Main Menu

Home
About Us
Get Involved
Press Room
Facts & Fun
Current Issues
Blog

Ways to be Unmarried

Living Single
Living Together
GLBT
Polyamory
MarriageFree & Boycott
Parents & Children
Commitment Ceremonies
Domestic Partner Benefits
GLBT Books & Links PDF Print E-mail

 

AtMP has partnered with Powell's Books.  If you click a book title on this page and purchase the book from Powell's, a portion of your purchase will support AtMP!  In fact, any Powell's purchase by searching or linking from this page will support our work! 

 

AtMP especially thanks these authors and organizations for their partnership and support*.

 




Books About Same-Sex Marriage & GLBT Relationships

*I Do/I Don't: Queers on Marriage , edited by Greg Wharton and Ian Philips (2004)
A fascinating collection of short essays (most of them 2-4 pages) by over 130 authors with stunningly diverse perspectives on marriage. It contains plenty of authors whose names you might recognize -- Dorothy Allison, Michael Bronski, Rachel Kramer Bussel, Patrick Califia, Margaret Cho, Lisa Duggan, Carol Queen, Eric Rofes, Cecilia Tan, Tristan Taormino, Carmen Vasquez, Evan Wolfson -- but also lots of names you never heard of with something just as interesting to say. Read our full review of this book.  You can support AtMP by buying this book from us online.

* A Legal Guide for Lesbian and Gay Couples, by Attorneys Hayden Curry, Denis Clifford, and Robin Leonard (2007).
This book is an in-depth, accessible guide to protecting yourself as a same-sex couple. It includes information on medical emergencies, financial matters, parenting, wills, buying a home, and sample contracts for your relationship. You can support AtMP by buying this book from us online.

What Is Marriage For? The Strange Social History of Our Most Intimate Institution by E.J. Graff (1999). Even if you're not a history buff, this book is a fascinating trip through the history of marriage, proving beyond any doubt that with as many changes as the institution has seen, there's no such thing as "traditional marriage." Ultimately, Graff's mission is to legalize same-sex marriage. While we support her cause, we think she's too quick to brush aside the concerns of those for whom marriage isn't the goal.
To read our full review of this book, check out our August 1999 Update.

Same-Sex Marriage: Pro and Con, edited by Andrew Sullivan (1997)
This anthology includes strong essays on both sides of the argument.

There are many books on this subject! If you'd like to recommend others, let us know!

Freedom to Marry Links & Online Groups

Deciding Whether to Get Married in the U.S. or Internationally

A great set of pages from Lamda Legal Defense outlining things same-sex couples should consider before getting married, pros and cons of getting married in the U.S. vs. Internationally, and links to information about how to get married in other countries.

What Do I Need to Know About Getting Married in Canada?

Q & A from Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders about same-sex marriage in Canada.

HRC's Family Section
The Human Rights Campaign's page of up-to-date information about same-sex marriage, civil unions, domestic partnerships, commitment ceremonies, etc.

Marriage Project: Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund
A national organization working to legalize same-sex marriage. This page includes things you can do to help, more resources, and links to civil union information.

Marriage Traditions in Various Times and Cultures
This page counters the idea that there is one form of "traditional marriage" by tracing the many forms marriage has taken in different historical eras and cultures, from the Bible to the British-American colonies.

Partners Task Force For Gay and Lesbian Couples
An impressively thorough web site with lots of resources about same-sex relationships and marriage. Includes comparisons between legal marriage, ceremonial marriage, domestic partner benefits, etc. -- potentially helpful to any people thinking through whether marriage is for them. If you click on "Ceremonial Marriage" you can find lists of denominations and congregations that will perform marriage ceremonies for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender same-sex couples.

Straight Marriage Under Protest
This article by Sarah Deer explores options for male-female couples who are concerned about how to use their privilege responsibly.

GLBT Books/Groups/People Questioning Same-Sex Marriage

While these listings don't generally oppose same-sex marriage, they believe there may be more effective ways to secure rights and recognition for GLBT relationships and families.

 

*Beyond (Straight and Gay) Marriage, by Nancy Polikoff (2008)

"Marriage as a family form is not more important or valuable than other forms of family,” writes gay rights activist and American University law professor Nancy Polikoff, "so the law should not give it more value." We agree! This book exposes flaws in our legal system and offers policy solutions that are more universal than same-sex marriage.

www.beyondmarriage.org a document signed by LGBT activists and leaders, writers and artists, organizers and lawyers, allies and celebrities (including AtMP's founders and Executive Director) that offers a challenge to the current strategies employed by LGBT organizations that are pursuing marriage equality. 

The Trouble with Normal: Sex, Politics, and the Ethics of Queer Life , by Michael Warner
In one chapter Warner argues that gays should oppose same-sex marriage, since legalizing it would expand the scope of who may access marriage privileges, but does not fundamentally alter the system of granting privileges on the basis of relationship status. To read our full review of this book, check out our March 2000 Update.

Queer Family Values, by Valerie Lehr (2000)
Queer Family Values examines the historical, political, social, and economic contexts surrounding marriage and family in the United States, arguing that by fighting for marriage rights, gays and lesbians sidestep the real issues. To read our full review of this book, check out our April 2000 Update.

Against Marriage and Motherhood, by Claudia Card
This essay, printed in the journal Hypatian in 1996, argues that advocating for legal marriage is not the best way to improve the lives of same-sex couples.

"Marry" Me? by Robert McRuer
A college professor muses on the politics of gay marriage.

GLBT Parenting Links

COLAGE
Children of Gay and Lebian Parents Everywhere is a national and international organization for children of GLBT parents.

*Families Like Mine
Abigail Garner's site for teens and adults with GLBT parents.

Families Joined By Love

A website that provides a variety of resources for LGBT parents, their families and professionals. Check out their bookstore, and read about them in the media!

 Family Pride Coalition
National nonprofit focused on the needs of GLBT families.

Prospective Queer Parents
Although this page isn't specifically about unmarried parents, it has good resources for considering parenthood in general, especially if you're lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
Queer Parenting Email Lists
This site includes descriptions and subscription instructions for several different lists, including ones for lesbian moms, gay dads, queer parents in general, and stepparents.
GLBT Parenting bulletin board
An online bulletin board for GLBT parents.

Other GLBT Links

Family Diversity Projects
This organization has wonderful photo-text exhibits and books on topics like lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender families, multiracial families, mental illness in the family, adoptive and foster families, single parent families, immigrant families, and more.

 

Do you have GLBT books, links, or other resources you'd recommend? Let us know so we can add them to this collection!