When Temple University Political Science Professor Gary Mucciaroni looked across the spectrum of gay rights issues, he saw a puzzle: Why have gays and lesbians been so successful in achieving some of their goals and not others?


Over the past 30 years, gays and lesbians have made enormous advances. A record number are out of the closet at younger ages and openly involved in same-sex relationships. More Americans than ever support specific gay rights initiatives and are accepting of their gay relatives, co-workers and friends. Medical and psychological professionals no longer consider homosexuality to be a mental disorder. And, many health and welfare professional associations support gay rights.


Yet, while adoption by gays and lesbians is banned in just six states, a whopping 44 states ban gay marriage. While over half of the country extends civil rights protections to gays and lesbians, they are still excluded from military service.


“These puzzling discrepancies are what I set out to investigate,” explained Mucciaroni. His groundbreaking new book, Same Sex, Different Politics (University of Chicago Press, October 2008), compares

results, and sheds light on the conditions that lead to contradictory policies, across six key LGBT rights issues: legalization of homosexual conduct, military service, adoption, marriage and partner recognition, hate crimes, and civil rights.


In trying to put the puzzle pieces together, Mucciaroni initially looked at the role of public opinion and explored whether or not gays simply are more successful when the general public is not feeling threatened by gay rights issues. “That helped to explain the outcome in three cases: marriage, hate crimes and civil rights,” Mucciaroni said.

legitimate role in regulating consensual sexual conduct and that such laws diminished respect for the law in general. “The reformers’ position was: ‘why have a law that you can’t enforce?’,” Mucciaroni said.


Given his findings, Mucciaroni speculates that LGBT rights advocates may want to rethink some of their strategies. He argues that they have fared much better when issues are resolved at state and local levels rather than in Washington. “While gays do somewhat better on balance when they go through the courts than when they work through legislatures and ballot measures, going through the courts has backfired on some issues, like marriage, by leading to ballot-initiatives,” said Mucciaroni.


He contends that rather than following a traditional civil rights path, LBGT rights groups may be more successful if they work through more democratic arenas by personalizing their stories and reaching out to fellow citizens. Said Mucciaroni, “Pursuit of change through the courts can short circuit necessary conversation and understanding that needs to be cultivated in this area.”


“Gays should emphasize the argument that society, not just gays, benefit from same-sex marriage. Stabilizing gay relationships through partner recognition may allow those individuals to contribute to society in many more productive and meaningful ways,” he said.