Benjamin G. Bishin, Thomas J. Hayes, Matthew Incantalupo, and Charles Anthony Smith
“Elite Mobilization: A Theory Explaining Opposition to Gay Rights”
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Caucus of the American Political Science Association is pleased to announce Drs. Benjamin G. Bishin, Thomas J. Hayes, Matthew Incantalupo, and Charles Anthony Smith as the winners of the 2021 Bailey Award for their paper titled “Elite Mobilization: A Theory Explaining Opposition to Gay Rights.”
In this paper, Dr. Bishin and co-authors interrogate the concept of backlash as it relates to mass opinion, which theorizes that premature legal and policy advances by marginalized groups results in lasting negative shifts in public opinion. In this and other research, the backlash thesis has failed to hold up to empirical scrutiny. They propose an alternative theory that explains resistance to changes in the status quo: elite mobilization. As they state, “attempts to make policy restricting gay rights, and to oppose policies supporting gay rights, are driven by organized interests rather than an organic response by the mass public.” Drs. Bishin, Hayes, Incantalupo, and Smith test backlash and elite mobilization theories by examining the 2010 Iowa Judicial Retention, which is considered an obvious case of backlash. Their analyses find patterns that do not fit the backlash model and lend themselves to elite mobilization, and their findings hold relevance for the politics of any marginalized group pursuing legal and policy changes.
Of the many impressive submissions received, the award committee selected the excellent work of Drs. Bishin, Hayes, Incantalupo, and Smith for its important contribution to the study of social movements, representation, and LGBTQ politics. The backlash thesis has been a concept that has kept advocates from pursuing issues “too soon,” yet their findings provide evidence that voters do not lash back. In addition, their selection of the 2010 Iowa Judicial Retention Election is compelling because it is one of the quintessential moments where “backlash” was said to occur. Their theory and findings contribute to our understanding of anti-LGBTQ elite-led strategies that can explain contemporary LGBTQ politics such as state legislation about transgender youth.
The LGBTQ Caucus would also like to thank the members of the award committee who volunteered their time to review the submissions. Andrew R. Flores (Chair), Assistant Professor, American University, Brian Harrison, Visiting Assistant Professor, Carleton College, and Edward Kammerer, Assistant Professor, Idaho State University.
The LGBTQ Caucus of the American Political Science Association bestows the Bailey Award every year on an exceptional paper on LGBTQ issues presented at the previous year’s annual meeting. The paper may have been presented at a panel sponsored by ANY division or group at the 2020 APSA annual meeting. The award is named after the late Robert Bailey, author of the landmark book, Gay Politics, Urban Politics (Columbia University Press, 1999). Dr. Bailey’s scholarship focused on the increasing importance of gay and lesbian issues in urban politics. He co-founded the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Caucus for political science, which is now the LGBTQ Caucus of the American Political Science Association.