New York University
Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues in public policy
Course # PADM-GP 4444
Spring 2014
Adjunct Assistant Professor Sean Cahill
(sc173@nyu.edu)
Fridays 9:00am to 10:40am
Course description
The movement for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people is
one of the most successful in recent history. In the U.S., even though LGBT people and
same-sex couple families experience inequality and exclusion in a wide range of state and
federal policy arenas, significant policy advances have occurred. These include the repeal
of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the adoption of transgender nondiscrimination laws in 16
states, the extension of marriage equality in 16 states, and support for same-sex marriage
by President Obama and the Democratic Party. This graduate level course will examine
the incredible successes of LGBT rights activism in the U.S. and globally, and the
treatment of LGBT people in several policy areas, with an in-depth focus on several issue
areas that afford a broad overview of domestic and global LGBT policy. These are:
health policy and HIV prevention and care; elder issues; youth and education policy;
family recognition and the policy implications of race and gender differences among
same-sex couple households; and LGBT rights struggles in the former Soviet Union,
Africa, and elsewhere.
Course requirements/grading
One paper (5-8 pages) will be assigned, and there is a final exam. Students will also
prepare one in-class presentation on a topic to be agreed upon with the professor.
Students also expected to participate in class discussions which are based on the assigned
readings. The paper is worth one third of the final grade, the final one third, and in-class
participation, including the oral presentation, one third.
The paper should examine an LGBT policy issue in the U.S. or globally. If peerreviewed, academic research exists on the issue or population addressed this should be
described and reviewed. If this is an emerging issue or understudied population (for
example, LGBT elders in long-term care), a research agenda should be articulated.
Ideally a specific proposal(s) for a policy intervention can be presented and critically
examined, with data presented to make the case for taking a particular course of action.
Pros and cons, as well as any conflicting rights or potential trade-offs (such as the rights
of conservative or traditional parents versus the rights of gay youth) should be described,
and recommendations for a preferred course of action made.
A final take-home exam will be soon after the last class. Students will be asked to choose
two out of three questions on major themes in the readings and lectures/class discussions
and respond to each of the two questions with two- to three-page essays.
Students should sign up to do an in-class presentation by the second class, Friday
February 7th. Presentations will start February 7th and continue through the last class,
Friday, March 14th. Students should present a policy issue and describe the problem being
addressed, the particular populations it affects and any data available on them, possible
courses of action to address it, and construct an argument—using data if available—as to
why one possible policy intervention is the most likely approach to effectively address
the problem. Presentations should last 8-10 minutes, with 3-5 minutes for questions and
discussion. A brief powerpoint, handouts, and video clips can be used.
Please adhere to NYU’s Academic Honesty policy. For more information see
http://wagner.nyu.edu/current/policies/
There is one required text for the class and many journal articles, book chapters and
policy monographs from non-governmental organizations. Please complete all readings
prior to class. All articles will be available from the Bobst Library ejournal site, and all
articles and single book chapters will be posted on Blackboard. The text will be placed on
reserve at Bobst Library. The text is:
Cianciotto, J. & Cahill, S., LGBT youth in America’s schools. Ann Arbor: University of
Michigan Press. 2012.
In-class video clips will also complement readings and discussions. Guest speakers will
also contribute to our learning experience.
Week 1, January 31: Marriage equality and parenting
Required reading:
U.S. v. Windsor, U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down part of the Defense of
Marriage Act, June 26, 2013. Read both majority opinion and dissent.
http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/12-307_6j37.pdf
American Civil Liberties Union, Center for American Progress, Family Equality Council
et al. The Supreme Court ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act: What it Means. Summer
2013.
http://www.glad.org/current/post/after-doma-fact-sheets
American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Psychosocial Aspects of Child and
Family Health. Policy statement: Promoting the well-being of children whose parents are
gay or lesbian. Pediatrics 2013;131;827.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2013/03/18/peds.20130376.full.pdf+html
Perrin E, Siegel B and the American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Psychosocial
Aspects of Child and Family Health. Technical report: Promoting the well-being of
children whose parents are gay or lesbian. Pediatrics 2013;131;e1374.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/131/4/e1374.full.pdf+html?sid=9f23ffb5f987-4420-8162-b2eddd8259e4
Week 2, February 7: “How many gay people are there?” Demographics, race and
gender differences
Gates, G., How many people are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender? Los Angeles:
UCLA Williams Institute, April 2011.
http://www3.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/pdf/How-many-people-are-LGBT-Final.pdf
Gilley, B.J., Becoming two-spirit: Gay identity and social acceptance in Indian country.
Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Pres, 2006, Chapter 2: “From gay to Indian,”
pp. 23-50.
Cahill, S., “Black and Latino same-sex couple households and the racial dynamics of
anti-gay activism.” Black sexualities: Probing powers, passions, practices, and policies.
Battle, J. and Barnes, S. (Editors), New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2010,
p. 243-268
Dang. A. et al., Living in the margins: A national survey of lesbian, gay bisexual and
transgender Asian Pacific Islander Americans. National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Policy Institute and several API LGBT organizations, 2007, executive summary.
http://www.thetaskforce.org/downloads/reports/reports/API_ExecutiveSummaryEnglish.
pdf
Week 3, February 14: LGBT health
Mayer K., Bradford J., Makadon H., Stall R., Goldhammer H., Landers S. (2008). Sexual
and gender minority health: What we know and what needs to be done. Am J Pub Health,
98: 989-995.
Boehmer U., Bowen D., & Bauer G. (2007). Overweight and obesity in sexual minority
women: evidence from population-based data. Am J Pub Health, 97: 1134-1140.
Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health Issues and Research Gaps
and Opportunities; Board on the Health of Select Populations; Institute of Medicine, The
Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) People: Building a Foundation for Better Understanding, Washington, DC: National Academies Press, 2011. Summary, pp. S1-S5; recommendations, pp. 293-305.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13128
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2020. Lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender health.
http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=25.
Accessed November 4, 2011.
Cahill, S., & Makadon, H. (2013, September). Sexual orientation and gender identity data
collection in clinical settings and in Electronic Health Records: A key to ending LGBT
health disparities. LGBT Health. 1(1). 1-8.
Week 4, February 21: HIV/AIDS
Millett, G. et al. “Greater risk for HIV infection of black men who have sex with men: A
critical literature review.” American Journal of Public Health. 96(6), 2006, pp. 10071019.
Beyrer C, Sullivan P, Sanchez J et al. “A call to action for comprehensive HIV services
for men who have sex with men.” The Lancet. HIV in men who have sex with men
(special issue). Pp. 76-90. July 2012.
Brewer R., Magnus M., Kuo I., et al. Exploring the relationship between incarceration
and HIV among Black men who have sex with men in the U.S. JAIDS. October 2013.
Cahill S & Valadez R. Growing Older with HIV/AIDS: New Public Health Challenges.
Am J Pub Health. 2013 Mar;103(3):e7-e15. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.301161. Epub 2013
Jan 17.
Week 5, February 28: LGBT elders and aging policy issues
Stein, G., Beckerman, N., & Sherman P. “Lesbian and gay elders and long-term care:
Identifying the unique psychosocial perspectives and challenges.” Journal of
Gerontological Social Work. 2010. 53(5); 421-435.
Fredriksen-Golden, K., Kim, H., Emlet, C., Muraco, A., Erosheva, E., Hoy-Ellis, C.,
Goldsen, J., & Petry, H., (2011). The aging and health report: Disparities and resilience
among LGBT older adults. Seattle, WA: Institute for Multigenerational Health,
University of Washington.
http://caringandaging.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Full-Report-FINAL11-16-11.pdf
Week 6, March 7: LGBT youth and education policy
Cianciotto, J. & Cahill, S., LGBT youth in America’s schools. Ann Arbor: University of
Michigan Press. 2012.
Week 7, March 14: The global context of LGBT rights
These everyday humiliations: Violence against lesbians, bisexual women, and
transgender men in Kyrgyzstan. Human Rights Watch, 2008.
http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2008/10/06/these-everyday-humiliations-0
Secretary Hilary Clinton, Remarks in Recognition of International Human Rights Day, Geneva,
December 6, 2011.
http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/12/178368.htm
United Nations Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Discriminatory
laws and policies and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual
orientation and gender identity. Geneva. November 17, 2011. (First-ever UN report on
sexual orientation and gender identity.)
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/19session/A.HRC.19.41_English.p
df
Semugoma, P., Nemande, S., and Baral, S. “The irony of homophobia in Africa.” The
Lancet. HIV in men who have sex with men (special issue). Pp. 4-5. July 2012.
BBC. Uganda fury at David Cameron aid threat over gay rights. October 31, 2011.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15524013