Taylor, Jami K; Lewis, Daniel C; Jacobsmeier, Matthew L; DiSarro, Brian
description
This article sheds new light on policy diffusion by exploring policy complexity in
state-level lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) antidiscrimination policies.
The multiple component event history approach taken in this research allows for the
concurrent study of both policy content and the factors that affect policy adoption.
Results reveal that the factors influencing policy adoption vary depending on both the
content and scope of the policy in question. In addition to addressing laws that protect
gay people from discrimination, this article is one of the first studies in the political
science and policy literature to empirically investigate the spread of transgenderinclusive
laws. Despite combined advocacy and public conflation of identities, gay and
transgender-inclusive laws appear to be influenced by different internal and external
factors.
