that they personally know GLBT people, this challenge becomes more widespread each day.Be not afraid - help is on the way! Straight for Equality in faith communities aims to move the way we understand our religious beliefs and our relationships with GLBT people - and support for equality - away from the either/or, "love the sinner, hate the sin" framework and to a place where people can try to understand that you can be a person of faith, loyal to your religion's teachings, and someone who supports their GLBT friends and family. (pdf) PDF http://community.pflag.org/sfe-test/document.doc?id=649 _blank online editors Ecumenical Catholic Church (ECC) Marriage Liturgy This is the liturgy used in all ECC weddings, whether gay, lesbian, or straight. It is standard liturgical work, except that it has eliminated all the male and female wording common in marriage rites. The three variants of the Old Testament lesson are obviously geared toward MF, MM, and FF marriages, though there is no real requirement that they be used as such. PDF ECCMarriageLiturgy.pdf _blank print Robinson Gene God Believes in Love: Straight Talk About Gay Marriage GodBelieves.jpg New York Knopf 2012 196 pages 0307957888 From the Bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire in the Episcopal Church, the first openly gay person elected (in 2003) to the historic episcopate and the world's leading religious spokesperson for gay rights and gay marriage - a groundbreaking book that lovingly and persuasively makes the case for same-sex marriage using a commonsense, reasoned, religious argument, made by someone who holds the religious text of the Bible to be holy and sacred and the ensuing two millennia of church history to be relevant to the discussion, equally familiar with the secular and political debate going on in America today, and for whom same-sex marriage is a personal issue; Robinson was married to a woman for two decades and is a father of two children and has been married to a man for the last four years of a twenty-three year relationship. http://www.amazon.com/God-Believes-Love-Straight-Marriage/dp/0307957888/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348069467&sr=8-1&keywords=god+believes+in+love _blank online editors History and Timeline of the Freedom to Marry in the United States This timeline demonstrates the progress that the freedom to marry has experienced over the past 40 years, outlining the setbacks and celebrating the triumphs that same-sex couples have experienced. Click through each landmark election, court case, legislative win, or public endorsement to see photos, watch videos, and read more about how the United States has arrived at this pivotal period in the history of our advocacy for the freedom to marry. http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pages/history-and-timeline-of-marriage _blank online editors I Will Bless You, and You Will Be a Blessing 2012 Resources for blessing same-gender relationships by the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music of the Episcopal Church (2012) PDF http://www.episcopalarchives.org/SCLM/2012-A049/2012_BlueBook_SCLM_Excerpt.pdf _blank online editors The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant 2012 14 pages Liturgical Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships (Extracted from Liturgical Resources 1: I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing) PDF http://www.episcopalarchives.org/SCLM/2012-A049/LifelongCovenantRite.pdf _blank