Anti-Gay Rights: Assessing Voter Initiatives

This book examines anti-gay voter initiatives from both the political science and communication perspectives. In recent years, anti-gay initiatives sponsored by conservative Christian groups have been placed on the ballot in several states. This development provides an opportunity to evaluate the initiative process as a way of resolving public policy questions on this divisive topic. Using examples and data from Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Maine, Missouri, Florida, California, and Washington, the authors discuss the emergence of the new religious right and why anti-gay initiatives are sponsored by conservative Christian groups. Interviews with the leaders of the groups opposing and supporting the anti-gay initiative in Idaho and a listing of the measures themselves are included.

Among the plethora of recent books churned-out concerning the homosexual community, this anthology is distinctive in that it is well researched, written, and presented. It is recommended highly for college-level students and all libraries.Perspectives on Politcal Science

Among the strongest analyses of anti-gay politics is Witt and McCorkle's anthology. The volume presents a wide range of analysis of antigay voter initiative campaigns...Politics

This work provides studies from both political science and communication perspectives that discuss the extent of anti-gay initiatives, the campaign strategies of proponents and opponents of these initiatives, and how several states and communities have voted on these issues.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [169]-191) and index.

STEPHANIE L. WITT is Associate Professor and Chair of the Political Science Department at Boise State University.SUZANNE McCORKLE is Associate Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs and Professor of Communication at Boise State University.

Introduction

No Longer a Sleeping Giant: The Reawakening of Religious Conservatives in American Politics by Steven Shaw

Taking the Initiative: Anti-Homosexual Propaganda of the Oregon Citizens Alliance by David Douglass

The Constitution as Rhetorical Symbol in Western Anti-Gay Rights Initiatives: The Case of Idaho by Daniel Levin

The Idaho Anti-Gay Initiative: A Chronology of Events by Suzanne McCorkle and Marshall G. Most

Fear and Loathing on the Editorial Page: An Analysis of Idaho's Anti-Gay Initiative by Suzanne McCorkle and Marshall G. Most

In Their Own Words: Conversations with Campaign Leaders by Harvey Pitman

Secular Anti-Gay Advocacy in the Springfield, Missouri Bias Crime Ordinance Debate by Ralph R. Smith

Direct Democracy and Minority Rights: Opinions on Anti-Gay and Lesbian Ballot Initiatives by Todd Donovan and Shaun Bowler

The Correlates of Tolerance: Analyzing the State-Wide Votes on Anti-Gay Initiatives by Stephanie L. Witt and Leslie R. Alm

Romer v. Evans: The Centerpiece of the American Gay Rights Debate by Sean Patrick O'Rourke and Laura K. Lee Dellinger

Bibliography

Appendix A: Tables

Appendix B: Text of Anti-Gay Initiatives

Index

About the Contributors