A faculty panel comprised of James S. Sherman Associate Professor of Government Phil Klinkner, Associate Professor of History Shoshanna Keller, Assistant Professor of Sociology Jenny Irons, Hamilton College Chaplain Jeff McArn, and System Administrator Jenn Sturm gathered with the greater Hamilton community to discuss and debate the issue of same-sex marriage in the Chapel.
Caroline O'Shea '07 and John Kuhl '06 welcomed attendees on behalf of the Hamilton College Democrats, sponsors of the panel. Kuhl clarified the issue of same-sex marriage, and outlined the Hamilton College Democrat's stance on the issue. Citing it as a "moral issue," same-sex marriage calls into question the equal rights and equal opportunities of U.S. citizens, according to Kuhl.
Panelist Sturm highlighted her own personal experience with same-sex marriage, as she was married to her partner in San Francisco on February 19, 2004. Although initially Sturm had concerns about the elitism inherent in the institution of marriage, she decided to marry her partner to gain equal legal and economic rights. Sturm described the experience as "incredible," meeting many people from different socioeconomic and racial backgrounds who came together for one common cause.
Following Sturm's story, Keller explained the historical aspect of the institution of marriage, explaining that little is "sacred about the institution of marriage" historically. Keller explained how the idea of love to be involved in the institution of marriage to be a new concept, dating only back to the 17th and 18th century. Traditionally, Keller explained, marriage was about property exchange between two families; social class, not love, played the key role in determining marriage.
Sociologist Jenny Irons began by describing her own experience with society's inherent heterosexuality. Citing Adrienne Rich's famous "compulsory heterosexuality," Irons explained how marriage is a social construct, and like other social constructs, is learned at an early age in the United States. The only way to change society's norms is to stand up against them actively, Irons said; "In order for [marriage] to work, [our definition of marriage] is going to have to change."
McArn spoke out against the church's opposition of gay marriage. "Keeping the gay community out of marriage hinders the institution of marriage," McArn explained. McArn expressed great "grief" that many people continue to believe that God only intended relationships to occur heterosexually, and homosexual relationships are not right in the eyes of God. McArn asked why exactly marriage was limited to heterosexuals, calling into question the standard definition of marriage. Additionally, McArn brought up the level of involvement the state or the church should really have in marriage to begin with versus the level it currently has in the United States.
Concluding the faculty panel, Klinkner discussed the political history of gay marriage, as well as the recent political implications this discussion has had on the Bush administration. The recent Massachusetts decision to allow same-sex marriage "sent [the] Christian right into orbit," Klinkner said. The greatest change, however, occurred when the Bush camp proposed a change in the Constitution. "Americans have a blind reverence to the Constitution," Klinkner explained; by amending the Constitution, the Bush administration would change the status quo, and many Americans do not want this change to take place.
Following the faculty panel's opening statements, the discussion opened up the entire community to question, debate, and discuss the issue of same-sex marriage in the United States. The panel was organized by the Hamilton College Democrats and funded by Student Assembly.
-- by Emily Lemanczyk '05
