Beyond Homophobia

Public Opinion Supports Repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

Dr. Herek — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:15:38 +0000

President Obama is under increasing pressure to begin dismantling the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Last month the Palm Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara, released a new report showing how the President can legally suspend discharges of gay and lesbian personnel in advance of congressional action to permanently repeal DADT. (Full disclosure: [...]

Marriage Equality Attitudes: Simply Knowing Gay People Helps, But Isn’t Enough

Dr. Herek — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:25:31 +0000

Late last month, Gallup released findings from a new poll demonstrating that opposition to marriage equality is higher among American adults who say they don’t know anyone who is lesbian or gay. The survey, which was conducted earlier in May, found that Americans oppose legalizing marriage between same-sex couples by 57% to 40% . That margin [...]

Remembering Larry Kurdek

Dr. Herek — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:22:45 +0000

Larry Kurdek, one of the world’s leading social science researchers on lesbian and gay committed relationships, died yesterday in Ohio. Over the past 25 years, Larry published dozens of important empirical and theoretical articles and chapters about gay and lesbian couples. Among other findings, his research demonstrated that the factors predicting relationship satisfaction, commitment, and stability [...]

Don’t Rush Into A New Prop. 8 Campaign

Dr. Herek — Sun, 31 May 2009 20:38:21 +0000

Now that the California Supreme Court has upheld Proposition 8’s constitutionality, some marriage equality supporters are ready to begin collecting signatures for a new ballot measure to overturn it in next year’s election. Instead, I hope Californians who support marriage rights for same-sex couples will take a deep collective breath and engage in level-headed strategizing about [...]

The Psychological Harm of Anti-Gay Ballot Campaigns

Dr. Herek — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:26:21 +0000

Here’s how the New York Times article began: They sat around a cafe table two days after the election, but nobody felt much like eating. It seemed like they had just been on trial. And the verdict was not pleasant. “I feel like I’ve been kicked in the stomach,” said Lawrence Pacheco, a 23-year-old gay man. “Do [...]

Prop. 8 Post-Mortem: Was There A Gay Bradley Effect?

Dr. Herek — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 20:37:27 +0000

Was the passage of Prop. 8 always a foregone conclusion, despite poll results throughout the summer and early fall showing most likely voters opposed it? Or were the major polls correct, and the sentiment of California voters actually shifted in the weeks leading up to Election Day, from opposition to support? Some Prop. 8 supporters maintained throughout [...]

Field Poll: Proposition 8 May Have A Photo Finish

Dr. Herek — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:51:41 +0000

Just in time for Halloween, the latest Field Poll brings some scary news for marriage equality supporters. But the results might also create a well-founded sense of foreboding among those who oppose marriage equality and want to write their views into the California constitution. The poll indicates the Proposition 8 race has tightened considerably. Support for [...]

Proposition 8: A Closer Look At Those Poll Numbers

Dr. Herek — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 01:02:08 +0000

Ever since California county clerks began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples last June, Proposition 8 — the proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate marriage equality — has appeared likely to lose at the ballot box. Throughout the summer, statewide surveys from the Field Poll and the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) consistently found that [...]