Press

Same-Sex Marriage In the United States: Focus on the Facts

MEDIA CONTACT:
Roberta Sklar, Director of Communications
media@theTaskForce.org
646.358.1465

“With the presidential election just weeks away, the religious right has escalated its rhetoric, propaganda and flat out lies to mislead and confuse American voters on the issue of marriage equality.This book provides the plain, unadulterated truth about what same-sex marriage means for gay couples and for America.”
–Sean Cahill, Ph.D. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute Director.

Marriage equality for same-sex couples has emerged as a major wedge issue in the 2004 presidential election. One in four American voters in 12 states will vote on anti-gay marriage amendments this fall. Throughout this debate Americans have been inundated with many false claims about same-sex marriage and same-sex couples.

In order to help understand what is at stake in the gay marriage debate, Sean Cahill, Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute, has published a book that provides the facts about this complex and often confusing issue. Same-sex Marriage in the United States: Focus on the Facts, published by Lexington Books, sets aside the rhetoric and focuses on the facts to show the vital importance of marriage equality. Cahill exposes the enormous economic advantage anti-gay organizations have over lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups, which inevitably shapes how Americans perceive marriage for same-sex couples.

The book provides clear, concise analysis of:

• The anti-gay marriage movement, its resources, and its broader agenda
• Demographics of same-sex couple families
• The economic and emotional costs of marriage inequality
• The growth in support for equality reflected in public opinion, local and state policy
• The size and behavior of the gay voting bloc

Same-Sex Marriage in the United States is a must-read for everyone wanting to learn the facts about marriage equality. Journalists, politicians and activists on both sides of the debate will want this book for its clear-cut and non-partisan statistical information and data. This enlightening and entertaining read can be used as an unimpeachable tool for changing minds and exposing the lies of those who do not want equal marriage rights for LGBT people.

Early reactions to Cahill's book include:

“A treasure trove of information, the book offers a crash course on the gay marriage issue and a point-by-point engagement with critics. It deserves a wide audience.” – Claire Snyder, Assistant Professor of Public and International Affairs, George Mason University

“In a climate of hysteria and anti-gay rhetoric, Cahill's thoughtful commentary demands our attention," - Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, Congregation Beth Simchat Torah

"An essential guide. For policymakers Cahill cuts through the rhetoric and delivers the facts. For reporters and commentators, Cahill's book is an indispensable reference.” – Tim McFeeley, Center for Policy Alternatives

“...Provides a succinct overview of the law and policy implications of same-sex marriage and debunks the arguments of its detractors with unimpeachable data. If you want more than a sound bite, if you prefer intelligent analysis to shrill name-calling, read this book.” – Urvashi Vaid, political activist and author

Dr. Cahill has worked at the Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force since 1999, first as research director and, since 2001, as director. He is the author of numerous academic journal articles and groundbreaking reports, including most recently Education Policy: Issues Affecting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth. He holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Michigan and has taught courses on political theory, government and law. His research at the Task Force Policy Institute, along with more than a decade of research and advocacy in support of human rights, makes Cahill one of the most notable scholars in the marriage equality debate.

Same-Sex Marriage in the United States: Focus on the Facts, is now available for 15% off its cover price of $12.95 at the Lexington Books web site http://www.lexingtonbooks.com or 800-462-6420.

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The mission of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is to build the political power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community from the ground up. We do this by training activists, organizing broad-based campaigns to defeat anti-LGBT referenda and advance pro-LGBT legislation, and by building the organizational capacity of our movement. Our Policy Institute, the movement’s premier think tank, provides research and policy analysis to support the struggle for complete equality and to counter right-wing lies. As part of a broader social justice movement, we work to create a nation that respects the diversity of human expression and identity and creates opportunity for all. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., we also have offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis and Cambridge.