Same-Sex Marriage: The Cultural Politics of Love and Law

Fierce and often ugly battles are being waged, especially in the United States, over who is allowed to marry, what marriage signifies, and where marriage is headed. Kathleen Hull examines these debates, and data from interviews with over seventy people in same-sex relationships, to explore the cultural practices surrounding same-sex marriage and the legal battle for recognition. Arguing that the cultural and legal dimensions of marriage are closely intertwined, she shows how same-sex couples use marriage-related cultural practices, such as public commitment rituals, to assert the reality of their commitments despite lack of legal recognition. Though many same-sex couples see the law of the state to hold a unique cultural power to legitimate their relationships and identities, Hull finds that their opponents equally look to the law to re-establish a social normalcy that excludes same-sex relationships. This is a timely look at a contentious issue.

Fierce and sometimes ugly battles are being waged, especially in America, over who is allowed to marry, and what marriage signifies. By examining these debates and the data from over seventy interviews, Kathleen Hull explores the cultural practices around same-sex marrige as well as the legal battles for recognition.

An exploration of the cultural practices around same-sex marrige as well as the legal battle for recognition.

Fierce and sometimes ugly battles are being waged, especially in America, over who is allowed to marry, and what marriage signifies. By examining these debates and the data from over seventy interviews, Kathleen Hull explores the phenomenon of same-sex marriage in the contemporary US context. Hull describes how same-sex couples use marriage-related cultural practices such as public commitment rituals to assert the reality of their commitments, explores why same-sex couples are interested in obtaining legal recognition for these commitments and examines why this is so threatening to their fellow citizens.

Kathleen E. Hull is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Minnesota.