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 Marriage brings 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.
