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Same Sex, Different Politics

Success and Failure in the Struggles over Gay Rights

Gary Mucciaroni author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:The University of Chicago Press

Published:17th Oct '08

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

Same Sex, Different Politics cover

Why, for American same-sex couples, is it so much easier to adopt children than it is to get married? And why does our military prevent gays from serving openly even though jurisdictions nationwide continue to render such discrimination illegal? Illuminating the conditions that engender these contradictory policies, "Same Sex, Different Politics" explains why gay rights advocates have achieved dramatically different levels of success from one policy area to another.The first book to compare results across a wide range of gay rights struggles, this volume explores debates over laws governing military service, homosexual conduct, adoption, marriage and partner recognition, hate crimes, and civil rights. It reveals that in each area, the gay rights movement's achievements depend both on Americans' perceptions of its demands and on the political venue in which the conflict plays out. Adoption policy, for example, generally takes shape in a decentralized system of courts that enables couples to target sympathetic judges, while fights for gay marriage generally culminate in legislation or ballot referenda against which it is easier to mount opposition. Brilliantly synthesizing all the factors that contribute to each kind of outcome, "Same Sex, Different Politics" establishes a new framework for understanding the trajectory of a movement.

"Same Sex, Different Politics is a rigorous and well-written analysis of the contemporary lesbian and gay movements in light of the intersection of public opinion, policy, and political institutions. Most impressive of all is Gary Mucciaroni's ability to connect his precise analyses with an engaging set of practical recommendations for policy and political organizing. There is nothing else like this book." - Craig A. Rimmerman, coeditor of The Politics of Same-Sex Marriage"

ISBN: 9780226544090

Dimensions: 22mm x 16mm x 2mm

Weight: 567g

392 pages