LGBTQ+ Laws and Policy

SOC Final Exam

What was the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)?

DOMA (1996) federally defined marriage as between one man and one woman and allowed states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states

What Supreme Court case legalized same-sex marriage nationwide?

Obergefell vs. Hodges (2015) legalized same-sex marriage across the U.S.

How did states differ before 2015 in recognizing same-sex relationships?

Some states banned same-sex marriage, while others allowed civil unions, domestic partnerships, or full marriage rights

What did the Supreme Court decide in Bostock vs. Clayton County (2020)?

The Court ruled that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects workers from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity

What is the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)?

ENDA was a proposed law to prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation/gender identity. It was introduced repeatedly since 1994, but was never passed

What would the Equality Act do?

It would expand civil rights protections to LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations. It passed the House but has not passed the Senate

How did the 2009 Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Act expand hate crime protections?

It added sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability to the list of protected categories under federal hate crime laws

What was “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”?

A policy (1993-2011) that barred openly LGBTQ+ individuals from serving in the military. It was repealed in 2011

What changed after the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

LGBTQ+ service members gained access to military benefits such as housing, healthcare, and legal services

Is there a federal guarantee for gender-affirming care?

No - access varies by state, and many states are increasingly restricting it

What complicates healthcare protections under Title IX

The interpretation of gender identity protections under Title IX has shifted depending on the presidential administration in power

Are LGBTQ+ people federally protected from discrimination in housing and public accommodations?

No - there are no comprehensive federal protections. The Equality Act would address this but remains stalled in Congerss

What policy areas at the state level are particularly important for LGBTQ+ rights?

• Adoption rights

• “Bathroom bills”

• Laws targeting trans individuals (e.g. “walking white trans” laws)

• Anti-discrimination protections

• Schoo curricula and anti-bullying practices

• Shelter access for LGBTQ+ homeless and domestic violence survivors