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I Do/I Don't: Queers on Marriage
Praise for I Do/I Don't: Queers on Marriage
"Although the California Supreme Court voided their 2004 marriage and those of almost 4000 other gay newlyweds, Wharton and Philips consider themselves spouses for life. Their rich anthology of 132 provocative essays by many well-known authors and first-time essayists makes compelling personal arguments for gay marriage, against it, and all in between."
"With 132 contributors, from Allison (Dorothy) to Wolfson (Evan), this
collection of romantic fiction, goopy poetry, intense rants, dry legal
defenses, witty wedding-day memoirs, and deeply personal vows takes a gander
at queers and marriage from every possible perspective. This is good. For
all the giddy hoopla and happy tears of individual ceremonies, an anthology
honest enough to explore many sides of an issue that does indeed divide
queers is overdue—and certainly a standout from the current deluge of
wedding books. On the I Don't side, Cheryl Clarke declares, unambiguously,
'Marriage trivializes our partnerships.' On the I Do side, Jim Gladstone
writes: 'Every wedding is an exquisitely awkward marriage of idealism and
acceptance...which in and of itself is a case for same-sex couples, isn't
it?' And Christopher Bram straddles the middle ground with grace and
eloquence: he and his partner of 25 years have no desire to wed, but what he
loves 'about gay marriage, without reservation, is how the very idea of it
infuriates Christian conservatives.'"
"I Do/I Don't is a fascinating read for anyone interested in the politics of marriage, especially those who have grown tired of the trite right-left debates about same-sex marriage. It's also a gift to teachers and professors, who no doubt will appreciate the ease of assigning their students to read any handful of the short essays and invigorating their students' thinking on a major contemporary political issue. You won't agree with everything you read in this anthology. But you'll probably be impressed by the intelligence, humor, passion, insight, and humanity you'll find in its pages."
"Why Marriage Matters is the best argument for same-sex marriage in print. However, as reading material, I much prefer I Do/I Don't: Queers On Marriage. Greg Wharton and Ian Philips are not just publisher and editor in chief, respectively, of Suspect Thoughts Press. They are also real-life partners who got hitched in San Francisco during that city's Winter of Love (2004). I Do/I Don't is their contribution to the great debate. Like Sullivan, Wharton and Philips' compilation features contributions by a score of writers with various views, only in this case they are all part of our own lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgendered/intersex/queer community. The 100-plus contributors are a veritable GLBT 'who's who,' and include the likes of Dorothy Allison, Bruce Bawer, Patrick Califia, Christian de la Huerta, Lisa Duggan, Jim Gladstone, Brent Hartinger, Davina Kotulski, Michael T. Luongo, Tim Miller, Felice Picano, Shar Rednour, Sarah Schulman, Tristan Taormino and Wolfson, just to name a few. Some of the writers view marriage as an outdated form of heterosexual oppression, while others see marital unions as the road to queer Nirvana. The way these people express their differences is just as diverse, and includes personal essays, fiction, poetry, nonfiction, vows, rants, love letters, and sermons. All in all, I Do/I Don't is both entertaining and informative, affirming and infuriating, and simply the best GLBT anthology in print today."
"I Do/I Don't is a hefty collection of essays, poems, and stories which cover the various aspects of same-sex marriage. As the title hints, not all of our gay brothers and sisters favor the institution. Editors Greg Wharton and Ian Philips are to be commended for this massive effort, which surely will have some pieces that will stimulate lively discussions no matter which side of the marriage fence people are on."
"Marriage. It's no secret that the topic has become politicized and has polarized even gay and lesbian people. But so few of our diverse queer perspectives are actually being heard in the media.
"Gay Marriage: A fight for equality?…or the wrong fight? It's no secret that the topic has become politicized and has polarized even gays and lesbians. Many are anxiously waiting a chance to wed. Many others find the idea absurd. But so few of these amazingly varied perspectives are actually being heard in the media. I Do / I Don't brilliantly rectifies this opinion gap with an eye-opening array of over 100 pieces--poetry, fiction, essays, interviews, vows, love letters, and sermons--by the well-known as well as Jane Doe.
"Don't expect to find new short stories by fiction writers Ian Philips and Greg Wharton in their latest anthology, I Do/I Don't: Queers on Marriage—the San Francisco editors and writers who make up the publishing team of Suspect Thoughts Press have assembled an impressive 132 contributions from journalists, comedians, politicians, and literary talents writing on the pros and cons and "I don't really cares" of same-sex weddings."
release: September 2004
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