A Pulitzer Prize winner will address students Tuesday on the social issue surrounding same-sex marriage.

David Moats, editorial page editor of the Rutland Herald, will speak at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union. The title of his lecture is “Civil War: The Battle for Marriage Rights.”

Moats won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing in 2001, for a series of editorials he wrote for the Rutland Herald in support of same-sex unions during the political struggle in Vermont, when it became the first state to make civil unions legal for gay and lesbian couples.

Moats said he plans on discussing where society has progressed on the issue and same-sex marriage as part of the larger civil rights movement in our country.

He is also the author of “Civil War: A Battle for Gay Marriage,” published in February 2004. The book tells of the personal story of the three same-sex couples who requested marriage licenses in Vermont, which eventually led to civil unions becoming legal.

Ronald Werner-Wilson, associate professor of human development and family studies and director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic, helped bring Moats to Iowa State because he said he believes the issue of same-sex marriage is an important issue to most on campus.

However, he said, it is an issue that is misunderstood. It’s a problem Werner-Wilson said Moats will be able to help correct by providing the community with information to give them a better understanding of the issue.

Society has set up a double standard on the issue of marriage, he said.

“We believe that marriage is important but we want to restrict who can do it,” Werner-Wilson said. “We believe that same-sex couples lack commitment, but as a society we deny them the opportunity to commit.”

He said the idea of a lack of commitment between these couples has also resulted in the couples not utilizing the services provided at the Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic.

Werner-Wilson said he hopes the lecture will help to raise awareness about the clinic, and through their sponsorship, many same-sex couples will see that the clinic is a resource that any couple can use.

Moats is a good speaker to accomplish this, he said.

Prior to the editorials Moats has generally been in favor of gay rights and anti-discrimination laws.

He had spoken about it before in a general way, but when the issue was brought to the Supreme Court it became necessary to speak out on a position, Moats said.

Today, Moats is a supporter of same-sex marriage.

“It is the logical conclusion to all of this,” Moats said.

In the case of Vermont it was apparent that marriage legislation was going to be impossible so the compromise of civil unions was a necessary thing, Moats said.

He said he would like people to view this issue as important not only to those interested in gay and lesbian rights but to everyone who’s interested in government.

Moats said he encourages picking up tough issues in a straightforward and courageous manner.

“It’s about democracy on a human scale — recognizing and respecting minorities,” Moats said.