The Gay Rights Question in Contemporary American LawThe gay rights question is whether the second-class legal status of gay people should be changed. In this book Andrew Koppelman shows the powerful legal and moral case for gay equality, but argues that courts cannot and should not impose it. The Gay Rights Question in Contemporary American Law offers an unusually nuanced analysis of the most pressing gay rights issues. Does antigay discrimination violate the Constitution? Is there any sound moral objection to homosexual conduct? Are such objections the moral and constitutional equivalent of racism? Must state laws recognizing same-sex unions be given effect in other states? Should courts take account of popular resistance to gay equality? Koppelman sheds new light on all these questions. Sure to upset purists on either side of the debate, Koppelman's book criticizes the legal arguments advanced both for and against gay rights. Just as important, it places these arguments in broader moral and social contexts, offering original, pragmatic, and workable legal solutions. |
Contents
1 | |
1 Equal Protection and Invidious Intent | 6 |
2 The Right to Privacy? | 35 |
3 The Sex Discrimination Argument and Objections | 53 |
4 Why Discriminate? | 72 |
5 Choice of Law and Public Policy | 94 |
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American Andrew Koppelman argued basis Bork challenge chapter Choice of Law cited civil unions claim Clause Conflict of Laws constitutional constitutionally context criminal decision Defense of Marriage deny discriminate against gays dissenting doctrine domicile equal protection Eskridge exist faith and credit federal Finnis Fourteenth Amendment full faith gay rights gender Germain Grisez Grisez Hardwick Hawaii heightened scrutiny heterosexual heterosexual couples homosexual homosexual conduct impermissible innocent explanation interest interracial marriage invalidated invidious issue John Finnis judges judgment judicial Justice laws that discriminate legislative legitimate lesbians marital Marriage Act married couples miscegenation moral motives objection opinion percent persons political principle prohibition purpose question racial reason recognition recognize same-sex marriages relationships rely riage right to privacy Romer same-sex couples same-sex marriage Scalia sex discrimination argument sexual orientation social sodomy state's statute Supreme Court theory tion U.S. Supreme Court unconstitutional valid Vermont violated women wrong Yale L.J.