Illuminating the Arts-Policy Nexus 

It’s time America realized that there was no gay exemption in the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in the Declaration of Independence. Job discrimination against gays—or anybody else—is contrary to each of these founding principles.

• Barry Goldwater, former Republican presidential candidate and Senator from Arizona, 1994

First comprehensive country-by-country report on rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered persons in the Americas.

• World Policy Institute, December 2003 (PDF): Sexual Orientation and Human Rights in the Americas

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court extends marriage to same-sex couples:

• Court says gays and lesbians cannot be denied equal right to marry, 18 November 2003: Hillary Goodridge vs. Department of Public Health
• Court tells Massachusetts Senate that civil unions are discriminatory, 3 February 2004: Opinions of the Justices to the Senate

U.S. Supreme Court reverses course, supports sexual freedom:

• The Supreme Court upholds state sodomy laws, 30 June 1986: Bowers v. Hardwick
• The Supreme Court overturns state sodomy statutes, 26 June 2003: Lawrence v. Texas

Biological perspectives:

• Studies of twins point to a significant genetic influence on sexual orientation: Biology and sexual orientation
• Bonobos, arguably the closest living relatives of humans, engage in extensive bisexual relations: Selected passages from Frans B. M. de Waal, "Bonobo Sex and Society"
• Homosexual affection and erotic behavior are common among marine mammals: Selected passages from Bruce Bagemihl, Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity

Religious perspectives:

Judeo-Christian traditions:

• The Bible and homosexuality: it’s not as simple as you’ve probably been led to believe, as demonstrated by the story of David and Jonathan, for instance
• The Bible on same-gender sexual behavior: contrary to widespread belief, the original Hebrew and Greek Bible does not forbid homosexuality per se
• Views of different religions and denominations on homosexuality: they vary widely
• The Catholic Catechism: homosexuality is “contrary to natural law”, mandates “chastity”
• Selections from Towards a Quaker View of Sex: it’s love that counts, not sexual orientation

Islam:

• Islam and Homosexuality

Native North American traditions:

• Two-Spirit People

Buddhism:

• Homosexuality and Theravada Buddhism

Politics and Policy:

• Jeremy Bentham, circa 1785: Offenses Against One’s Self
• Barry Goldwater in Washington Post, 13 July 1994: Job Protection For Gays
• The Globe and Mail (Canada), 3 January 2000: Pink meets green in marital bliss - homosexual relationships should be supported for the good of society and the environment
• State “defense of marriage” acts: historical parallels with discrimination against racially mixed marriages

Atlas of Gay and Lesbian Rights:

• Legal status of homosexuality around the world: maps
• Laws banning discrimination based on sexual orientation in the United States: map
• Laws regulating sexual behavior between consenting adults in North America (so-called sodomy laws): map
• Hate crime laws in the United States: map
• Marriage equality and other relationship recognition laws in the USA: map
• Same-gender marriage bans in the United States: map

Treatment of Homosexuals in Latin America:

• Human Rights Commission of the Federal District: Cartilla de Derechos Humanos para evitar la Discriminación por Orientación Sexual (2005)
• Mexico: Congreso de la Unión, abril de 2003: Ley Federal para Prevenir y Eliminar la Discriminación
• Resource Information Center, Department of Justice, May 2000: Mexico: Update on treatment of homosexuals
• Treatment of homosexuals in Guatemala: In Guatemala, bashing is just the beginning, Connection to the Americas, June 1999
• Resource Information Center, Department of Justice, April 1998: Treatment of homosexuals in Mexico
• Ottawa Citizen, 1997: Macho Mexico elects a lesbian

Breaking stereotypes and democratizing culture:

• Cinema: Beautiful Thing

Links:

Global:

• International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission
• Human Rights Watch: Lesbian and Gay Rights
• Amnesty International: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights
• Rex Wockner LGBT news

USA:

• American Civil Liberties Union: LGBT Rights
• Human Rights Campaign – “working for gay and lesbian equal rights”
• Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
• National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

Canada:

• Egale Canada

Europe:

• ILGA Europe

Global Democracy and Human Rights Home

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