Speaker Sept 9, 2011

 “Some students thought I was coming to speak on gays in Oklahoma and I thought, ‘That wouldn’t be too bad; your state song is a show tune!’” John Corvino said as he began his lecture on Friday.  Students, professors, and citizens of Norman gathered in Dale Hall at 4:00 p.m. on September 9, 2011 to listen to Corvino’s perspective on the definition of marriage.

            Gay marriage is an ongoing hot topic in our society, and Corvino has been educating people on his views for nearly a decade.  “People tend to generate more heat on the matter; I want to generate more light on the matter.”  During the lecture, Corvino elaborated on the definition of marriage by giving analogies and examples he believed to be relevant.   

            There are currently six states (plus the District of Columbia) that allow same sex marriage in America.  After Massachusetts passed the law, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Iowa followed.  Most recently, New York passed the law (June 24, 2011).  Other states allow civil unions, but the majority of the country only permits marriage between a man and a woman. 

              Because there is such a controversy between people as to what is right and what the law should be, Corvino does face obstacles when he gives his lectures across the country.  He says that in the early 1990s he had “more pushback” in the south.  “However in the last few years, there has been less opposition,” says Corvino. 

Corvino is currently working on a book, “Debating Same Sex Marriage”, and another book that has not yet been named.  There is also a DVD available called, “What’s Morally Wrong with Homosexuality?”  He travels to various audiences all over the country to promote his perspective on gay marriage.