Morphing Categories: When normativity is being contested

Abstract

Why can the idea of gay marriage disturb some so deeply? Many people assume that opposition to gay marriage, is just another one of the symptoms of homophobia, but I think the reasons are more profound. With the issue of gay marriage, normativity is being contested rather than assumed. I suggest that if we look at this controversy as a sign of a deeper struggle regarding norms, then we might find our way into a more compassionate appreciation of what is at stake for all parties. I think that the reader who is willing to explore this analytical framework will be rewarded if they apply it to other cultural controversies.