Other: Podium or lectern.
In addition, for his "Born or Made" presentation only, powerpoint capability
(Corvino will bring a jump drive with the presentation).
Green Room: 1 bottle of
water (room-temperature preferred)
Table for Merchandise: NO
Reviews, Comments, and Articles
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"“Haters,” “Sinners,” and the Rest of Us: The Gay Debate Today"
Is it possible to have a productive conversation about LGBT issues? One side labels the other sinners, perverts, or deviants and dismisses them as beyond redemption. The other side labels the first as haters or bigots and—in much the same way—treats them as lost causes. There’s a lot of name-calling, but very little effort at understanding. That’s where John Corvino comes in. In this keynote program, he draws on two decades of speaking experience as The Gay Moralist to promote a better conversation on these issues. Using his trademark combination of logical rigor, sensitivity, and humor, he challenges people from all sides to rethink easy assumptions in the increasingly divisive culture wars.
"The Meaning of (Gay) Marriage"
The debate over same-sex marriage rages on in the U.S., with a handful of states permitting it, many more banning it, and still others contemplating it. But the debate doesn't merely concern the rights of gays and lesbians: it touches upon the meaning of marriage itself, as well as the role of government, the significance of sex, the function of family, and the deep human longings for intimacy, love, and security. In this new program, John Corvino—a national leader in the marriage debate—assesses the controversy and makes a compelling case for extending marriage to same-sex couples.
"What’s Morally Wrong with Homosexuality?"
This is Corvino’s classic speech, which he’s been presenting in various incarnations since 1992. Is homosexuality unnatural? Does it threaten society? Are gay people “born that way”—and does it matter? Corvino responds by examining and dismantling some of the most common arguments against homosexual conduct—including those based on nature, harm, and religion—with humor and precision. This program is well suited for more conservative audiences, including religious audiences.
"Values, Diversity, and the Workplace"
Most of us spend the majority of our adult waking hours in the workplace, where we interact with a diverse group of colleagues and clients not always of our choosing. Yet we often find it challenging to move beyond diversity buzzwords to a real appreciation of others’ identities and values. In this program, Corvino explores various assumptions that we bring to the table, and he explains why it’s important to understand and challenge those assumptions. While placing special emphasis on LGBT issues—which often get marginalized—he draws broader lessons about how to maintain core values in a diverse and ever-changing world.
"Coming Out Skeptical"
John Corvino, who was once a candidate for the Roman Catholic priesthood, now considers himself a non-believer, agnostic, or atheist—depending on how one defines the terms. In this talk, which was an audience favorite at Skepticon III, he presents the personal story of his (de)conversion, makes the case for non-belief, and draws analogies between coming out as a gay man and coming out as a religious skeptic.
"Born or Made—and What’s the Difference?"
Some claim that gays are “born that way” and that same-sex relationships are therefore permissible. Others claim that gayness is a “lifestyle choice” and that same-sex relationships are therefore wrong. Both sides assume a connection between homosexuality’s cause and its permissibility. According to Corvino, both sides are mistaken. In this program he explains the difference between three debates that are often confused—the “nature/nurture” debate, the choice/non-choice debate, and the highly theoretical “essentialist/constructionist” debate—and he argues that none is directly relevant to gay rights.
"Maintaining the LGBT Moral High Ground"
In response to right-wing attacks, gays, lesbians, and their allies are often tempted to declare that “morality is a strictly private matter” and that “we ought not to judge one another.” Corvino disagrees, contending that although such declarations are well-intentioned, they are misguided—if not downright incoherent. He argues that progressives not only CAN speak the language of morality, they MUST, or else succumb to what he calls “moral mushiness.”
Debates and Custom Programs
Dr. Corvino is available for custom programs and is constantly writing new material. He has been doing debates on same-sex marriage for years and is currently working on an Oxford University Press book debating marriage with Maggie Gallagher, the founder of the National Organization for Marriage (which opposes marriage for gays and lesbians). He is also available for debates on the existence of God, the foundation of morality, and other subjects.
Dr. John Corvino, a.k.a “The Gay Moralist,” is an author, speaker, and philosophy professor.
For over 15 years he has been traveling the country speaking on moral subjects. Combining philosophical rigor with sensitivity and humor, he challenges various factions to rethink easy assumptions about sexuality and morality. In addition to sexual ethics, LGBT rights and the culture wars, his research interests include business ethics and the existence of God.
Dr. Corvino holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin and is currently Associate Professor of Philosophy at Wayne State. An award-winning teacher, he is also the recipient of a 2004 Spirit of Detroit Award from the Detroit City Council for his work on behalf of LGBT rights.
Corvino’s writing has appeared in regional and national periodicals, at the online Independent Gay Forum, and in dozens of academic venues, including the anthologies Do We Need Minority Rights, Ethics in Practice, and The Philosophy of Sex and the journals The Gay and Lesbian Review Worldwide, The Journal of Business Ethics, Business Ethics Quarterly and Ethics.
Corvino’s column “The Gay Moralist” appears weekly at LOGO Online’s 365gay.com, “America’s Most Read Gay News Source.” Currently he is working on a book, Debating Same-Sex Marriage (with Maggie Gallagher) for Oxford University Press, as well as another book for OUP (tentatively titled Haters, Sinners, and the Rest of Us) presenting a moral defense of homosexuality.
Congrats on being chosen as one of the “Hot Speakers of 2010” by Campus Activities Magazine 
"“Haters,” “Sinners,” and the Rest of Us: The Gay Debate Today"
