Obama’s support of same-sex marriage: A game-changer?

BY AMY STONEAssistant professor of sociology at Trinity University in San Antonio This has been an unexpectedly dramatic year for same-sex marriage, and this past week is no exception. Not only did North Carolina voters handily pass a constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage this week but President Barack Obama also publicly announced his support for … More Obama’s support of same-sex marriage: A game-changer?

The Occupy Movement and the General Strike on #MayDay

BY EUGENE W. HOLLANDProfessor and chair of comparative studies at Ohio State University The Occupy movement has already spawned one general strike—a spontaneous mass reaction to police brutality in Oakland last November that ended up shutting down the fifth-largest port in the country overnight. The movement is now calling for a General Strike on May … More The Occupy Movement and the General Strike on #MayDay

Roland Bleiker: What to do about North Korea?

View of the concrete wall and barbed wire separating South Korea from North Korea. Roland Bleiker studies North Korea’s recent provocations and argues for an integrational approach to information diplomacy. Image from Creative Commons. BY ROLAND BLEIKER Professor of international relations at the University of Queensland  Dealing with North Korea has never been easy. Authoritarian and … More Roland Bleiker: What to do about North Korea?

Boston Mania: What drives us, professionals and amateurs alike, to run a marathon?

A statue of Greek soldier Pheidippides on Marathon Road northeast of Athens. According to legend, Pheidippides died after a 26.2-mile run from the Battle of Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory over Persian invaders. Image from Creative Commons. BY CLAIRE E. RASMUSSENAssociate professor of political science and international relations at the University of … More Boston Mania: What drives us, professionals and amateurs alike, to run a marathon?

The National Organization for Marriage is part of a long history of "divide and conquer"

The National Organization for Marriage’s latest tactics—the latest reflecting a search for “non-intellectual” celebrity spokespeople, have been making headlines this week. The thing is, these tactics are nothing new. Image source. BY AMY STONEAssistant professor of sociology at Trinity University in San Antonio and author of Gay Rights at the Ballot Box In several news … More The National Organization for Marriage is part of a long history of "divide and conquer"

Ballot measures in the courts: Proposition 8 and Romer v. Evans

This 2008 photo is of a protest against California’s Proposition 8 in Washington, D.C. A federal court’s declaration this week that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional makes California a most unusual case. BY AMY STONEAssistant professor of sociology at Trinity University in San Antonio and author of the forthcoming book Gay Rights at the Ballot Box … More Ballot measures in the courts: Proposition 8 and Romer v. Evans

New Jersey’s governor and same-sex marriage: Shall we let the voters decide?

BY AMY STONEAssistant professor of sociology at Trinity University in San Antonio and author of the forthcoming book Gay Rights at the Ballot Box In a recent article in The New York Times, “Christie Wants Voters to Decide on Gay Marriage,” New Jersey governor Chris Christie warned that he would veto a bill to legalize … More New Jersey’s governor and same-sex marriage: Shall we let the voters decide?

What happens when churches support anti-gay ballot measures?

BY AMY STONEAssistant professor of sociology at Trinity University in San Antonio and author of the forthcoming book Gay Rights at the Ballot Box According to the recent Minnesota Star Tribune article “Priests Told Not to Voice Dissent” (January 15, 2012), archibishop John Nienstedt is attempting to mandate the Catholic Church’s support of the Minnesota … More What happens when churches support anti-gay ballot measures?