The path to gay rights: how activism and coming out changed public opinion

Part I. Introduction

A transformed society : LGBT rights in the United States

Understanding affective liberalization

Part II. A prelude to change : LGBT movement development and political integration

The spread and intensification of gay and lesbian identities

The capture of the Democratic Party and the Clinton victory

Part III. Public response and the nature of social change

Issue evolution? : gay politics in the early Clinton years

Coming out, entertainment television, and the youth revolt

The persistence of political conflict over gay rights

Part IV. Looking toward the future

The global shift in attitudes toward homosexuality

Social change in liberal democracies

Appendix 1. Additional information on statistical methods

Appendix 2. Additional information on data and variable coding.