Introduction 1. Religion and the legal regulation of homosexual sex 2. The boundaries of the family: religion and same-sex parenting 3. Religious exemptions from sexual orientation equality 4. The secular and the sacred: civil partnership and same-sex marriage 5. Homophobic hate speech and freedom of religious expression 6. Religion, homosexuality and state education Conclusion
Paul Johnson is Professor of Sociology at the University of
York.
Robert M. Vanderbeck is Senior Lecturer in Human Geography at the
University of Leeds.
"Law, Religion and Homosexuality is an engaging work that brings
our attention to the complexities of religion in shaping laws
designed to recognise and remedy (homo)sexual orientation
discrimination. As religion and homosexuality continue to press
upon the law as subjects seeking accommodation, the book reminds us
that it is necessary to avoid stereotypes and binaries. The book
testifies to the significant gains that have been made in the area
of same-sex law reform in the United Kingdom over the last 50
years. Yet, Johnson and Vanderbeck remind us that we must not
overstate ideas of progress or compromise lest we exclude sexual
minorities who still seek justice." Senthorun Raj, University of
Sydney, European Human Rights Law Review (2016). "In Law, Religion
and Homosexuality, the authors offer a novel study of the ways in
which religion has influenced, and continues to influence,
legislation affecting the lives of gay men and lesbians. The
writers trace this connection by examining the role of religious
discourse in the making of statutory law by the UK Parliament […]
Hansard is frequently and meticulously cited to illustrate the
nature of parliamentary discussion […] [A] well-researched and
highly interesting book which straddles a variety of disciplines –
primarily sociology, law and politics. It is clearly written and
certainly accessible to non-specialists in those fields. The
authors make a clear and persuasive case that religion, as
articulated in various forms by parliamentary figures, has had a
long-lasting effect on the expansion of laws protecting
homosexuality. Law, Religion and Homosexuality offers a revealing
insight into the writing, and re-writing, of laws relating to
homosexuals in the name of religion. It is a thought-provoking
contribution to scholarly debates on the accommodation of religion
by law in matters of sexual orientation." Matthew Gibson,
Ecclesiastical Law Journal (2015)." […] Johnson and Vanderbeck
demonstrate how religious distaste towards homosexuality permeates
law-making, even if its precise expression has had to evolve in
response to changing societal norms. Law, Religion and
Homosexuality is a valuable resource for anyone concerned with
lesbian and gay equality and with the role of religion in
lawmaking. The book joins a growing body of literature in this
topical and controversial field, offering a sound practical
illustration of discourse analysis as a critical tool, rather than
a purely theoretical discussion. It provides additional evidence to
support critiques of current demands for anti-gay discrimination to
be ‘reasonably accommodated’ within equality law […] It rebuts
earlier suggestions that the history of lesbian and gay oppression
simply illustrates the confusion of religious beliefs with popular
prejudice […] And it responds to commentators […] who wish to
safeguard religion against increasing ‘juridification’, by
revealing a modern history of the juridification of homosexuality".
Stella Coyle, Feminist Legal Studies (2015)."Through the innovative
approach of a detailed examination of debates in the UK Parliament,
this book provides an in-depth analysis of how legislation that
regulates the lives of gay men and lesbians has been shaped by
religious discourse over time […] The authors’ approach enables
them very clearly to demonstrate how the language and arguments
used by supporters and opponents of the legislation evolved over
time; they are also able to show how some individual members of the
House of Commons (and especially the House of Lords) frequently
intervened in key debates and how their individual arguments
changed (or did not change) over time […] The authors’ detailed
scrutiny of the debates in both Houses is very impressive and their
extensive use of direct quotations particularly effective […] It is
clearly written and is accessible to both specialist and
nonspecialist readers. It also provides a very important
alternative perspective to those who argue that religion has been
marginalized in society. The authors state that it is aimed at
academics, policy makers, and stakeholders alike and all three
groups would benefit from reading this important analysis of the
complex relationship between law, religion, and homosexuality."
David Perfect (University of Chester), Social and Legal Studies,
(2016).
"Law, Religion and Homosexuality is an engaging work that brings
our attention to the complexities of religion in shaping laws
designed to recognise and remedy (homo)sexual orientation
discrimination. As religion and homosexuality continue to press
upon the law as subjects seeking accommodation, the book reminds us
that it is necessary to avoid stereotypes and binaries. The book
testifies to the significant gains that have been made in the area
of same-sex law reform in the United Kingdom over the last 50
years. Yet, Johnson and Vanderbeck remind us that we must not
overstate ideas of progress or compromise lest we exclude sexual
minorities who still seek justice." Senthorun Raj, University of
Sydney, European Human Rights Law Review (2016). "In Law, Religion
and Homosexuality, the authors offer a novel study of the ways in
which religion has influenced, and continues to influence,
legislation affecting the lives of gay men and lesbians. The
writers trace this connection by examining the role of religious
discourse in the making of statutory law by the UK Parliament […]
Hansard is frequently and meticulously cited to illustrate the
nature of parliamentary discussion […] [A] well-researched and
highly interesting book which straddles a variety of disciplines –
primarily sociology, law and politics. It is clearly written and
certainly accessible to non-specialists in those fields. The
authors make a clear and persuasive case that religion, as
articulated in various forms by parliamentary figures, has had a
long-lasting effect on the expansion of laws protecting
homosexuality. Law, Religion and Homosexuality offers a revealing
insight into the writing, and re-writing, of laws relating to
homosexuals in the name of religion. It is a thought-provoking
contribution to scholarly debates on the accommodation of religion
by law in matters of sexual orientation." Matthew Gibson,
Ecclesiastical Law Journal (2015)." […] Johnson and Vanderbeck
demonstrate how religious distaste towards homosexuality permeates
law-making, even if its precise expression has had to evolve in
response to changing societal norms. Law, Religion and
Homosexuality is a valuable resource for anyone concerned with
lesbian and gay equality and with the role of religion in
lawmaking. The book joins a growing body of literature in this
topical and controversial field, offering a sound practical
illustration of discourse analysis as a critical tool, rather than
a purely theoretical discussion. It provides additional evidence to
support critiques of current demands for anti-gay discrimination to
be ‘reasonably accommodated’ within equality law […] It rebuts
earlier suggestions that the history of lesbian and gay oppression
simply illustrates the confusion of religious beliefs with popular
prejudice […] And it responds to commentators […] who wish to
safeguard religion against increasing ‘juridification’, by
revealing a modern history of the juridification of homosexuality".
Stella Coyle, Feminist Legal Studies (2015)."Through the innovative
approach of a detailed examination of debates in the UK Parliament,
this book provides an in-depth analysis of how legislation that
regulates the lives of gay men and lesbians has been shaped by
religious discourse over time […] The authors’ approach enables
them very clearly to demonstrate how the language and arguments
used by supporters and opponents of the legislation evolved over
time; they are also able to show how some individual members of the
House of Commons (and especially the House of Lords) frequently
intervened in key debates and how their individual arguments
changed (or did not change) over time […] The authors’ detailed
scrutiny of the debates in both Houses is very impressive and their
extensive use of direct quotations particularly effective […] It is
clearly written and is accessible to both specialist and
nonspecialist readers. It also provides a very important
alternative perspective to those who argue that religion has been
marginalized in society. The authors state that it is aimed at
academics, policy makers, and stakeholders alike and all three
groups would benefit from reading this important analysis of the
complex relationship between law, religion, and homosexuality."
David Perfect (University of Chester), Social and Legal Studies
(2016).
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