Tassie author in national Gay Marriage debate book

MEDIA RELEASE

For or Against? Gay Marriage is the debate covered in the first of two titles launching the Why vs Why™ series from new Australian publisher Pantera Press on 3 May 2010.

The first of two publications launching Pantera Press’s Why vs Why™ series presents an eye-opening discussion on hot topic Gay Marriage (the other title being nuclear power). The unique design of these great small books ensures the reader decides which of the two challenging experts opens the debate.

Bill Muehlenberg, author of In Defence of the Family, maintains his anti-gay marriage position and delivers seven strongly argued reasons why we should not allow for same-sex marriage along with a rebuttal to the arguments and rebuttal by gay human rights campaigner Rodney Croome AM.

Croome uses the forum to emphasise the lack of equality, legal disadvantages and human injustice that the gay community endures in his view, due to the current restrictions around same sex marriage.

“The Why vs Why™ series aims simply to foster debate and informed discussion by equipping the public with all the key issues and answers thrashed out by opposing expert advocates, but presented by us as publisher in an impartial way,” says John Green, co-founder, Pantera Press.

“We saw a need for an easy-to-read, pocket-size presentation of everything the public needs to know about big issues, and anticipate the Why vs Why™ series will be a useful social tool to inform a wide audience. It will also allow the public to vote on our website as an extra opportunity to press for change or keep the status quo.

“We’ve chosen subject matters with no easy answers that are top of mind for today’s questioning public,” says Alison Green, co-founder, Pantera Press.

“The subject of gay marriage sits squarely at the intersection of religion, law and society, making discussion around same-sex couples’ inclusion into the institution of marriage one of the most complex and hotly contested topics of our time.”

Rising to prominence as a gay human rights advocate and leading a successful campaign to decriminalise homosexuality in Tasmania, Rodney Croome states that “the restrictions on same-sex equality are embarrassing for a nation that claims to value a fair go for all.” Throughout the book the reader is presented with strong arguments to support his views regarding human rights, religion, freedom and equality.

He says “at a time of growing social isolation, exclusion and alienation, when many people yearn to find a genuine connection with others, it seems perverse that we continue to exclude same-sex couples and their families from such a universal and fundamental institution of social connection as marriage.”

Rodney Croome remains a spokesperson for the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group, and is a Board Member of Australian Marriage Equality and the International Gay and Lesbian Law Association.

Bill Muehlenberg, Secretary of the Family Council of Victoria, feels strongly that gay marriage negates what marriage actually is. He argues that placing same sex marriage on the legal agenda is a ploy by activists to divert the public’s attention from homosexual behavior, and that the ‘lack of civil rights’ argument is a false one.

He says that in 2008, “84 pieces of Commonwealth legislation were changed so that homosexual couples could be treated identically to heterosexual married couples. Except for the title ‘marriage’, homosexual couples now have basically every single right that heterosexual married couples have.”

Now living in Melbourne, Bill Muehlenberg was born in America and is a part-time lecturer in philosophy, theology and ethics at several theological colleges.

In all good book stores from 3 May, Pantera Press’s unique series of debate-books Why vs Why™ sees each book debating one contentious issue written by two rival expert advocates, and with no editorial or other publisher bias.

This series presents all the information on a complex topic in an easy-to-read, 2-books-in-1 format and in one place. It is part of Pantera Press’s wish to foster debate in this rapidly changing and confusing world, covering environmental, community, social, political and other issues. Topics which have no easy answers and leave the general public debating.

The two positions are presented in an easy to read 2-books-in-1 format. Both authors discuss the seven key reasons why we should say yes/no to Gay Marriage in Australia and further investigate the evidence behind each of these reasons through their seven chapters. Importantly, this book leaves no issue hanging. On top of their seven key arguments, each author gives a punchy rebuttal to their opponent’s specific arguments.

Launched in 2010, Pantera Press is a family business, teaming passion and love for literature and debate with solid business expertise, the backing of major distributor Simon & Schuster and support from a growing stable of some of Australia’s finest publishing industry talents.

With its mantra of good books doing good things™ Pantera Press has developed innovative financial and philanthropic models. These mean authors have more support than ever for their writing, and philanthropic programs, such as The Smith Family’s Lets Read initiative, will receive a financial boost to help combat illiteracy at the earliest stages. Since 2008, Pantera Press has also sponsored the coveted Walkley Awards for excellence in newspaper feature writing.

Why vs Why Gay Marriage by Rodney Croome and Bill Muehlenberg

Publication date 3 May 2010 | RRP $19.99 | ISBN 978-0-9807418-4-1 | www.PanteraPress.com.au

whyvswhy.com site live on 3 May

Pantera Press, P.O. Box 357, Seaforth NSW 2092 Australia

p 02 8003 4499, info@PanteraPress.com, www.PanteraPress.com
Panetera Press