John Corvino - "Haters, Sinners and the Rest of Us: The Gay Debate Today"

University of Pennsylvania

Hi, Joseph,

I highly recommend your bringing Dr. Corvino to your campus! Our event was a co-sponsored event between Lambda Law and Queer Christian Fellowship. The purpose our event was to bring groups together that don't typically interact (queers & Christians; grad students and undergrads) to discuss the issue of morality and homosexuality. We found the point of Dr. Corvino's talk to be perfectly aligned with those goals. Not only was his talk intellectually stimulating (and entertaining!), but he left us feeling challenged to engage in constructive dialogue with each other and those outside of the event.

Dr. Corvino was great to work with--he was prepared, lighthearted, and reasonable. We had some technical difficulties and he was extremely patient and kind about those. He also stuck around after the event to talk with folks one-on-one. His agents were also very helpful and responsive.

Please let me know if you'd like any further information. I hope you all can bring him!

Best,

Dwayne Bensing
University of Pennsylvania
- Dwayne Bensing - May 2011

the lecture consisted of a break down of the standard arguments against homosexuality: the Bible says it’s wrong, it’s unnatural, it’s gross, etc… It was also incredibly entertaining. Corvino has a talent for keeping the pace quick and light, addressing the main arguments up front so that he can get to his favorite part, the audience questions. - The Alaska Commons - Feb 2011

Interview and Feature - Campus Activities Magazine 2011

April 11, 2007

Dear Professor Corvino,

I want to thank you for your engaging and lively presentation on the campus of Morehead State University last evening. Not only was the content of your presentation carefully argued and well organized, but you were very impressive as a speaker and as a person. You covered a lot of ground but you were not in a rush; you were persuasive without being condescending or judgmental; and you were very gracious in response to every comment or question from the audience, even those that involved some degree of hostility. You also used humor very effectively.

I really appreciate your willingness to speak openly about sexuality in a cultural climate such as ours. It's a great example of how philosophy can be both relevant to the ordinary person and a catalyst for social change. The effects of discrimination are everywhere, but it gives me some hope to see an effective person challenge those patterns in a way that engages the mind. I will recommend your lecture without hesitation whenever I have the opportunity.



Sincerely,


Dr. Scott A. Davison
Full Professor of Philosophy - Letter

February 2008

Gina,

I couldn’t be more pleased. I had a student come up to me and tell me they heard a great speaker that day and they were very excited about his program. He went on and on about the speaker until I finally told him I was standing in the back of the theater during the presentation and heard the same lecture. This story could be repeated many times over. A large number of students actually commented that they loved the lecture. We usually get shrugged shoulders or yeah it was okay when we ask students how they felt about a lecture, but everyone has been raving about the program on Thursday. So, am I pleased? Yes! John did great. He was easy to work with and the committee couldn’t be more pleased. Score one for the good guys!

Steve Brady/Manager
Campus Life Office
SLCC at Meramec - email

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Dear Mr. Corvino:

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for coming to Indiana last week. Your presentation at the debate on gay marriage was informative, intelligent, thought provoking and offered in a very professional manner.

It is obvious that you have spent much time on the subject of gay marriage and have put much thought into the problems and benefits that it could bring to society in America. Too often we forget that the main idea behind marriage (at least in the Christian sense of the word) was to keep man from being alone. I’ve seen too many examples of people who are alone because of the stigma that is placed on those who are attracted to someone of the same gender. Your argument that gay marriage can be very beneficial to our country is one that more of us need to look at more closely. I was especially thankful that you engaged personal examples of same sex couples raising children. How vitally imperative it is for children to know that they are loved and that their parents love one another, regardless of whether that love is from and between a mommy and daddy or between two mommies. Thank you for emphasizing that point.

It is also apparent that you are accustomed to responding to the barrage of questions that inevitably come during a debate on such a topic. You handled the entire question and answer session very calmly and confidently. You seemed to be prepared for all of the questions and you always had a very intelligent and knowledgeable answer for each query.

Once again, let me thank you for sharing your time, talents, knowledge and professionalism with us last week. I know my life was greatly enhanced by your participation in the event and I can assure you that there are others who feel the same. Best wishes to you as you continue to inspire others to think and be more open minded on the subject of homosexuality and gay marriage in particular.

Sincerely,

~Ron
Ronald A. Sebben
Administrative Assistant
Musicology and Music Theory
Indiana University
Jacobs School of Music
...
www.music.indiana.edu - E-Mail

Grand Valley State University - October 2005

October 12, 2005 - E-mail from Dan Ruble - student at Grand Valley State University

John

Hi, my name is Dan and I am a student at Grand Valley State University where you recently gave your very popular lecture. I'll be honest, I attended the lecture because I was forced to do so for one of my classes. I am also a straight male and even though I have no problem with homosexuality, the thought of listening to a lecture about homosexuality did not interest me. However, after listening to what you had to say, especially when you went into detail about the four main arguments over homosexuality I was enlightened to a whole new level. I suddenly felt that it was very important to get to know other homosexuals and listen to their opinions on other issues. I have homosexual friends but I don't really try to relate to them all that much. However you have shown to me the importance of what listening to them can really do for me. It can open up my mind to a new way of thinking about not just homosexuality but also other issues around the world. I hope this doesn't come across as a corny or sappy e-mail because I was truly blessed by the Lord for having the opportunity to hear your lecture last night and what you had to say about homosexuality. Basically I just wanted to say thanks for stopping by GVSU and presenting us with your lecture!!!


Sincerely,

Dan Ruble (GVSU freshman!!!)
- E-mail

June 20, 2005

Hello Gina,

Dr. John Corvino captivated the NIH with his lecture: “Born or Made: What’s the difference”. For the first time in the history of Salutaris, we had to turn people away from our Noons-In-June event due to over-crowding. Many people demanded that his presentation be web cast, for they complained that they don’t want to miss it.

Dr. Corvino’s topic struck a cord with many researchers here at the NIH. So much so that Scientists e-mailed us enthusiastically about his presentation weeks before the event and continue to inquire on how to contact him. “It was like they were coming out of the woodwork” indicated Rob DeBellis, Chair of Salutaris.

Below are a few of the comments we have received.

“Thank you … for organizing such a high-caliber, succinct, yet thorough, presentation. Dr. John Corvino's presentation was an intellectual "breath of fresh air" that I feel is in far too short supply in our society. Again, thank you very much.”

“Last Friday I tried to attend this event, but was told that there were no more seats”

“This event was excellent! Will there be anymore like it this month?”
- Letter

Friday, May 20, 2005

When I first met John at OutTexas, I was a bit afraid. I thought, “Ahhhh, heck…..what is this going to be about – homosexuality/morality, I didn’t come here to be preached at today.” Then, he began to speak in his keynote address. He spoke from a place I was familiar with – people taking responsibility for themselves and having honest dialogue with those around them.”

John Corvino lays out the groundwork of the debate on homosexuality in a straightforward and logical manner so that both sides can honestly look at the issues. He does this with a sense of humour that puts you at ease, and makes you smile while you think about what he is saying.

On March 31st, 2005 John debated Glenn Stanton of Focus on the Family fame at Texas A&M University. For once, this campus was able to truly embrace diversity by bringing both polarized sides into one room to have an honest discussion on the issue of marriage equity. Glenn made me think of things that had nagged at the back of my mind, John – in usual form- met each point in a fair and truthful approach to what the real, underlying issues were. Both of them have made me proud to be a leader in the gay rights movement.

“I laughed, I pondered, and my heart went out to both of these men who are passionate about what they do and approach it from a platform of self and mutual respect.”

Katy Dawn Stewart
Production Assistant
Cox Media Central Group
- Letter

Hi Gina,

I first learned of Dr. John Corvino when a graduate student who I had never met before came to my office and told me the story of how John changed his life. Apparently, this student had been struggling with his sexual identity when he happened upon a video of John's lecture "What's Morally Wrong with Homosexuality?". Missing the question mark at the end of the title, the student expected to become convinced that his "lifestyle" was inherently depraved and find a way to change. Instead, he encountered John's logical, empirically sound, and even humorous debunking of the most common arguments against homosexuality. From that moment on, the student felt free to live his life as a gay man without the shame that had hindered him previously.

After hearing this student's story, I strongly urged the lgbt student group to bring John to campus. In the words of the Spectrum president, John is the best speaker this organization has ever sponsored in its ten years of existence. John translates his deep understanding of the complex moral debate surrounding homosexuality into a lively, thought-provoking, and penetrating presentation. Even our most skeptical Ethics students seemed to warm to his presence and felt comfortable engaging him in conversation about these sensitive issues. I have no doubt that he has changed the lives of my students by not just reassuring them, but by helping them to critically analyze popular rhetoric so that they might conclude for themselves that advancing lgbt rights is a cricitical piece of the larger struggle for human rights. As is evident, I believe John is an exemplary speaker and I highly recommend him to any other university.

Courtney Aberle
Southern Methodist University

- E-mail

Dr. Corvino has had a powerful impact on the Texas State campus. His presentation on "The Morality of Homosexuality" had the house packed and generated an honest, lively, sometimes heated discussion on the relevant issues related to this topic. In a political atmosphere in Texas that often stifles the kind of open discussion and debate that is the core to the educational process, Dr. Corvino hit the mark right on. Dr. Corvino also was invited back as the key note speaker to our "Out Texas Collegiate Conference" in which students from around the state came together to discuss the issues related to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered campus community. He was outstanding and received rave reviews from our student participants. Dr. Corvino has the gift of taking a very hot topic and discussing it in a logical, matter of fact format that allows open conversation from all sides of the issue.

Take care!
Lisa Hellmer
Texas State University
- E-mail

6/17/03

Dear John,

The Coalition of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Graduate Students would like to thank you for coming to State College to give your lecture. You truly exceeded our expectations; we feel like your lecture really made an impact and helped reestablish the Coalition in the LGBT community here at Penn State. We have received a great deal of positive feedback from several sources including undergraduate and graduate students and faculty both from within and outside the LGBTA community. We also enjoyed having the chance to get to know you during your stay here. On a personal note, I’d like to thank you for being so flexible and easy to work with in preparing for your visit. You made my job manageable! I look forward to keeping in touch and we will definitely keep you in mind for future speaking engagements. Best of luck!

Sincerely,
Suzi Agha
Penn State University

- E-mail

April 11, 2002

Dear Dr Corvino:

I attended your lecture "What is Morally Wrong with Homosexuality in Austin" on April 10th. I loved it! Really.

I'm a graduate student at UT in the School of Social Work and over the past two semesters have been pushed out of my neutral zone on the issue. Your lecture helped take me further as it addressed the key arguments against homosexuality in such a logical, humorous and humane way. It affirmed some conclusions I have come to within myself, laid to rest some of my fears and gave me some new things to think about. I left feeling so solid.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

R. Smith
- E-mail

The event went beautifully. We will definitely remember this event and make sure to tell future
members about it so that Dr. Corvino can come back again!
Also, thank you for your professionalism and doing a great job at reminding me to keep in contact! You
were incredibly helpful and I think it is also great that you are checking in to see how the event went for
us. You made this a painless process and we would love to work with you again in the future.
Thank you for everything!
Marissa Sims
Miami University – Oxford, OH
Co-President of Spectrum - Marissa Sims