ABSTRACT

What are the links between a person's sexual identity, their marital status, and their willingness to challenge sexism and heteropatriarchy? Earlier studies have generally argued that marriage leads to greater gender and sexual conservatism among heterosexuals. However, the effects of marriage on lesbian and gay populations is less well known. To address this oversight, this study examines whether the conservative effects of marriage applies to gay men and lesbians, as well. Data from 2010 to 2012 American National Election Survey reveals that the effects of marriage can vary by sexuality. When separating the sample along sexual identities, married heterosexuals perceived less discrimination and joined less feminist and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) social movements than single or divorced heterosexuals. However, the conservative effects of marriage were never apparent in the sample of lesbians and gay men. Marital status did not predict activism levels for sexual minorities, though being married did increase an awareness of sexism and salience of liberal identities among this population. The chapter ends with some theorizing as to why marriage can have divergent effects for people of different sexual identities.