The Personal Politics of Same‐Sex Marriage

Research on attitudes toward gay people and same‐sex marriage finds that individuals who know a gay person in their immediate personal network are not only more likely to view gay people positively but also support same‐sex marriage. Here we examine whether this result extends to an individual's stance toward specific ballot measures regarding same‐sex marriage across different social and political climates ranging from the conservative South to the liberal Pacific Northwest. Using survey data collected in three states that considered banning or approving same‐sex marriage during the 2012 election cycle, we analyze the hypothesis that a personal relationship with a gay person affects an individual's vote choice on a ballot measure with actual policy consequences. In the end, we find mixed results across the three states. Our results suggest the importance of state‐level variation in the social climate that may temper the effect of contact. Related Articles Barth , Jay , and Janine Parry . 2009. “.” Politics & Policy 37 (): 31 ‐ 50 . http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2007.00160.x/abstract Bramlett , Brittany. 2012. “.” Politics & Policy 40 (): 13 ‐ 42 . http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2011.00337.x/abstract Skipworth , Sue Ann , Andrew Garner , and Bryan J. Dettrey . 2010. “.” Politics & Policy 38 (): 887 ‐ 906 . http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2010.00262.x/abstract Related Media Cotner , Ben , and Ryan White . HBO Documentary . http://thecaseagainst8.com/ 2015. “Same‐Sex Marriage Laws.” http://www.ncsl.org/research/human‐services/same‐sex‐marriage‐laws.aspx