Hold the Discrimination: Effective Strategies for Preventing an Anti-Gay Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution
Location
CSU 284
Start Date
25-4-2006 9:30 AM
End Date
25-4-2006 12:00 PM
Student's Major
Gender and Women's Studies
Student's College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Mentor's Name
Susan Freeman
Mentor's Department
Gender and Women's Studies
Mentor's College
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Description
Strong coalitions of activists have recently formed in Minnesota to campaign against the proposed discriminatory amendment prohibiting same-sex unions. In as few as 3-5 minutes of conversation, an activist has the potential to influence a voter's viewpoints. Through participatory research and surveys of an informal organization of activists in Mankato during spring 2006,1 identified the most persuasive arguments that influenced individuals to vote against the amendment. Activists were most successful in changing voters' opinions when they shared their own personal testimonials as well as those of family members and friends. This allowed voters to clearly imagine how the consequences of the amendment would affect same-sex partners. The results of this study will assist activists in their future campaigning against the same-sex union amendment.
Hold the Discrimination: Effective Strategies for Preventing an Anti-Gay Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution
CSU 284
Strong coalitions of activists have recently formed in Minnesota to campaign against the proposed discriminatory amendment prohibiting same-sex unions. In as few as 3-5 minutes of conversation, an activist has the potential to influence a voter's viewpoints. Through participatory research and surveys of an informal organization of activists in Mankato during spring 2006,1 identified the most persuasive arguments that influenced individuals to vote against the amendment. Activists were most successful in changing voters' opinions when they shared their own personal testimonials as well as those of family members and friends. This allowed voters to clearly imagine how the consequences of the amendment would affect same-sex partners. The results of this study will assist activists in their future campaigning against the same-sex union amendment.
Recommended Citation
Haas, Emily. "Hold the Discrimination: Effective Strategies for Preventing an Anti-Gay Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 25, 2006.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2006/oral-session-L/4
