The summer of 2008 was the summer of love and commitment for gays and lesbians in the United States. Thousands of same-sex couples stood in line for wedding licenses all over California in the first few days after same-sex marriage was legalized. On the other side of the country, Massachusetts, the very first state to give gay couples marriage rights, took the last step to full equality by allowing same-sex couples from other states to marry there as well. This was the hallmark of true equality for some, yet others questioned whether the very bedrock of society was crumbling. To discover the i ... More

The summer of 2008 was the summer of love and commitment for gays and lesbians in the United States. Thousands of same-sex couples stood in line for wedding licenses all over California in the first few days after same-sex marriage was legalized. On the other side of the country, Massachusetts, the very first state to give gay couples marriage rights, took the last step to full equality by allowing same-sex couples from other states to marry there as well. This was the hallmark of true equality for some, yet others questioned whether the very bedrock of society was crumbling. To discover the impact of same-sex marriage, the book presents interviews with gay couples in the Netherlands, where it has been legal for same-sex couples to marry since 2001. The book details the changes to their relationships, the reactions of their families, and work colleagues. The book gives a primer on the current state of the same-sex marriage debate. The evidence shows both that marriage changes gay people more than gay people change marriage, and that it is the most liberal countries and states making the first move to recognize gay couples. The book shows that allowing gay couples to marry does not destroy the institution of marriage and that many gay couples do benefit, in expected as well as surprising ways, from the legal, social, and political rights that the institution offers.