Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Law and Public Policy Research

(Same as Law M675.) Exploration of relevance of public policy research to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) legal issues. Topics include LGBT identity and demographics, legal recognition of same-sex couples, parenting, workplace discrimination, transgender rights, intersections of race and sexuality, LGBT youth and safe schools, LGBT health disparities, and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Discussion of social science research that has informed various areas of LGBT law. Themes include doctrinal and other reasons why research has become more central to LGBT legal advancements in past decade, different types of public policy research, limitations of current data and research on LGBT issues, difficulties in translating social science research into evidence in courtroom, impact that dominant LGBT rights frame of equality has on social science research, challenges in conducting objective research, and effective presentation of social science research before legislators, judges, juries, media, and other audiences.

S/U or letter grading.