List_of_U.S._ballot_initiatives_to_repeal_LGBT_anti-discrimination_laws

List of U.S. ballot initiatives to repeal LGBT anti-discrimination laws

List of U.S. ballot initiatives to repeal LGBT anti-discrimination laws

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US ballot initiatives to repeal LGBT anti-discrimination laws are anti-LGBT initiatives used to target and repeal LGBT anti-discrimination laws in the United States. These efforts started in 1972 and continue through at least 2018 on the state and local level. The person most associated with leading these efforts is Anita Bryant. After her most of this work to re-allow government discrimination are from organizations.

History

Jurisdictions in the United States began outlawing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in 1972, when East Lansing, Michigan, passed an ordinance forbidding discrimination based on "affectional or sexual preference".[1] In response, opponents began organizing campaigns to place measures on their local ballots to repeal these anti-discrimination laws. The repeal movement found a national spokesperson in Anita Bryant, who helped found—and served as president of—Save Our Children. Save Our Children organized in Florida in 1977 in response to the passage by the Dade County Commission of an anti-discrimination ordinance. Bryant's campaign was successful; the Miami-Dade ordinance was repealed by a greater than two-to-one margin. Repeal campaigns, building on this success, spread nationally and several other ordinances were repealed. In California in 1978, conservative state senator John Briggs sponsored Proposition 6, which would have barred gay and lesbian people from working in a public school. The defeat of this measure, and of an ordinance repeal measure in Seattle, Washington, the same day, stalled the momentum of the repeal forces.

Opponents of Colorado's Amendment 2 at a rally sponsored by the National Organization for Women

The mid-1980s and early 1990s saw a resurgence in ballot initiatives, culminating in proposed state constitutional amendments in Oregon and Colorado not only to repeal existing anti-discrimination ordinances but to proactively prohibit the state and any local unit of government within the state from ever passing such an ordinance. Oregon's Measure 9, sponsored by the Oregon Citizens Alliance, failed, but Colorado's Amendment 2 passed. Amendment 2 was declared unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court in its 1996 Romer v. Evans decision. Oregon and two other states, Idaho and Maine, had initiatives between the passage of Amendment 2 and the Court decision; all three were defeated but many municipalities within Oregon passed local measures.

As the question of same-sex marriage has risen to greater prominence, opponents of such marriages have turned their attention to passing constitutional amendments barring individual states from legalizing same-sex marriages or recognizing such marriages performed in other jurisdictions. These amendments are listed here. Before the marriage issue arose, some jurisdictions had begun providing limited rights and benefits to same-sex domestic partners. These ordinances also became targets of repeal efforts, with repeal supporters meeting with less success.

Since the 2015 US Supreme Court ruling in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges, the prominence of LGBT anti-discrimination laws became the top priority of LGBT rights activists. One of the most controversial, recent, and largest repeal effort was Proposition 1 in Houston, Texas.

Ballot initiatives

Statewide level

The first attempt to restrict gay and lesbian rights through a state wide ballot measure occurred in 1978 in California.[2] While the measure failed, the late-1980s and early 1990s saw a resurgence in ballot initiatives, culminating in proposed state constitutional amendments in Oregon and Colorado not only to repeal existing anti-discrimination ordinances but to proactively prohibit the state and any local unit of government within the state from ever passing such an ordinance. Oregon's Measure 9, sponsored by the Oregon Citizens Alliance, failed, but Colorado's Amendment 2 passed. Amendment 2 was declared unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court in its 1996 Romer v. Evans decision. Oregon and two other states, Idaho and Maine, had initiatives between the passage of Amendment 2 and the Court decision; all three were defeated but many municipalities within Oregon passed local measures.

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Local level

After failing to pass Measure 9 in 1992, OCA turned its attention to passing anti-discrimination bans at the county and municipal level. Couching the debate in terms of forbidding LGBT people from receiving so-called "special rights", OCA sought not only to block ordinances in these communities but to bar them from spending money to "promote homosexuality".[17] OCA was successful in passing over two dozen initiatives. However, in 1993 the Oregon Legislative Assembly passed a law prohibiting local governments from considering LGBT rights measures so the ordinances had no legal force.[18] The Oregon Court of Appeals upheld the state law in 1995.[19] Two weeks after the United States Supreme Court ruled in Romer, OCA suspended its efforts for a third statewide ballot initiative.[20]

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Domestic partnership repeal initiatives

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See also

Further reading

  • Faderman, Lillian (2007). Great Events From History: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Events, 1848-2006. Salem Press. ISBN 1-58765-264-1.
  • Keen, Lisa and Suzanne B. Goldberg (2000). Strangers to the Law: Gay People on Trial. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 0-472-08645-6.
  • Murdoch, Joyce; Price, Deb (2001). Courting Justice: Gay Men and Lesbians v. the Supreme Court. New York, Basic Books. ISBN 0-465-01513-1.
  • Rutledge, Leigh (1992). The Gay Decades. New York, Penguin. ISBN 0-452-26810-9.
  • Shilts, Randy (1982). The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk, St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-52330-0.
  • Vaid, Urvashi (1995). Virtual Equality: The Mainstreaming of Gay & Lesbian Liberation. New York, Anchor Books. ISBN 0-385-47298-6.

References

  1. Faderman, p. 228
  2. Rimmerman, Craig (November 2001). "From Identity to Politics: The Lesbian and Gay Movements in the United States". Temple University Press. ISBN 9781566399050. Retrieved December 7, 2008.
  3. "Primary Source Set: Briggs Initiative". GLBT Historical Society. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  4. Sura Rubenstein, "Court Kills Anti-Gay Rights Measure," The Oregonian (Portland, OR), November 13, 1992, A1.
  5. Murdoch and Price, p. 455
  6. Murdoch and Price, p. 475
  7. "Group revives anti-gay plan despite vote". The Deseret News. Associated Press. April 23, 1995. p. A15. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  8. Dunlap, David W (November 12, 1995). "Gay Politicians And Issues Win Major Victories". The New York Times. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  9. Kidd, Joe (July 27, 1993). "City officials put gay issue on fall ballot". Eugene Register-Guard. p. 1C. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  10. "OCA gets ready to take its battle to 1994 ballots". Eugene (OR) Register-Guard. Associated Press. November 11, 1993. p. 5C. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  11. Neville, Paul (April 13, 1995). "Appeals court deals setback to gay rights foes". Eugene (OR) Register-Guard. pp. 1A, 4A. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  12. Neville, Paul (June 28, 1996). "Gay celebration spotlights victory in Supreme Court". Eugene (OR) Register-Guard. p. 1C. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  13. "Civil rights, marching forward". Boulder Daily Camera. November 18, 2012. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  14. Phelps, Timothy (October 8, 1995). "Gay issues split Colorado cities". Eugene Register-Guard. Newsday. p. 8A. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  15. Rutledge, p. 108
  16. Rutledge, p. 122
  17. Rutledge, pp. 122–23
  18. "Anita's Group Aims to Help Homosexuals". The Ocala (FL) Star-Banner. Associated Press. June 5, 1978. p. 2B. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
  19. Rutledge, p. 129
  20. "Income tax cut rejected by voters in California". The Kingman (AZ) Daily Miner. Associated Press. June 4, 1980. p. A3. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
  21. Vaid, p. 328
  22. MacNamara, Mark (November 9, 1989). "Losses alarm gay rights supporters". USA Today. p. 3A.
  23. George, Kathy; Scott Maier (November 8, 1990). "Only Tacoma Fails to Back Gay Rights". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. p. B2. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
  24. Keen and Goldberg, p. 6
  25. "Gay Rights Ordinance Survives Repeal Vote". St. Paul Pioneer-Press. November 6, 1991. p. 1A. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
  26. Leslie A. Harper, "OCA Fights City's Anti-Bias Efforts," Corvallis Gazette-Times (Corvallis, OR), October 30, 1991, A1.
  27. "A Blue-Collar Town Is a Gay-Rights Battleground". The New York Times. June 14, 1992. p. 35. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  28. John Henrikson, "OCA to Push for Anti-Gay Law," Springfield News (Springfield, OR), October 16, 1991, 1A.
  29. Scherberger, Tom (November 5, 1992). "Blame spread for loss of gay rights". St. Petersburg Times. p. 6B. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
  30. Murdoch and Price, p.425
  31. Irwin, Julie (October 14, 1998). "Law denying gay protection stands". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  32. Hrenchir, Tim (February 24, 2005). "Legal battles followed passage". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  33. Egan, Timothy (November 4, 1993). "The 1993 Elections: Propositions; Ballot Measures on Term Limits and Crime Draw Wide Support". The New York Times. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  34. "Gulf veterans may get bonus". The St. Petersburg Times. Associated Press. May 17, 1993. p. 5A. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  35. Egan, Timothy (July 1, 1993). "Voters in Oregon Back Local Anti-Gay Rules". The New York Times. p. A10. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  36. "OCA: Measure gaining momentum". Eugene (OR) Register-Guard. Associated Press. March 24, 1994. p. 4C. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  37. "6 Oregon Cities, 1 County Pass Laws Against Gay Rights". The Los Angeles Times. September 23, 1993. p. A30. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  38. "Oregon: going, going..." The Advocate. Here. June 28, 1994. p. 12. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
  39. Terhune, Chad (December 13, 1994). "Gainesville repeals gay resolution". The Ocala (FL) Star-Banner. NYT Regional Newspapers. p. 2C. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
  40. Rosza, Lori (January 11, 1995). "West Palm Beach Votes To Retain Gay-Rights Law". The Seattle Times. Knight-Ridder News Service. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
  41. "Surprise in Florida". The Advocate. Here. April 18, 1995. p. 10. Retrieved July 28, 2010.
  42. "Early Returns Show Miami-Area Voters Upheld Gay Rights Amendment". The Miami Herald. September 11, 2002. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
  43. Hrenchir, Tim; Barbara Hollingsworth; Cait Purinton (March 2, 2005). "Gay rights ban fails". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
  44. "Gainesville keeps gay rights law". Miami Herald. March 24, 2009.
  45. "'Yes' wins big in TC non-discrimination vote". Traverse City Record-Eagle. November 8, 2001.
  46. "Salina & Hutchinson repeal anti-discrimination protections". Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  47. "Future of Pocatello's Proposition 1". Kpvi.com. Archived from the original on May 31, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  48. "Ordinance 12781". Archived from the original on August 9, 2014.
  49. Walsh, Joel (December 9, 2014). "Voters repeal Fayetteville Civil Rights Administration ordinance". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  50. "Bill No: 2014-189". City of Springfield. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  51. "SUMMARY REPORT". April 10, 2015. Archived from the original on May 7, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  52. "SUMMARY REPORT City of Fayetteville". September 8, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  53. Fernandez, Manny; Smith, Mitch (November 3, 2015). "Houston Voters Reject Broad Anti-Discrimination Ordinance". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 8, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  54. "Euthanasia, Term Limits Among Key Ballot Issues". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 6, 1991. p. A14.

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