Studies and Analyses Highlights

2008 Presidential Candidates’ Positions on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues
This report details Democrats’ support of and Republicans’ opposition to LGBT rights.

Special report on mid-term elections 2006

Same-sex marriage initiatives and lesbian, gay and bisexual voters in the 2006 elections
Proposed bans on same-sex marriage fared more poorly in the November 2006 elections than in the past. As in previous elections, lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) voters exhibited distinctive voting behavior.They continued to vote overwhelmingly (75 percent) for Democratic candidates and took liberal positions on the major issues of the day. Only Jewish voters (87 percent) and black voters (89 percent) voted for Democrats at higher rates than LGB voters. Support for same-sex marriage bans has fallen especially dramatically in states where people identifying themselves as born-again or evangelical Christians make up an identifiable minority of residents. This study was written by Patrick Egan of Princeton University and Kenneth Sherrill of Hunter College.

The 2004 presidential candidates' positions on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues
John Kerry opposes gender identity nondiscrimination laws, same-sex marriage and the Federal Marriage Amendment. George W. Bush has unclear positions on gender identity nondiscrimination laws and education policy that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Same-sex marriage, civil unions and the 2004 presidential election
Despite claims to the contrary, same-sex marriage did not cost John Kerry the presidential election. Data from the 2004 national exit polls indicate same-sex marriage had little net effect on the outcome of the election and voters increasingly accept other forms of same-sex partnership recognition.

Some key similarities and differences between lesbian, gay and bisexual voters and all voters in 2004
According to exit polls, lesbian, gay and bisexual voters differ from the broader voting population in some respects and are very similar in others. For example, lesbian, gay and bisexual voters are as likely to attend religious services more than once a week and almost twice as likely never to attend services when compared with other voters; almost half of lesbian, gay and bisexual voters live in a household where someone has lost a job in the last four years; almost a third of all others do.

Supporters of marriage equality re-elected in Massachusetts, 2004
Despite efforts by Massachusetts Republican Governor Mitt Romney to make same-sex marriage a wedge issue, all of the incumbent Massachusetts state legislators who voted against an anti-gay marriage amendment were re-elected in 2004. Support for equal treatment of same-sex couples need not be an election liability. These election results demonstrate that constituents will re-elect pro-marriage incumbents.

Public Policy & Government Affairs Projects

Government Resources Project
Assistance to community-based organizations working to attain government resources.

Legislative Lawyering Project
Assistance to activists, organizations, policymakers and political leaders with their efforts to pass pro-LGBT measures and defeat anti-LGBT proposals.

National Policy Roundtable
Executive directors of national policy-focused LGBT organizations

Transgender Civil Rights Project
Legislative and strategy assistance for activists and organizations working to pass trans-inclusive anti-discrimination ordinances or include transgender people in existing laws.