FULL PDF
Abstract
Introduction and objectives: The first decade since the monumental change in marriage equality laws in the US is a critical time to capture the stories and experiences of same-sex couples about the personal impact and meaning of this change in civil rights. Using video and audio recordings, we are creating an archive for future historians about couples’ experiences in the Midwest and sharing produced excerpts as podcasts for the public. These stories of long-term relationships before and after marriage equality document the impact of these legal changes on the individual’s sense of citizenship, belonging, their own LGBTQ+ relationships, and public and familial acceptance of such relationships. Approach: Video/audio recorded interviews with same-sex married couples asking about the importance of, and circumstances surrounding, their marriage and other documentary materials are being digitally archive at The Kinsey Institute for use by researchers today and in the future. Selected interviews are edited and published in our “Just Married” podcast series, available through podcast platforms, a dedicated website and in partnership with a local radio station. Sources: Ethnically and culturally diverse same-sex married couples from the US, with a focus on Indiana. Findings and discussion: The interviews and podcast are moving and heartfelt in ways that transcripts alone cannot capture. Many interviewees never imagined that it would be possible to legally marry their same-sex partner in their lifetime. 50 years from now, people will no longer remember what it was like before legalized same-sex marriage. The creation of this digital archives vividly captures this transitional moment in history when sexual rights are fundamentally changing and reveals insights into the importance of sexual rights in well-being and a sense of citizenship. It is our intention to inspire others to contribute stories from their own communities for an inclusive, worldwide archive on marriage equality.
View more >>