Abstract
The same-sex marriage debate has centralised the significance of love to the institution of marriage. Supporters of gay marriage reject that marriage is about procreation, arguing instead that it is about love, and should therefore not exclude same-sex relationships. There is certainly support for this proposition. The connection between love and marriage is a well-made and long-argued one. Empirical studies also bear this connection out. This paper will discuss the way in which love has been used in the debate as a means to break down traditional and conservative readings of marriage. These readings are wedded to marriage as an institution between a man and a woman for the sake of procreation. Romantic love is used a weapon against this construction of marriage, but what are the consequences of connecting love to marriage?
| Original language | English |
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| Journal | Radicalism of Romantic Love: Critical Perspectives |
| Publication status | Published - 2013 |
| Event | The Radicalism of Romantic Love - ANU, Canberra Duration: 1 Jan 2013 → … |