Keynote Speaker: EJ Graff
Tuesday, May 3, 2005 7:30 PM Gerlinger Lounge
E.J. Graff, a resident scholar at the Brandeis Women’s Studies Research Center, is an author and journalist who has written primarily about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights, especially same-sex marriage. Her book What Is Marriage For? The Strange Social History of Our Most Intimate Institution is an engaging examination of 2,500 years of a central pillar of social life—and why same-sex couples belong today. What Is Marriage For? is called “essential reading” by leading same-sex marriage advocates, including national advocate Evan Wolfson, and civil rights attorney Mary Bonauto, who won the breakthrough Massachusetts same-sex marriage case. Widely praised and often cited in legal journals, What Is Marriage For? is now used as a women’s studies text and as a courtroom exhibit, and was quoted by the Canadian Law Reform Commission in its recommendation that the Canadian government open marriage to same-sex pairs.
Film Series
Monday, May 2, 2005 7:00 PM Ben Linder
History of the Wife- Cosponsored with the ASUO Women's Center
We are in the midst of a social revolution of unprecedented proportions. Prior to the 20th century, 96% of all adult women were wives. What were their lives like, and how did they reconcile other interests with their socially-mandated role in the family? THE XY FACTOR continues it’s far-reaching inquiry into sexuality with a look at wives throughout history. From Eve to Queen Victoria, we’ll examine the stories of famous and little-known women to see how the role of the wife changed in different eras and cultures. Cokie Roberts hosts a look of the progression from possession to partner.
Tuesday, May 3, 2005 8:30 PM Gerlinger Lounge (Following EJ Graff's keynote)
In My Father’s Church
Charissa is a lesbian who wants a church wedding, but it doesn’t seem to help that her dad is the pastor of the town’s United Methodist Church. While he has been quietly supportive of his daughter’s lesbian relationship, Charissa’s father knows he would put his career at risk if he chose to officiate at her marriage ceremony. In 1999, the Methodist church took a firm stand by suspending a pastor for officiating a same sex union—and the clashes between clergy and gay couples have been making headlines ever since. Compelling and honest, In My Father's Church is a poignant exploration of the intersection of homosexuality and religion, from the perspective of someone who has much at stake.
Though disappointed by her father’s resistance to marry her, Charissa and her bride-to-be Kelly continue to make their wedding plans—finding support in surprising places, and eventually are married by Charissa’s uncle. This emotionally charged story of one woman’s attempt to reconcile her love, faith and family brings to life the deep conflicts that gay marriage has caused in many churches—and for many individuals trying to maintain their faith while preserving their own identities.
Wednesday, May 4, 2005 7:00 PM Ben Linder
Sentenced to Marriage- with panel discussion.
Nominated for a Silver Wolf at IDFA, this shocking documentary exposes the Kafkaesque process of divorce for women in Israel where secular law does not exist, and divorce is dealt with according to archaic and fundamentalist orthodox Jewish law. Filmmaker Anat Zuria, maker of the award-winning Purity, gained rare access to the rabbinical courts to follow two women caught in the demoralizing legal labyrinth. Though husbands can live with other women and even withhold child support, wives are forbidden contact with other men. In some cases, these very modern, independent and well-educated women are forced to buy a divorce from their husbands for huge sums. As a result, thousands of Jewish women have lived in limbo indefinitely, both in Israel and in other communities around the world.
Panels
Wednesday, May 3, 2005 Following Sentenced to Marriage Location TBA
A discussion of Israeli policy and discussion of the intersection of Jewish and LGBT identities and marriage.
Friday, May 6, 2005 Polygamy Panel (date and time tentative) check back this week for more
A discussion of other perspectives to monogamy and the relationship of marriage, monogamy and social policy.