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Factors influencing the municipal equality index as a measure of equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning people
Author(s) -
Buchanan Stan,
Emery Lori
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
sexuality, gender and policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2639-5355
DOI - 10.1002/sgp2.12002
Subject(s) - lesbian , politics , gender studies , state (computer science) , sociology , race (biology) , homosexuality , index (typography) , political science , law , world wide web , computer science , algorithm
Writing in the wake of Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), we review the current literature on the state of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning (LGBTQ) rights in the United States. From the information gleaned, we move on to build and test a model to identify the forces that might shape the continuing struggle for LGBTQ equality under the law, using the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index (MEI) as a standard. We find that religion, political affiliation, region, education, race, age, personal beliefs, and practices are all significant factors in shaping municipal policies that might bear on the equality of LGBTQ citizens. We conclude with a few remarks on the continuing struggle.