The Politics of Same-sex Marriage

by Rimmerman, Craig A.

• ISBN13: 9780226720012
• ISBN10: 0226720012
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-10-01
• Publisher: Univ of Chicago Pr

Summary

Same-sex marriage emerged in 2004 as one of the hottest issues of the campaign season. But in a severe blow to gay rights advocates, all eleven states that had the issue on the ballot passed amendments banning the practice, and the subject soon dropped off the media's radar. This pattern of waxing and waning in the public eye has characterized the debate over same-sex marriage since 1996 and the passing of the Defense of Marriage Act. Since then, court rulings and local legislatures have kept the issue alive in the political sphere, and conservatives and gay rights advocates have made the issue a key battlefield in the culture wars. The Politics of Same-Sex Marriagebrings together an esteemed list of scholars to explore all facets of this heated issue, including the ideologies and strategies on both sides of the argument, the public's response, the use of the issue in political campaigns, and how same-sex marriage fits into the broad context of policy cycles and windows of political opportunity. With comprehensive coverage from a variety of different approaches, this volume will be a vital sourcebook for activists, politicians, and scholars alike.

Author Biography

Craig Rimmerman is professor of public policy studies and political science at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Clyde Wilcox is professor of government at Georgetown University. They are, with Kenneth Wald, coeditors of The Politics of Gay Rights, also published by the University of Chicago Press.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
Introduction: The Politics of Same-Sex Marriage	p. 1
Will the Courts Set Us Free? Reflections on the Campaign for Same-Sex Marriage	p. 39
The Consequences of Marriage Policy for Same-Sex Couples' Well-Being	p. 65
Same-Sex Marriage, GLBT Organizations, and the Lack of Spirited Political Engagement	p. 85
Theological Perspectives on Gay Unions: The Uneasy Marriage of Religion and Politics	p. 105
Religious Coalitions for and Against Gay Marriage: The Culture War Rages On	p. 131
The Anti-Gay Marriage Movement	p. 155
Framing the Issue of Same-Sex Marriage: Traditional Values Versus Equal Rights	p. 193
If I Bend this Far I Will Break? Public Opinion About Same-Sex Marriage	p. 215
Same-Sex Marriage in the 2004 Election	p. 243
The Presidency, Congress, and Same-Sex Marriage	p. 273
'Til Death-or The Supreme Court-Do Us Part: Litigating Gay Marriage	p. 291
The Politics of Same-Sex Marriage Versus the Politics of Gay Civil Rights: A Comparison of Public Opinion and State Voting Patterns	p. 313
The United States in Comparative Context	p. 341
List of Contributors	p. 365
Index	p. 371
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