Letter From the Editor ~ Why Did They Tie the Knot? 

The national media, from front page headlines to late night talk shows, has been filled with the same sex marriage debate. However, much of this coverage has focused on polls and politics. American Sexuality magazine wants to paint a more personal picture. First-person narratives, some triumphant and others heart wrenching, tell a story too often overlooked in the mass media. These stories reflect the thoughts, motivations, and support from family and friends, or lack of it, at the heart of couples' decisions to get married.

Over the last few weeks, more than 4,000 same sex couples, from 45 states and 8 foreign countries, got married: teachers, construction workers, and even a movie star. But, this issue of American Sexuality is not about high profile politics or famous brides, it is about ordinary people. Here, readers can read the unfiltered stories and personal experiences of those who have participated in these historic weddings.

In "The Same Sex Wedding Album" we want to humanize the debate and to add new voices beyond those of politicians and spokespeople. We want to highlight the emotional and psychological complexities that same sex couples faced as they uttered the words, "I do!" For some, getting married was an act of civil disobedience, for others it was an opportunity to better understand their relationships with their partner, family and friends. For still others, it was a way to reflect on the history of marriage in the United States, from the lifting of interracial marriage prohibitions (1948 in California, and 1967 nationally) to the persistent inequalities that endure regarding race, socioeconomic status, and sexuality.

The debate around same sex marriage in the United States has been brewing for some time. We have seen legal challenges in Massachusetts and same sex marriages taking place from New Paltz, NY to San Francisco, CA. George W. Bush recently vowed to amend the U.S. Constitution, prohibiting gay marriage. Every day brings a new twist to the debate, and it is clear that we are witnessing history being made.

American Sexuality magazine aims to have an informed dialogue about sexuality in the United States. Same sex marriage has been both polemical and politicized. For every gay marriage so far, there has been protest, expressing profound convictions. Here we feature the stories of those who have been married and focus on their experience: positive, negative or transformative. Our intent is not to ignore the voice of opponents, but rather to draw attention to people's actual experiences rather than movement politics.

The personal and the political are being wed in new ways, causing many Americans to examine their values, beliefs and feelings about marriage. There are deeply felt opinions on both sides of the same sex marriage debate. This is both a challenging and critical time in the history of our country and our democracy. For some, same sex marriage is a question of rights. For others, it reflects an erosion of tradition. In the fall, American Sexuality magazine will publish a feature series on same sex marriages with a balance of commentaries and analysis from both sides of the debate.