Search

A comparative survey of activist mobilizing to secure recognition of gay and lesbian relationships in Canada and the United States, and of the extent to which public policy, law, and institutional policy among private employers has moved in directions sought by such activism. Such movement as has occurred depends on developments at national, regional, and local levels of government, as well as in the courts. Shifts toward equity have come faster and more uniformly in Canada than in the U.S.. A few American states and several localities have seen marked progress, but are hampered by the relative absence of change at the federal level. Variation in outcome depends on constitutional, legal, and institutional context, on party configerations, on labour union support, and to some extent on public opinion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on Aboriginal rights within existing democratic states. Topics discussed include the rights of Aboriginal peoples, deliberative democracy, and property rights of Aboriginal peoples. Also mentioned are political strategies that could be adopted by Aboriginal peoples, Aboriginal rights and rights of land ownership in Canada, and social changes pursued by non-Aboriginal people.