Respect For Marriage Act Npr

Respect for Marriage Act NPR: A Deep Dive into the Landmark Legislation

Introduction:

The Respect for Marriage Act (RMA), recently passed into law, has ignited significant debate and discussion across the nation. NPR, a trusted source for news and analysis, has extensively covered this landmark legislation, providing critical insights into its implications for LGBTQ+ rights, religious freedom, and the future of marriage equality in the United States. This comprehensive blog post will dissect the RMA as covered by NPR, examining its core provisions, the controversies surrounding it, and its long-term impact on American society. We’ll delve into the political landscape, the legal arguments, and the diverse perspectives shaping the ongoing conversation around this pivotal piece of legislation. This detailed analysis aims to provide you with a complete understanding of the Respect for Marriage Act, as seen through the lens of NPR's reporting.


1. The Respect for Marriage Act: A Summary as Reported by NPR

NPR's coverage consistently highlights the RMA's central aim: to repeal the remaining restrictions of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and codify federal recognition of same-sex and interracial marriages. Instead of simply overturning DOMA, the act goes further, explicitly protecting the right of same-sex couples to marry at the federal level and guaranteeing the recognition of such marriages across state lines. This is a crucial step, given the potential for future legal challenges to overturn state-level rulings affirming marriage equality. NPR's reporting often emphasizes the bipartisan nature of the final bill's passage, showcasing the evolving political landscape and the growing acceptance of LGBTQ+ rights.

2. Key Provisions of the Respect for Marriage Act and NPR's Analysis:

NPR's analysis of the RMA’s specific provisions has been meticulous. They've highlighted several key aspects:

Repeal of DOMA's Section 3: This section of DOMA, limiting federal recognition of marriage to opposite-sex couples, is formally repealed, ensuring equal treatment under federal law. NPR's reporting underscored the historical significance of this repeal, highlighting the struggles of LGBTQ+ activists and the long road to achieving this legal victory.
Federal Recognition of Same-Sex and Interracial Marriages: The Act explicitly defines marriage as a union between two individuals, regardless of sex, solidifying federal recognition. NPR emphasized the legal protections this provides, offering reassurance to same-sex couples concerned about the future security of their marriages.
State-Level Protections: While the RMA primarily focuses on federal recognition, it also includes provisions to protect same-sex marriages even if state laws were to change. This was a point of significant discussion in NPR's coverage, addressing concerns about potential legal challenges in individual states.
Religious Freedom Concerns: NPR extensively covered the debate surrounding religious freedom exemptions, acknowledging concerns from religious organizations about potential conflicts with their beliefs. The final bill includes language aimed at protecting religious organizations from being compelled to perform same-sex marriages against their conscience. However, NPR's analysis also included voices arguing that these exemptions could potentially undermine the Act's intent and offer loopholes for discrimination.


3. The Political Landscape Surrounding the Respect for Marriage Act (as per NPR):

NPR's reporting painted a vivid picture of the complex political maneuvering that led to the RMA's passage. Initially, the bill faced significant Republican opposition. However, NPR documented a shift in the political landscape, highlighting the growing acceptance of same-sex marriage among younger Republicans and moderate voters. The bipartisan support that ultimately passed the bill is a testament to this evolving climate. NPR's reporting also highlighted the role of individual senators and their influence in shaping the final version of the legislation, emphasizing the negotiation and compromise that were essential for its success.

4. Legal Challenges and Future Implications (Based on NPR's Coverage):

Even with the RMA's passage, NPR's analysis acknowledges the potential for future legal challenges. The Act's religious freedom provisions could become a focal point for litigation, with differing interpretations of their scope and impact. NPR has covered the arguments from both sides, presenting a balanced view of the potential legal battles to come. Furthermore, the impact of the RMA on state-level laws remains a subject of ongoing discussion in NPR's reporting, with potential scenarios ranging from full acceptance to continued resistance.


5. Public Opinion and Societal Impact (as Reflected in NPR's Reporting):

NPR's coverage goes beyond the legislative details, exploring the broader societal impact of the RMA. They've included interviews with individuals directly affected by the legislation, showcasing the emotional significance of the legal recognition of same-sex marriages. NPR’s reporting also reflects on shifting public opinion on same-sex marriage, indicating a gradual but significant increase in acceptance nationwide. This contextualizes the Act’s passage within the larger narrative of evolving social attitudes.


Article Outline:

Title: Understanding the Respect for Marriage Act Through the Lens of NPR

Introduction: Hooking the reader with the significance of the RMA and its NPR coverage.
Chapter 1: The Respect for Marriage Act - A Summary: Overview of the Act’s main goals and NPR's initial reporting.
Chapter 2: Key Provisions and NPR's Analysis: Detailed breakdown of the Act's key provisions, including analysis from NPR's reporting.
Chapter 3: The Political Landscape: Examining the political dynamics and bipartisan negotiations covered by NPR.
Chapter 4: Legal Challenges and Future Implications: Exploring potential legal battles and future impacts as reported by NPR.
Chapter 5: Public Opinion and Societal Impact: Analyzing public sentiment and societal changes reflected in NPR's coverage.
Conclusion: Summarizing the key takeaways and the ongoing importance of the RMA.

(Each chapter would then be elaborated upon in detail, similar to the content already provided above.)


9 Unique FAQs:

1. What does the Respect for Marriage Act actually do? It repeals the discriminatory parts of DOMA and codifies federal recognition of same-sex and interracial marriages.
2. How did NPR cover the passing of the Respect for Marriage Act? NPR provided comprehensive coverage, including interviews with key figures, analysis of the political landscape, and discussion of the legal implications.
3. What are the main arguments against the Respect for Marriage Act? Primary concerns often center around religious freedom exemptions and potential future legal challenges.
4. What are the potential legal challenges facing the RMA? Challenges could arise around the interpretation of religious freedom exemptions and the Act's ability to withstand future legal scrutiny.
5. How did the RMA pass Congress with bipartisan support? NPR's coverage highlights a combination of shifting public opinion, political strategy, and compromise between lawmakers.
6. What is the historical significance of the Respect for Marriage Act? It marks a significant victory for LGBTQ+ rights and represents a turning point in the legal recognition of same-sex marriage.
7. Does the Respect for Marriage Act protect same-sex marriages in all states? While it provides federal protection, state-level laws still play a role, creating potential vulnerabilities in some states.
8. How did the Respect for Marriage Act address religious freedom concerns? The Act includes provisions aiming to protect religious organizations from being compelled to perform same-sex marriages. However, the scope and interpretation of these provisions remain a point of debate.
9. What is the long-term impact predicted by NPR for the Respect for Marriage Act? NPR's reporting suggests the act strengthens marriage equality, but potential legal challenges and shifting political climates make long-term effects uncertain.


9 Related Articles with Brief Descriptions:

1. "The Respect for Marriage Act: A Victory for Equality?": Explores the broader societal implications and debates surrounding the act’s passage.
2. "Religious Freedom and the Respect for Marriage Act: A Balancing Act?": Analyzes the complexities of balancing religious freedom concerns with LGBTQ+ rights.
3. "The Political Fallout of the Respect for Marriage Act": Discusses the impact on the political landscape and the future of bipartisan cooperation.
4. "Legal Experts Weigh In on the Respect for Marriage Act": Presents expert legal opinions on the Act's constitutionality and potential future challenges.
5. "The History of Same-Sex Marriage in the US Leading to the RMA": Provides historical context for the RMA’s passage.
6. "Personal Stories: Couples Celebrate the Respect for Marriage Act": Shares personal narratives of couples affected by the legislation.
7. "The Economic Impact of the Respect for Marriage Act": Examines the financial implications for same-sex couples and families.
8. "International Perspectives on the Respect for Marriage Act": Compares the US legislation with similar legal frameworks in other countries.
9. "The Future of LGBTQ+ Rights After the Respect for Marriage Act": Discusses the next steps in the fight for equality and further LGBTQ+ rights legislation.


  respect for marriage act npr: The Engagement Sasha Issenberg, 2021 The riveting story of the fight for same-sex marriage in the United States--the most important civil rights breakthrough of the new millennium. On June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court ruled that state bans on gay marriage were unconstitutional, making same-sex unions legal throughout the United States. But the road to victory was much longer than many know. In this seminal work, Sasha Issenberg takes us back to Hawaii in the 1990s, when that state's supreme court first started grappling with the issue, and traces the fight for marriage equality from the enactment of the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 to the Goodridge decision that made Massachusetts the first state to legalize same-sex marriage, and finally to the seminal Supreme Court decisions of Windsor and Obergefell. This meticulously reported work sheds new light on every aspect of this fraught history and brings to life the perspectives of those who fought courageously for the right to marry as well as those who fervently believed that same-sex marriage would destroy the nation. It is sure to become the definitive book on one of the most important civil rights fights of our time.
  respect for marriage act npr: Debating Same-Sex Marriage John Corvino, Maggie Gallagher, 2012-06 Polls and election results show Americans sharply divided on same-sex marriage, and the controversy is unlikely to subside anytime soon. Debating Same-Sex Marriage provides an indispensable roadmap to the ongoing debate. Taking a point/counterpoint approach, John Corvino (a philosopher and prominent gay advocate) and Maggie Gallagher (a nationally syndicated columnist and co-founder of the National Organization for Marriage) explore fundamental questions: What is marriage for? Is sexual difference essential to it? Why does the government sanction it? What are the implications of same-sex marriage for children's welfare, for religious freedom, and for our understanding of marriage itself? While the authors disagree on many points, they share the following conviction: Because marriage is a vital public institution, this issue deserves a comprehensive, rigorous, thoughtful debate.
  respect for marriage act npr: God Believes in Love Gene Robinson, 2013-06-04 From the IX Bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire in the Episcopal Church, the first openly gay person elected to the episcopate and the world’s leading religious spokesperson for gay rights and gay marriage—a groundbreaking book that persuasively makes the case for same-sex marriage using a commonsense, reasoned, religious argument. Robinson holds the religious text of the Bible to be holy and sacred and the ensuing two millennia of church history to be relevant to the discussion. He is equally familiar with the secular and political debate about gay marriage going on in America today, and is someone for whom same-sex marriage is a personal issue; Robinson was married to a woman for fourteen years and is a father of two children and has been married to a man for the last four years of a twenty-five-year relationship. Robinson has a knack for taking complex and controversial issues and addressing them in plain direct language, without using polemics or ideology, putting forth his argument for gay marriage, and bringing together sacred and secular points of view.
  respect for marriage act npr: Safe Is Not Enough Michael Sadowski, 2020-01-15 Safe Is Not Enough illustrates how educators can support the positive development of LGBTQ students in a comprehensive way so as to create truly inclusive school communities. Using examples from classrooms, schools, and districts across the country, Michael Sadowski identifies emerging practices such as creating an LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum; fostering a whole-school climate that is supportive of LGBTQ students; providing adults who can act as mentors and role models; and initiating effective family and community outreach programs. While progress on LGBTQ issues in schools remains slow, in many parts of the country schools have begun making strides toward becoming safer, more welcoming places for LGBTQ students. Schools typically achieve this by revising antibullying policies and establishing GSAs (gay-straight student alliances). But it takes more than a deficit-based approach for schools to become places where LGBTQ students can fulfill their potential. In Safe Is Not Enough, Michael Sadowski highlights how educators can make their schools more supportive of LGBTQ students’ positive development and academic success.
  respect for marriage act npr: The Man Who Hated Women Amy Sohn, 2021-07-06 Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Best History Books of 2021 • Fascinating . . . Purity is in the mind of the beholder, but beware the man who vows to protect yours.” —Margaret Talbot, The New Yorker Anthony Comstock, special agent to the U.S. Post Office, was one of the most important men in the lives of nineteenth-century women. His eponymous law, passed in 1873, penalized the mailing of contraception and obscenity with long sentences and steep fines. The word Comstockery came to connote repression and prudery. Between 1873 and Comstock’s death in 1915, eight remarkable women were charged with violating state and federal Comstock laws. These “sex radicals” supported contraception, sexual education, gender equality, and women’s right to pleasure. They took on the fearsome censor in explicit, personal writing, seeking to redefine work, family, marriage, and love for a bold new era. In The Man Who Hated Women, Amy Sohn tells the overlooked story of their valiant attempts to fight Comstock in court and in the press. They were publishers, writers, and doctors, and they included the first woman presidential candidate, Victoria C. Woodhull; the virgin sexologist Ida C. Craddock; and the anarchist Emma Goldman. In their willingness to oppose a monomaniac who viewed reproductive rights as a threat to the American family, the sex radicals paved the way for second-wave feminism. Risking imprisonment and death, they redefined birth control access as a civil liberty. The Man Who Hated Women brings these women’s stories to vivid life, recounting their personal and romantic travails alongside their political battles. Without them, there would be no Pill, no Planned Parenthood, no Roe v. Wade. This is the forgotten history of the women who waged war to control their bodies.
  respect for marriage act npr: American Dervish Ayad Akhtar, 2012-01-09 From the author of Homeland Elegies and Pulitzer Prize winner Disgraced, a stirring and explosive novel about an American Muslim family in Wisconsin struggling with faith and belonging in the pre-9/11 world. Hayat Shah is a young American in love for the first time. His normal life of school, baseball, and video games had previously been distinguished only by his Pakistani heritage and by the frequent chill between his parents, who fight over things he is too young to understand. Then Mina arrives, and everything changes. American Dervish is a brilliantly written, nuanced, and emotionally forceful look inside the interplay of religion and modern life.
  respect for marriage act npr: S. 598, the Respect for Marriage Act United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary, 2011
  respect for marriage act npr: The Hidden Brain Shankar Vedantam, 2010-08-31 The hidden brain is the voice in our ear when we make the most important decisions in our lives—but we’re never aware of it. The hidden brain decides whom we fall in love with and whom we hate. It tells us to vote for the white candidate and convict the dark-skinned defendant, to hire the thin woman but pay her less than the man doing the same job. It can direct us to safety when disaster strikes and move us to extraordinary acts of altruism. But it can also be manipulated to turn an ordinary person into a suicide terrorist or a group of bystanders into a mob. In a series of compulsively readable narratives, Shankar Vedantam journeys through the latest discoveries in neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral science to uncover the darkest corner of our minds and its decisive impact on the choices we make as individuals and as a society. Filled with fascinating characters, dramatic storytelling, and cutting-edge science, this is an engrossing exploration of the secrets our brains keep from us—and how they are revealed.
  respect for marriage act npr: Today's Civil Rights and Liberties Issues Kara E. Stooksbury, 2023-06-30 This indispensable, one-stop resource examines where Democrats and Republicans stand on current civil rights and civil liberties issues related to voting, free speech, abortion and reproductive rights, guns, and other hot button topics. Both the Democratic and Republican parties claim that they have the best interests of the nation and its people at heart, and they are equally adamant that they have the best policy solutions to address the nation's problems and challenges. Each volume in the Across the Aisle reference series examines the stated policy positions and actual voting/legislative records of the two parties (they are not always the same) on important areas of public policy, both historically and in the present day. This volume sorts through the rhetorical clutter and partisan distortions that typify so many disputes between Republicans and Democrats and provides an accurate, balanced, and even-handed overview of the parties' attitudes and records on vital civil rights and liberties questions.
  respect for marriage act npr: Same-sex Marriage Debate Justin Healey, 2013 Same-sex marriages are currently not permitted under Australian federal law. Although same-sex couples in a de facto relationship have had most of the legal rights of married couples since July 2009, there is however no national registered partnership or civil union scheme.
  respect for marriage act npr: Eleanor & Park Rainbow Rowell, 2013-02-26 #1 New York Times Best Seller! Eleanor & Park reminded me not just what it's like to be young and in love with a girl, but also what it's like to be young and in love with a book.-John Green, The New York Times Book Review Bono met his wife in high school, Park says. So did Jerry Lee Lewis, Eleanor answers. I'm not kidding, he says. You should be, she says, we're 16. What about Romeo and Juliet? Shallow, confused, then dead. I love you, Park says. Wherefore art thou, Eleanor answers. I'm not kidding, he says. You should be. Set over the course of one school year in 1986, this is the story of two star-crossed misfits-smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you'll remember your own first love-and just how hard it pulled you under. A New York Times Best Seller! A 2014 Michael L. Printz Honor Book for Excellence in Young Adult Literature Eleanor & Park is the winner of the 2013 Boston Globe Horn Book Award for Best Fiction Book. A Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of 2013 A New York Times Book Review Notable Children's Book of 2013 A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of 2013 An NPR Best Book of 2013
  respect for marriage act npr: Deacon King Kong (Oprah's Book Club) James McBride, 2020-03-03 Winner of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for Fiction Winner of the Gotham Book Prize One of Barack Obama's Favorite Books of the Year Oprah's Book Club Pick Named one of the Top Ten Books of the Year by the New York Times, Entertainment Weekly and TIME Magazine A Washington Post Notable Novel From the author of The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, the National Book Award–winning The Good Lord Bird, and the bestselling modern classic The Color of Water, comes one of the most celebrated novels of the year. In September 1969, a fumbling, cranky old church deacon known as Sportcoat shuffles into the courtyard of the Cause Houses housing project in south Brooklyn, pulls a .38 from his pocket, and, in front of everybody, shoots the project’s drug dealer at point-blank range. The reasons for this desperate burst of violence and the consequences that spring from it lie at the heart of Deacon King Kong, James McBride’s funny, moving novel and his first since his National Book Award–winning The Good Lord Bird. In Deacon King Kong, McBride brings to vivid life the people affected by the shooting: the victim, the African-American and Latinx residents who witnessed it, the white neighbors, the local cops assigned to investigate, the members of the Five Ends Baptist Church where Sportcoat was deacon, the neighborhood’s Italian mobsters, and Sportcoat himself. As the story deepens, it becomes clear that the lives of the characters—caught in the tumultuous swirl of 1960s New York—overlap in unexpected ways. When the truth does emerge, McBride shows us that not all secrets are meant to be hidden, that the best way to grow is to face change without fear, and that the seeds of love lie in hope and compassion. Bringing to these pages both his masterly storytelling skills and his abiding faith in humanity, James McBride has written a novel every bit as involving as The Good Lord Bird and as emotionally honest as The Color of Water. Told with insight and wit, Deacon King Kong demonstrates that love and faith live in all of us.
  respect for marriage act npr: The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work John Gottman, PhD, Nan Silver, 2015-05-05 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Over a million copies sold! “An eminently practical guide to an emotionally intelligent—and long-lasting—marriage.”—Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work has revolutionized the way we understand, repair, and strengthen marriages. John Gottman’s unprecedented study of couples over a period of years has allowed him to observe the habits that can make—and break—a marriage. Here is the culmination of that work: the seven principles that guide couples on a path toward a harmonious and long-lasting relationship. Straightforward yet profound, these principles teach partners new approaches for resolving conflicts, creating new common ground, and achieving greater levels of intimacy. Gottman offers strategies and resources to help couples collaborate more effectively to resolve any problem, whether dealing with issues related to sex, money, religion, work, family, or anything else. Packed with new exercises and the latest research out of the esteemed Gottman Institute, this revised edition of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work is the definitive guide for anyone who wants their relationship to attain its highest potential.
  respect for marriage act npr: A Wild and Precious Life Edie Windsor, Joshua Lyon, 2019-10-08 A lively, intimate memoir from a marriage equality icon of the gay rights movement, describing gay life in the 1950s and 60s New York City and her longtime activism. Brash, funny and brave. —NPR “A captivating and inspiring story of a queer woman who believed in her right to take up space and be seen.”—BuzzFeed Windsor’s story fighting for what she believed in is one that will leave readers inspired. —NBC OUT Edie Windsor became internationally famous when she sued the US government, seeking federal recognition for her marriage to Thea Spyer, her partner of more than four decades. The Supreme Court ruled in Edie’s favor, a landmark victory that set the stage for full marriage equality in the US. Beloved by the LGBTQ community, Edie embraced her new role as an icon; she had already been living an extraordinary and groundbreaking life for decades. In this memoir, which she began before passing away in 2017 and completed by her co-writer, Edie recounts her childhood in Philadelphia, her realization that she was a lesbian, and her active social life in Greenwich Village's electrifying underground gay scene during the 1950s. Edie was also one of a select group of trailblazing women in computing, working her way up the ladder at IBM and achieving their highest technical ranking while developing software. In the early 1960s Edie met Thea, an expat from a Dutch Jewish family that fled the Nazis, and a widely respected clinical psychologist. Their partnership lasted forty-four years, until Thea died in 2009. Edie found love again, marrying Judith Kasen-Windsor in 2016. A Wild and Precious Life is remarkable portrait of an iconic woman, gay life in New York in the second half of the twentieth century, and the rise of LGBT activism.
  respect for marriage act npr: Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake Anna Quindlen, 2012-04-24 “[Quindlen] serves up generous portions of her wise, commonsensical, irresistibly quotable take on life.”—NPR This edition includes an exclusive conversation between Meryl Streep and Anna Quindlen. In this irresistible memoir, Anna Quindlen writes about a woman’s life, from childhood memories to manic motherhood to middle age. Considering—and celebrating—everything from marriage, girlfriends, our mothers, parenting, faith, loss, to all the stuff in our closets, and more, Quindlen says for us here what we may wish we could have said ourselves. As she did in her beloved New York Times columns, and in A Short Guide to a Happy Life, Quindlen uses her past, present, and future to explore what matters most to women at different ages. Quindlen talks about: Marriage: “A safety net of small white lies can be the bedrock of a successful marriage. You wouldn’t believe how cheaply I can do a kitchen renovation.” Girlfriends: “Ask any woman how she makes it through the day, and she may mention her calendar, her to-do lists, her babysitter. But if you push her on how she really makes it through her day, she will mention her girlfriends. ” Our bodies: “I’ve finally recognized my body for what it is: a personality-delivery system, designed expressly to carry my character from place to place, now and in the years to come.” Parenting: “Being a parent is not transactional. We do not get what we give. It is the ultimate pay-it-forward endeavor: We are good parents not so they will be loving enough to stay with us but so they will be strong enough to leave us.” Candid, funny, and moving, Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake is filled with the sharp insights and revealing observations that have long confirmed Quindlen’s status as America’s laureate of real life.
  respect for marriage act npr: What Shamu Taught Me About Life, Love, and Marriage Amy Sutherland, 2008-02-12 While observing exotic animal trainers for her acclaimed book Kicked, Bitten, and Scratched, journalist Amy Sutherland had an epiphany: What if she used these training techniques with the human animals in her own life–namely her dear husband, Scott? In this lively and perceptive book, Sutherland tells how she took the trainers’ lessons home. The next time her forgetful husband stomped through the house in search of his mislaid car keys, she asked herself, “What would a dolphin trainer do?” The answer was: nothing. Trainers reward the behavior they want and, just as important, ignore the behavior they don’t. Rather than appease her mate’s rising temper by joining in the search, or fuel his temper by nagging him to keep better track of his things in the first place, Sutherland kept her mouth shut and her eyes on the dishes she was washing. In short order, Scott found his keys and regained his cool. “I felt like I should throw him a mackerel,” she writes. In time, as she put more training principles into action, she noticed that she became more optimistic and less judgmental, and their twelve-year marriage was better than ever. What started as a goofy experiment had such good results that Sutherland began using the training techniques with all the people in her life, including her mother, her friends, her students, even the clerk at the post office. In the end, the biggest lesson she learned is that the only animal you can truly change is yourself. Full of fun facts, fascinating insights, hilarious anecdotes, and practical tips, What Shamu Taught Me About Life, Love, and Marriage describes Sutherland’s Alice-in-Wonderland experience of stumbling into a world where cheetahs walk nicely on leashes and elephants paint with watercolors, and of leaving a new, improved Homo sapiens.
  respect for marriage act npr: The Color of Water James McBride, 2012-03-01 From the New York Times bestselling author of Deacon King Kong and The Good Lord Bird, winner of the National Book Award for Fiction: The modern classic that Oprah.com calls one of the best memoirs of a generation and that launched James McBride's literary career. More than two years on The New York Times bestseller list. As a boy in Brooklyn's Red Hook projects, James McBride knew his mother was different. But when he asked her about it, she'd simply say 'I'm light-skinned.' Later he wondered if he was different too, and asked his mother if he was black or white. 'You're a human being! Educate yourself or you'll be a nobody!' she snapped back. And when James asked about God, she told him 'God is the color of water.' This is the remarkable story of an eccentric and determined woman: a rabbi's daughter, born in Poland and raised in the Deep South who fled to Harlem, married a black preacher, founded a Baptist church and put twelve children through college. A celebration of resilience, faith and forgiveness, The Color of Water is an eloquent exploration of what family really means.
  respect for marriage act npr: A Return to Common Sense Leigh McGowan, 2024-09-17 A political book for non-political people from viral TikTok sensation PoliticsGirl. Something’s gone wrong in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. We can all feel it, but if we’re being honest, most of us don’t understand it. At the end of the day, we don’t have all the facts, and if you don’t know how something works, how do you fix it? A Return to Common Sense is a concise, no-nonsense, dare we say fun, guide to how America works and a roadmap to reclaiming a government of, by, and for the people. If we truly want to be a land of freedom and opportunity where everyone has a shot at a good life, we must acknowledge the ideals of America are in danger, but worth saving. We fought a revolutionary war for the idea of self-governance and pursuit of happiness—we can’t just give up on it now. To address the crisis, Leigh McGowan offers Six American Principles. Six ideals, rooted in history, that we can all agree make America, America. 1. America is a land of freedom. 2. Everyone should have the opportunity to rise. 3. Every citizen should have a vote, and that vote should count. 4. Representatives should represent the people who elected them. 5. The law applies to all of us. 6. Government should be a force for good. Using the Six Principles as guideposts, this book will lay out suggestions for America, to not only find its way out of the mess it’s currently in, but to set a course for a future of which we can all be truly proud. It’s time to find the courage to step out of our comfort zones and off our team benches to reboot America. If we start here, we start strong. We can fix this, but the way forward starts with understanding.
  respect for marriage act npr: Understanding the Well-Being of LGBTQI+ Populations National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Committee on Population, Committee on Understanding the Well-Being of Sexual and Gender Diverse Populations, 2021-01-23 The increase in prevalence and visibility of sexually gender diverse (SGD) populations illuminates the need for greater understanding of the ways in which current laws, systems, and programs affect their well-being. Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, asexual, transgender, non-binary, queer, or intersex, as well as those who express same-sex or -gender attractions or behaviors, will have experiences across their life course that differ from those of cisgender and heterosexual individuals. Characteristics such as age, race and ethnicity, and geographic location intersect to play a distinct role in the challenges and opportunities SGD people face. Understanding the Well-Being of LGBTQI+ Populations reviews the available evidence and identifies future research needs related to the well-being of SDG populations across the life course. This report focuses on eight domains of well-being; the effects of various laws and the legal system on SGD populations; the effects of various public policies and structural stigma; community and civic engagement; families and social relationships; education, including school climate and level of attainment; economic experiences (e.g., employment, compensation, and housing); physical and mental health; and health care access and gender-affirming interventions. The recommendations of Understanding the Well-Being of LGBTQI+ Populations aim to identify opportunities to advance understanding of how individuals experience sexuality and gender and how sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex status affect SGD people over the life course.
  respect for marriage act npr: Amoris Laetitia Pope Francis, 2016-04-22 “All of us are called to keep striving towards something greater than ourselves and our families, and every family must feel this constant impulse. Let us make this journey as families, let us keep walking together.” Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia In his groundbreaking work on modern family life, Amoris Laetitia: On Love in the Family, Pope Francis continues to guide and lead the Church, calling us to be a sign of mercy and encouragement for families of all shapes and sizes. The Our Sunday Visitor edition includes exclusive reflection and discussion questions, to help Catholics grow in our understanding of this call, and act upon it. In Amoris Laetitia: On Love in the Family the Holy Father expands on the topics and considerations of the two Synods on the family, and adds his own considerations to help us provide pastoral guidance to support and strengthen today’s families. On Love in the Family guides us through: Scripture – what we can learn from Biblical families and relationships with God and each other Reality – the experiences and challenges we face in today’s world Tradition – essential aspects of Church teaching on marriage and families Love – what it means for all our relationships Ministry – Pope Francis offers pastoral perspectives for helping build strong families Spirituality – the expression of the Gospel message in our relationships
  respect for marriage act npr: Tomorrow Will Be Different Sarah McBride, 2018-03-06 “A brave, powerful memoir” (People) that will change the way we look at identity and equality in this country, from the activist elected as the first openly transgender state senator in U.S. history “The energy and vigor Sarah has brought to the fight for equality is ever present in this book.”—Vice President Kamala Harris “If you’re living your own internal struggle, this book can help you find a way to live authentically, fully, and freely. . . . Let it show that we are all created equal and entitled to be treated with dignity and respect.”—President Joe Biden, from the foreword Before she became the first transgender person to speak at a national political convention in 2016 at the age of twenty-six, Sarah McBride struggled with the decision to come out—not just to her family but to the students of American University, where she was serving as student body president. She’d known she was a girl from her earliest memories, but it wasn’t until the Facebook post announcing her truth went viral that she realized just how much impact her story could have on the country. Four years later, McBride was one of the nation’s most prominent transgender activists, walking the halls of the White House, advocating inclusive legislation, and addressing the country in the midst of a heated presidential election. She had also found her first love and future husband, Andy, a trans man and fellow activist, who complemented her in every way . . . until cancer tragically intervened. Informative, heartbreaking, and profoundly empowering, Tomorrow Will Be Different is McBride’s story of love and loss and a powerful entry point into the LGBTQ community’s battle for equal rights and what it means to be openly transgender. From issues like bathroom access to health care to gender in America, McBride weaves the important political and cultural milestones into a personal journey that will open hearts and change minds. As McBride urges: “We must never be a country that says there’s only one way to love, only one way to look, and only one way to live.” The fight for equality and freedom has only just begun.
  respect for marriage act npr: NOT "Just Friends" Shirley Glass, 2007-11-01 One of the world’s leading experts on infidelity provides a step-by-step guide through the process of infidelity—from suspicion and revelation to healing, and provides profound, practical guidance to prevent infidelity and, if it happens, recover and heal from it. You’re right to be cautious when you hear these words: “I’m telling you, we’re just friends.” Good people in good marriages are having affairs. The workplace and the Internet have become fertile breeding grounds for “friendships” that can slowly and insidiously turn into love affairs. Yet you can protect your relationship from emotional or sexual betrayal by recognizing the red flags that mark the stages of slipping into an improper, dangerous intimacy that can threaten your marriage.
  respect for marriage act npr: Listening Is an Act of Love Dave Isay, 2007-11-08 A New York Times Bestseller “Each interview is a revelation.” —USA Today “As heartwarming as a holiday pumpkin pie and every bit as homey . . . what emerges in these compelling pages is hard-won wisdom and boundless humanity.” —Seattle Post-Intelligencer As heard on NPR, a wondrous nationwide celebration of our shared humanity StoryCorps founder and legendary radio producer Dave Isay selects the most memorable stories from StoryCorps' collection, creating a moving portrait of American life. The voices here connect us to real people and their lives—to their experiences of profound joy, sadness, courage, and despair, to good times and hard times, to good deeds and misdeeds. To read this book is to be reminded of how rich and varied the American storybook truly is, how resistant to easy categorization or stereotype. We are our history, individually and collectively, and Listening Is an Act of Love touchingly reminds us of this powerful truth. Dave Isay's latest book, Callings, published in 2016 from Penguin Press.
  respect for marriage act npr: Silver Sparrow Tayari Jones, 2020-02-19 *THE BESTSELLING RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK* From the award-winning author of An American Marriage comes this breathtaking tale of a sisterhood defined by a father's secret, perfect for fans of Brit Bennett and Yaa Gyasi 'MY FATHER, JAMES WITHERSPOON, IS A BIGAMIST.' SECRETS Dana and Chaurisse are sisters who have never met. The only thing binding them together is the life-changing secret of their father's double life. LIES Only one of them knows the truth about James and his hidden family. When the girls do finally meet and become friends, the fragile promise that has kept his secrets safe for so long threatens to implode. HOPE This soulful story of friendship and sisterhood paints an unforgettable picture of the messy knots that bind families together, from the author of modern classic, An American Marriage. AN OBSERVER BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR * A GUARDIAN 'BEST BOOK OF 2020 TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS' * A BOOKSELLER SMALL PUBLISHERS 2020 TOP 20 'Do not miss this can’t-actually-stop-reading-it novel from the author of the Women's Prize for Fiction-winning An American Marriage.' Stylist
  respect for marriage act npr: Bound in Wedlock Tera W. Hunter, 2017-05-08 Winner of the Stone Book Award, Museum of African American History Winner of the Joan Kelly Memorial Prize Winner of the Littleton-Griswold Prize Winner of the Mary Nickliss Prize Winner of the Willie Lee Rose Prize Americans have long viewed marriage between a white man and a white woman as a sacred union. But marriages between African Americans have seldom been treated with the same reverence. This discriminatory legacy traces back to centuries of slavery, when the overwhelming majority of black married couples were bound in servitude as well as wedlock, but it does not end there. Bound in Wedlock is the first comprehensive history of African American marriage in the nineteenth century. Drawing from plantation records, legal documents, and personal family papers, it reveals the many creative ways enslaved couples found to upend white Christian ideas of marriage. “A remarkable book... Hunter has harvested stories of human resilience from the cruelest of soils... An impeccably crafted testament to the African-Americans whose ingenuity, steadfast love and hard-nosed determination protected black family life under the most trying of circumstances.” —Wall Street Journal “In this brilliantly researched book, Hunter examines the experiences of slave marriages as well as the marriages of free blacks.” —Vibe “A groundbreaking history... Illuminates the complex and flexible character of black intimacy and kinship and the precariousness of marriage in the context of racial and economic inequality. It is a brilliant book.” —Saidiya Hartman, author of Lose Your Mother
  respect for marriage act npr: The Science of Happily Ever After Ty Tashiro, 2014 In this playful and informative exploration of the science behind how to choose a great mate, acclaimed relationship psychologist Dr. Ty Tashiro explores how to find enduring love. Dr. Tashiro translates reams of scientific studies and research data into the first book to revolutionize the way we search for love. His research pinpoints why our decision-making abilities seem to fail when it comes to choosing mates and how we can make smarter choices. Dr. Tashiro has discovered that if you want a lifetime of happiness--not just togetherness--it all comes down to how you choose a partner in the first place. With wit and insight, he explains the science behind finding a soul mate and distills his research into actionable tips, including: Why you get only three wishes when choosing your ideal partner. Why most people squander their wishes and end up in unfulfilling relationships. How wishing for the three traits that really matter can help you find enduring love. Illustrated using entertaining stories based on real-life situations and backed by scientific findings from fields such as demography, sociology, medical science and psychology, Dr. Tashiro provides an accessible framework to help singles find their happily-ever-afters.
  respect for marriage act npr: Glitter and Concrete Elyssa Maxx Goodman, 2023-09-12 *NATIONAL BESTSELLER* *A STONEWALL AWARD HONOR BOOK* *The Millions Most Anticipated List of 2023* *A Vogue Best LGBTQ+ Book of 2023* From journalist and drag historian Elyssa Maxx Goodman, an intimate, evocative history of drag in New York City exploring its dynamic role, from the Jazz Age to Drag Race, in queer liberation and urban life From the lush feather boas that adorned early female impersonators to the sequined lip syncs of barroom queens to the drag kings that have us laughing in stitches, drag has played a vital role in the creative life of New York City. But the evolution of drag in the city—as an art form, a community and a mode of liberation—has never before been fully chronicled. Now, for the first time, Elyssa Goodman unearths the dramatic, provocative untold story of drag in New York City in all its glistening glory. Glitter and Concrete ducks beneath the velvet ropes of Harlem Renaissance balls, examines drag’s crucial role in the Stonewall Uprising, traces drag's influence on disco and punk rock as well as its unifying power during the AIDS crisis and 9/11, and culminates with the modern-day drag queen in the era of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Including original interviews with high-profile performers, as well as glamorous color photos from exclusive sources and the author herself, Glitter and Concrete is a significant contribution to queer history and an essential read for anyone curious about the story that echoes beneath the heels. Deeply researched and featuring a cast of characters who can truly be described as fabulous, Glitter and Concrete is urban history on fire. —Thomas Dyja, author of New York, New York, New York
  respect for marriage act npr: What She Ate Laura Shapiro, 2017-07-25 A Washington Post Notable Nonfiction Book of 2017 One of NPR Fresh Air's Books to Close Out a Chaotic 2017 NPR's Book Concierge Guide To 2017’s Great Reads “How lucky for us readers that Shapiro has been listening so perceptively for decades to the language of food.” —Maureen Corrigan, NPR Fresh Air Six “mouthwatering” (Eater.com) short takes on six famous women through the lens of food and cooking, probing how their attitudes toward food can offer surprising new insights into their lives, and our own. Everyone eats, and food touches on every aspect of our lives—social and cultural, personal and political. Yet most biographers pay little attention to people’s attitudes toward food, as if the great and notable never bothered to think about what was on the plate in front of them. Once we ask how somebody relates to food, we find a whole world of different and provocative ways to understand her. Food stories can be as intimate and revealing as stories of love, work, or coming-of-age. Each of the six women in this entertaining group portrait was famous in her time, and most are still famous in ours; but until now, nobody has told their lives from the point of view of the kitchen and the table. What She Ate is a lively and unpredictable array of women; what they have in common with one another (and us) is a powerful relationship with food. They include Dorothy Wordsworth, whose food story transforms our picture of the life she shared with her famous poet brother; Rosa Lewis, the Edwardian-era Cockney caterer who cooked her way up the social ladder; Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady and rigorous protector of the worst cook in White House history; Eva Braun, Hitler’s mistress, who challenges our warm associations of food, family, and table; Barbara Pym, whose witty books upend a host of stereotypes about postwar British cuisine; and Helen Gurley Brown, the editor of Cosmopolitan, whose commitment to “having it all” meant having almost nothing on the plate except a supersized portion of diet gelatin.
  respect for marriage act npr: Between the Lines Jodi Picoult, Samantha van Leer, 2013-06-25 Told in their separate voices, sixteen-year-old Prince Oliver, who wants to break free of his fairy-tale existence, and fifteen-year-old Delilah, a loner obsessed with Prince Oliver and the book in which he exists, work together to seek his freedom.
  respect for marriage act npr: Try to See It My Way B. Janet Hibbs Ph.D., Karen J. Getzen Ph.D., 2009-03-05 a deeply probing book that gets to the heart of what all healthy romantic relationships need: fairness Most couples enter marriage hoping it will last forever-so why are more and more relationships failing? As Dr. B. Janet Hibbs explains, the key to solving most relationship problems-whether relating to money, children, chores, sex, or in-laws-is through a shared sense of fairness. Intuitively, we think we know what's fair. But as this book reveals, the way we each understand fairness is much more complex, and is powerfully shaped by our family expectations and experiences. Dr. Hibbs provides readers with a road map for recognizing imbalances and building a stronger, more loving relationship based on a new kind of fairness. Filled with compassion, practical advice, and compelling, real-life examples throughout, this book offers a groundbreaking understanding of the issues that divide couples over time-and how they can be happier and closer than ever.
  respect for marriage act npr: Native American DNA Kim TallBear, 2013-09-01 Who is a Native American? And who gets to decide? From genealogists searching online for their ancestors to fortune hunters hoping for a slice of casino profits from wealthy tribes, the answers to these seemingly straightforward questions have profound ramifications. The rise of DNA testing has further complicated the issues and raised the stakes. In Native American DNA, Kim TallBear shows how DNA testing is a powerful—and problematic—scientific process that is useful in determining close biological relatives. But tribal membership is a legal category that has developed in dependence on certain social understandings and historical contexts, a set of concepts that entangles genetic information in a web of family relations, reservation histories, tribal rules, and government regulations. At a larger level, TallBear asserts, the “markers” that are identified and applied to specific groups such as Native American tribes bear the imprints of the cultural, racial, ethnic, national, and even tribal misinterpretations of the humans who study them. TallBear notes that ideas about racial science, which informed white definitions of tribes in the nineteenth century, are unfortunately being revived in twenty-first-century laboratories. Because today’s science seems so compelling, increasing numbers of Native Americans have begun to believe their own metaphors: “in our blood” is giving way to “in our DNA.” This rhetorical drift, she argues, has significant consequences, and ultimately she shows how Native American claims to land, resources, and sovereignty that have taken generations to ratify may be seriously—and permanently—undermined.
  respect for marriage act npr: Stepmonster Wednesday Martin, 2011-01-21 An honest and groundbreaking guide to understanding the complicated emotions that develop between stepmothers and children. When faced with often overwhelming challenges, what woman with stepchildren is unfamiliar with that “stepmonster” feeling? Half of all women in the United States will live with or marry a man with children. To guide women new to this role—and empower those who are struggling with it—Wednesday Martin draws upon her own experience as a stepmother. She's frank about the harrowing process of becoming a stepmother, she considers the myths and realities of being married to a man with children, and she counteracts the cultural notion that stepmothers are solely responsible for the problems that often develop. Along the way, she interviews other stepmothers and stepchildren and offers up fascinating insights from literature, anthropology, psychology, and evolutionary biology that explain the little-understood realities of this unique parent-child relationship and—in an unexpected twist—shows why the myth of the Wicked Stepmother is the single best tool for understanding who real stepmothers are and how they feel.
  respect for marriage act npr: #Gender Sarah DeWard, 2024-09-05 Thorough yet concise, #Gender: An Introduction to Gendered Social Problems provides timely, accessible, real-world cases of gendered social issues so that students can easily see the impact gender has on their lives. The textbook opens with the definition of gender and offers students a sociological framework to build upon. Current events such as the Roe v Wade reversal, Don’t Say Gay, and hormone testing for athletes provide up to date examples of gendered social issues while “Moving Forward” sections highlight the efforts that activists and everyday people are making to offer solutions for current issues. The book closes with a discussion on social change. Perfect for undergraduate students learning how gender informs their individual lives and wider societal structures.
  respect for marriage act npr: Love Times Three LP Joe Darger, Alina Darger, Vicki Darger, Valerie Darger, Brooke Adams, 2011-09-13 For decades, polygamous families have been forced to hide their lifestyle. But this first-ever memoir of a polygamous family is a riveting inside look at a world we can hardly imagine, revealing the extraordinary workings of one family’s day-to-day life. In this intimate story, the Dargers explain why they chose this path despite the pressures of keeping their relationships secret and the jealousy and personal challenges that naturally ensue; why they believe polygamy should be an accepted lifestyle; and, ultimately, why they hope that by revealing their way of life in public, laws that criminalize polygamy might change. Despite the risk of legal action, the Dargers know that it’s time to counteract Hollywood’s sensational interpretation and the general public’s misunderstanding of polygamy with the truth.
  respect for marriage act npr: On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer's Greg O'Brien, 2018-02-27 This is a book about living with Alzheimer’s, not dying with it. It is a book about hope, faith, and humor—a prescription far more powerful than the conventional medication available today to fight this disease. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the US—and the only one of these diseases on the rise. More than 5 million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia; about 35 million people worldwide. Greg O’Brien, an award-winning investigative reporter, has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's and is one of those faceless numbers. Acting on long-term memory and skill coupled with well-developed journalistic grit, O’Brien decided to tackle the disease and his imminent decline by writing frankly about the journey. O’Brien is a master storyteller. His story is naked, wrenching, and soul searching for a generation and their loved ones about to cross the threshold of this death in slow motion. On Pluto: Inside the Mind of Alzheimer’s is a trail-blazing roadmap for a generation—both a “how to” for fighting a disease, and a “how not” to give up!
  respect for marriage act npr: The All-or-Nothing Marriage Eli J. Finkel, 2017-09-19 “After years of debate and inquiry, the key to a great marriage remained shrouded in mystery. Until now...”—Carol Dweck, author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success Eli J. Finkel's insightful and ground-breaking investigation of marriage clearly shows that the best marriages today are better than the best marriages of earlier eras. Indeed, they are the best marriages the world has ever known. He presents his findings here for the first time in this lucid, inspiring guide to modern marital bliss. The All-or-Nothing Marriage reverse engineers fulfilling marriages—from the “traditional” to the utterly nontraditional—and shows how any marriage can be better. The primary function of marriage from 1620 to 1850 was food, shelter, and protection from violence; from 1850 to 1965, the purpose revolved around love and companionship. But today, a new kind of marriage has emerged, one oriented toward self-discover, self-esteem, and personal growth. Finkel combines cutting-edge scientific research with practical advice; he considers paths to better communication and responsiveness; he offers guidance on when to recalibrate our expectations; and he even introduces a set of must-try “lovehacks.” This is a book for the newlywed to the empty nester, for those thinking about getting married or remarried, and for anyone looking for illuminating advice that will make a real difference to getting the most out of marriage today.
  respect for marriage act npr: The Gay Revolution Lillian Faderman, 2016-09-27 A chronicle of the modern struggle for gay, lesbian and transgender rights draws on interviews with politicians, military figures, legal activists and members of the LGBT community to document the cause's struggles since the 1950s.
  respect for marriage act npr: A Little Life Hanya Yanagihara, 2016-01-26 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A stunning “portrait of the enduring grace of friendship” (NPR) about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves. A masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century. NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • MAN BOOKER PRIZE FINALIST • WINNER OF THE KIRKUS PRIZE A Little Life follows four college classmates—broke, adrift, and buoyed only by their friendship and ambition—as they move to New York in search of fame and fortune. While their relationships, which are tinged by addiction, success, and pride, deepen over the decades, the men are held together by their devotion to the brilliant, enigmatic Jude, a man scarred by an unspeakable childhood trauma. A hymn to brotherly bonds and a masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century, Hanya Yanagihara’s stunning novel is about the families we are born into, and those that we make for ourselves. Look for Hanya Yanagihara’s latest bestselling novel, To Paradise.
  respect for marriage act npr: The Disinformation Age W. Lance Bennett, Steven Livingston, 2020-10-15 This book shows how disinformation spread by partisan organizations and media platforms undermines institutional legitimacy on which authoritative information depends.
  respect for marriage act npr: Women Reinventing Globalisation Caroline Sweetman, Joanna Kerr, 2003 This volume analyses approaches to economic and political change and propose ways of ensuring that ideas are translated into concrete actions. The aim is to re-politicise the gender and development community with a solutions-oriented approach which looks at globalisation through women's eyes, and finds energising ideas.