The Antigay Agenda: Orthodox Vision and the Christian Right

This text examines the values, beliefs, and rhetoric of the chief opponents of gay rights - the organizations of the Christian right. It traces the emergence of their antigay agenda and explores how and why the Christian right made antigay activity a top priority, and how it both extends and departs from their past politics. Combining the insights of sociology, legal studies, political science, history and literary criticism, the text discusses the Christian right's representation of male homosexuality and lesbianism. It illustrates the movement's ambivalence toward rights discourse on homosexuality, gender and race. Finally, the book shows how the Christian right balances its anti-state rhetoric with its ambitions for religious rule by examining Colarado's statewide repeal of local gay rights legislation through Amendment 2.