(Il)legitimate minorities: The American Christian Right's anti-gay-rights discourse

Journal of Law and Society

Volumn 23, Issue 3, 1996, Pages 346-363

  Herman, Didi ^a  

^a KEELE UNIVERSITY   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0040519164     PISSN: 0263323X     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.2307/1410716     Document Type: Review

References (85)

1. At times, it may seem that I offer the CR 'pointers' to improving their rights discourse -this is an unintended, but I think inevitable, consequence of the analysis. I am fairly confident that few Journal of Law and Society readers are members of the American Christian Right.
2. See D. Herman, Rights of Passage: Struggles for lesbian and gay equality (1994). Also, D. Herman, 'Beyond the rights debate' (1993) 2 Social and Legal Studies 25.
3. See D. Herman, Rights of Passage: Struggles for lesbian and gay equality (1994). Also, D. Herman, 'Beyond the rights debate' (1993) 2 Social and Legal Studies 25.
4. See A. Hertzke, Representing God in Washington: The role of religious lobbies in the American polity (1988); M. Moen, 'Political and theological adjustment in the U.S. Christian Right' (1995) 4 Contentions 75.
5. See A. Hertzke, Representing God in Washington: The role of religious lobbies in the American polity (1988); M. Moen, 'Political and theological adjustment in the U.S. Christian Right' (1995) 4 Contentions 75.
6. I have over a dozen of his position papers on file, as well as a ninety-page gay-rights analysis, and interviewed him in 1994.
7. These ministries are frequent outgrowths of conservative Christian churches - they purport to help gays and lesbians 'leave the lifestyle'. For a rare and interesting critique of the ex-gay world, see S. Pennington, Ex-Gays? There are none! (1989). I discuss the genre in chs. 3 and 4 of my book.
8. See, example, 'Focus on the Family' (1992) 6(4) Citizen 1-4; G. Grant and A. Home, Legislating immorality: The homosexual movement comes out of the closet (1993) 35, 40, 42, 125; regarding his influence in Colorado, see S. Bransford, Gay politics vs. Colorado: The inside story of Amendment 2 (1994); regarding his influence in Maine, see C. Cosby, 'Open Letter, Concerned Maine Families' (December 1993).
9. See, example, 'Focus on the Family' (1992) 6(4) Citizen 1-4; G. Grant and A. Home, Legislating immorality: The homosexual movement comes out of the closet (1993) 35, 40, 42, 125; regarding his influence in Colorado, see S. Bransford, Gay politics vs. Colorado: The inside story of Amendment 2 (1994); regarding his influence in Maine, see C. Cosby, 'Open Letter, Concerned Maine Families' (December 1993).
10. See, example, 'Focus on the Family' (1992) 6(4) Citizen 1-4; G. Grant and A. Home, Legislating immorality: The homosexual movement comes out of the closet (1993) 35, 40, 42, 125; regarding his influence in Colorado, see S. Bransford, Gay politics vs. Colorado: The inside story of Amendment 2 (1994); regarding his influence in Maine, see C. Cosby, 'Open Letter, Concerned Maine Families' (December 1993).
11. See, example, 'Focus on the Family' (1992) 6(4) Citizen 1-4; G. Grant and A. Home, Legislating immorality: The homosexual movement comes out of the closet (1993) 35, 40, 42, 125; regarding his influence in Colorado, see S. Bransford, Gay politics vs. Colorado: The inside story of Amendment 2 (1994); regarding his influence in Maine, see C. Cosby, 'Open Letter, Concerned Maine Families' (December 1993).
12. See, for example, T. Marco, Gay Rights: A Public Health Disaster and Civil Wrong (1992), cited in Grant and Home, id., p. 264.
13. T. Marco, 'Ultimate Nix to Old "Disgust" "Gay Rights" Opposition' (7 August 1994).
14. These representations are further elaborated in ch. 3 of my book.
15. T. Marco, 'Oppressed Minority, Or Counterfeits?' (1992) 6(4) Focus on the Family Citizen 2.
16. 'Homosexuality is not a civil right' (1993) In Focus (Family Research Council information sheet).
17. See 'Homosexuality in America', (1994) American Family Association. C. and D. McIlhenny, in When the wicked seize a city (1993) 76-7, cite a similar piece in the San Francisco Chronicle, and S. Farrar, Standing tall: How a man can protect his family (1994) 135 cites the McIlhennys.
18. See 'Homosexuality in America', (1994) American Family Association. C. and D. McIlhenny, in When the wicked seize a city (1993) 76-7, cite a similar piece in the San Francisco Chronicle, and S. Farrar, Standing tall: How a man can protect his family (1994) 135 cites the McIlhennys.
19. The Cincinnati material is re-printed in the Family Research Council's (1993) In Focus. See, also, 'Equal rights not special rights' (1992) Colorado for Family Values; 'Ballot Measure 13' (1994) Oregon Citizen's Alliance.
20. The Cincinnati material is re-printed in the Family Research Council's (1993) In Focus. See, also, 'Equal rights not special rights' (1992) Colorado for Family Values; 'Ballot Measure 13' (1994) Oregon Citizen's Alliance.
21. The Cincinnati material is re-printed in the Family Research Council's (1993) In Focus. See, also, 'Equal rights not special rights' (1992) Colorado for Family Values; 'Ballot Measure 13' (1994) Oregon Citizen's Alliance.
22. See, for example, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 August 1991, cited in McIlhenny, op. cit., n. 12. Also J. Schacter, 'The gay civil rights debate in the states: Decoding the discourse of equivalents' (1994) 29 Harvard Civil Rights Civil Liberties Law Rev. 299, fn. 84.
23. See, for example, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 August 1991, cited in McIlhenny, op. cit., n. 12. Also J. Schacter, 'The gay civil rights debate in the states: Decoding the discourse of equivalents' (1994) 29 Harvard Civil Rights Civil Liberties Law Rev. 299, fn. 84.
24. R. Magnuson, Informed answers to gay rights questions (1994) 100.
25. L. Stoesen, 'Census yields snapshot of black same-sex households' Washington Blade, 8 September 1995.
26. T. Marco, 'Shaky Foundation: Twelve "Big Lies" The "Gay Rights" Movement is Built On' (1993, 1994).
27. For example, E. Rueda, The homosexual network: Private lives and public policy (1982).
28. W. Dannemeyer, Shadow in the land: Homosexuality in America (1989) 148-50.
29. id., p. 104.
30. I provide a multitude of references for these points in ch. 3 of my book.
31. See, also, Schacter, op. cit., n. 14.
32. See, for example, J. Shapiro, 'Straight talk about gays', U.S. News & World Report, 3 July 1993, 48.
33. See, for example, R. Knight, 'Homosexuality is not a civil right' (1993) In Focus; R. Knight, The homosexual agenda in schools' (1993) Insight (and many other In Focus and Insight publications). Interview by author, 1994.
34. See, for example, R. Knight, 'Homosexuality is not a civil right' (1993) In Focus; R. Knight, The homosexual agenda in schools' (1993) Insight (and many other In Focus and Insight publications). Interview by author, 1994.
35. L. Burtoft, The social significance of homosexuality (1994).
36. Oregon Citizen's Alliance, op. cit., n. 13; Colorado for Family Values, op. cit., n. 13; Colorado for Family Values, 'Community watch action kit: Monitoring and defeating homosexual extremism in your community' (1993).
37. Oregon Citizen's Alliance, op. cit., n. 13; Colorado for Family Values, op. cit., n. 13; Colorado for Family Values, 'Community watch action kit: Monitoring and defeating homosexual extremism in your community' (1993).
38. Oregon Citizen's Alliance, op. cit., n. 13; Colorado for Family Values, op. cit., n. 13; Colorado for Family Values, 'Community watch action kit: Monitoring and defeating homosexual extremism in your community' (1993).
39. For example, Magnuson, op. cit., n. 15; Grant and Horne, op. cit., n. 6.
40. For example, Magnuson, op. cit., n. 15; Grant and Horne, op. cit., n. 6.
41. Amendment 2, a CR initiative led by the newly inaugurated Colorado for Family Values, sought to amend the state constitution so that gay rights laws would not be permitted anywhere in the state. It passed, and then was challenged, and overturned, in the courts. At time of this writing, a decision is pending from the United States Supreme Court.
42. Colorado for Family Values, op. cit., n. 13.
43. Bransford, op. cit., n. 6, p. 145.
44. In ch. 3 of my book I analyse this and similar CR anti-gay videos in detail.
45. In 1995, one state campaign largely based on the pragmatic discourse failed (Maine, 1995). I discuss the contradictions in the Colorado campaign more fully in ch. 6 of my book.
46. See, for example, Marco documents; R. Knight (interview by author, 1995).
47. See S. Gilman, The Jew's Body (1991) and G. Mosse, Nationalism and Sexuality (1985). See, also, ch. 2 of my book where I trace these historical demonizations in detail.
48. See S. Gilman, The Jew's Body (1991) and G. Mosse, Nationalism and Sexuality (1985). See, also, ch. 2 of my book where I trace these historical demonizations in detail.
49. T. Marco, memo to author, 4 November 1994.
50. See, also, D.B. David, The fear of conspiracy: Images of unAmerican subversion from the revolution to the present (1971); G. Johnson, Architects of fear: Conspiracy theories and paranoia in American politics (1982).
51. See, also, D.B. David, The fear of conspiracy: Images of unAmerican subversion from the revolution to the present (1971); G. Johnson, Architects of fear: Conspiracy theories and paranoia in American politics (1982).
52. For example, one of these is M. Kirk and H. Madsen's much criticized After the ball: How America will conquer its fear and hatred of gays in the 90's (1989).
53. For example, T. Marrs, Big sister is watching you: Hilary Clinton and the White House feminists who now control America - and tell the President what to do (1993).
54. See, for example, A. Crawford, Thunder on the right: The 'new right' and the politics of resentment (1980); T. Edsall and M. Edsall, Chain reaction: The impact of race, rights, and taxes on American politics (1992).
55. See, for example, A. Crawford, Thunder on the right: The 'new right' and the politics of resentment (1980); T. Edsall and M. Edsall, Chain reaction: The impact of race, rights, and taxes on American politics (1992).
56. See, for example, various issues of the magazine National Minority Politics. 41 See, for example, D.J. Gribbin, 'Bridge-building across racial lines' (1995) 5(7) Christian American 20-1; R. Reed, Politically Incorrect (1994) ch. 16; also F. Chideya, 'How the right stirs black homophobia' Newsweek, 18 October 1993, 73. Bridges are also being built between the CR and orthodox Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and other non-Christian faith communities (see chs. 1, 7 of my book).
57. See, for example, various issues of the magazine National Minority Politics. 41 See, for example, D.J. Gribbin, 'Bridge-building across racial lines' (1995) 5(7) Christian American 20-1; R. Reed, Politically Incorrect (1994) ch. 16; also F. Chideya, 'How the right stirs black homophobia' Newsweek, 18 October 1993, 73. Bridges are also being built between the CR and orthodox Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and other non-Christian faith communities (see chs. 1, 7 of my book).
58. See, for example, various issues of the magazine National Minority Politics. 41 See, for example, D.J. Gribbin, 'Bridge-building across racial lines' (1995) 5(7) Christian American 20-1; R. Reed, Politically Incorrect (1994) ch. 16; also F. Chideya, 'How the right stirs black homophobia' Newsweek, 18 October 1993, 73. Bridges are also being built between the CR and orthodox Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and other non-Christian faith communities (see chs. 1, 7 of my book).
59. See, for example, various issues of the magazine National Minority Politics. 41 See, for example, D.J. Gribbin, 'Bridge-building across racial lines' (1995) 5(7) Christian American 20-1; R. Reed, Politically Incorrect (1994) ch. 16; also F. Chideya, 'How the right stirs black homophobia' Newsweek, 18 October 1993, 73. Bridges are also being built between the CR and orthodox Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and other non-Christian faith communities (see chs. 1, 7 of my book).
60. Some of these tensions are well-illustrated in D. Frum, Dead right (1994). See, also, R. Frame, 'The cost of being black' (1986) 30(13) Christianity Today 19-20.
61. Some of these tensions are well-illustrated in D. Frum, Dead right (1994). See, also, R. Frame, 'The cost of being black' (1986) 30(13) Christianity Today 19-20.
62. See E. Gilbreath, 'Manhood's great awakening' (1995) 39(2) Christianity Today 20-8.
63. B. Lunch, 'The Oregon Citizen's Alliance, social control and the Republican Party', paper presented at the Pacific Northwest Political Science Association, 22 October 1993, at Coeur D'Alene, Idaho.
64. 'New York City orthodox Jews support your continuing efforts to ban special protection for homosexuals' (1994) Petition to Lon Mabon, Oregon Citizen's Alliance.
65. See also, V. Bates, 'Rhetorical pluralism and secularization in the new Christian right: The Oregon Citizen's Alliance' (1995) 37 Rev. of Religious Research 46.
66. Edsall and Edsall, op. cit., n. 39.
67. See, for example, Christian Coalition, Contract with the American family (1995) ch. 3; Frum, op. cit., n. 42, pp. 91-4; J. Dobson and G. Bauer, Children at risk (1990) 299-300.
68. See, for example, Christian Coalition, Contract with the American family (1995) ch. 3; Frum, op. cit., n. 42, pp. 91-4; J. Dobson and G. Bauer, Children at risk (1990) 299-300.
69. See, for example, Christian Coalition, Contract with the American family (1995) ch. 3; Frum, op. cit., n. 42, pp. 91-4; J. Dobson and G. Bauer, Children at risk (1990) 299-300.
70. It should be noted that some black nationalists endorse this last effect, and support vouchers on this basis.
71. See W. Bennett, The de-valuing of America: The fight for our children and our culture (1992); Dobson and Bauer, op. cit., n. 48, pp. 197-203; various issues of Citizen (Focus on the Family); various issues of Washington Watch and Family Policy (Family Research Council); materials from the Oregon Citizen's Alliance.
72. See W. Bennett, The de-valuing of America: The fight for our children and our culture (1992); Dobson and Bauer, op. cit., n. 48, pp. 197-203; various issues of Citizen (Focus on the Family); various issues of Washington Watch and Family Policy (Family Research Council); materials from the Oregon Citizen's Alliance.
73. For a good review of some of the legal manoeuvres in this area, see R. Perez-Pena, 'A rights movement that emerges from the right' New York Times, 30 December 1994.
74. Indeed, two such figures, Trent Lott and Edwin Meese, appeared in an anti-gay video targeted at black communities - see F. Chideya, 'How the right stirs black homophobia' Newsweek, 18 October 1993, 73.
75. See Herman, op. cit., n. 2 (1994), chs. 2, 7.
76. See also L. Duggan, 'Queering the state' (1994) 39 Social Text 1.
77. Note that many of these rights accord special status to couples, see some of the contributions in D. Herman and C. Stychin, eds., Legal Inversions: Lesbians, gay men, and the politics of law (1995).
78. See, for example, 'Christian capitalists' U.S. News & World Report, 13 March 1995, 52-63.
79. See discussion in Herman, op. cit., n. 2 (1994). See also Henry Louis Gate's perceptive piece, 'Blacklash?' New Yorker, 17 May 1993, 42-4.
80. See discussion in Herman, op. cit., n. 2 (1994). See also Henry Louis Gate's perceptive piece, 'Blacklash?' New Yorker, 17 May 1993, 42-4.
81. See also Hertzke, op. cit., n. 3.
82. N.Y. Times/CBS Poll, cited in 95-10-30, cc.watch, from Newshound (Internet). See, also, Herman, op. cit., n. 2 (1994), ch. 7.
83. 'Spiritual America', U.S. News & World Report, 4 April 1994, 51.
84. J. Weeks, Invented moralities: Sexual values in an age of uncertainty (1995).
85. S. Carter, The culture of disbelief: How American law and politics trivialize religious devotion (1993).