Still Not Equal
Still Not Equal
A Report from the Red States
This chapter argues that while legal equality is now a reality in most blue states, it is still far off for LGBT individuals living in most red states. a phenomenon that remains true even if same-sex couples are able to marry nationwide. The chapter urges that the movement, after marriage equality, turn “back to work” by prioritizing the passage of antidiscrimination laws. It contends that such a prioritization will require two strategic shifts: first, an increased investment in local rather than national lobbying, and second, an increased investment in swing and red states. The chapter also flags two important questions that the movement must address when it goes “back to work:” (1) whether to lobby for limited or expansive laws, and (2) how to use litigation and lobbying in ways that support, rather than undermine, each other. In exploring these issues, the chapter counsels that lobbying must not entertain exemptions from antidiscrimination laws that apply only to claims brought by LGBT plaintiffs and activists should reject proposed laws that fall short of what may be achieved through successful litigation under existing antidiscrimination laws.
Keywords: marriage equality, blue states, red states, antidiscriminationlaws, litigation, lobbying
NYU Press Scholarship Online requires a subscription or purchase to access the full text of books within the service. Public users can however freely search the site and view the abstracts and keywords for each book and chapter.
Please, subscribe or login to access full text content.
If you think you should have access to this title, please contact your librarian.
To troubleshoot, please check our FAQs, and if you can't find the answer there, please contact us.
