• 134-01 : As the States Turn: Marriage in a Changing Legal Context
  Presented by: Brian Ogolsky, Ramona Faith Oswald, Kale Monk
• 134-02 : Exploring the Opinions on Legal Rights for Same-Sex and Transgender Individuals
  Presented by: Claire Kimberly
• 134-03 : Family and Relationship Recognition Among Same-sex and Nonmarital Couples: What Does the Future Hold?Presented by: Courtney Grant Joslin

Facilitator: Bethany Letiecq

1.00 NBCC, NASW

Abstracts

As the States Turn: Marriage in a Changing Legal Context

Presented by: Brian Ogolsky, Ramona Faith Oswald, Kale Monk

Legal benefits are the oft cited reasons for pursuing marriage rights; yet we do not know how much legal knowledge people have, nor do we know whether legal knowledge is associated with perceived legal benefits of marriage. In a sample of 434 individuals in romantic relationships we found that women report more legal knowledge than men. Legal knowledge was positively associated with perceived benefits of marriage, and same-sex oriented individuals reported greater perceived benefits of marriage. In states where marriage policies are uncertain (i.e., Texas, Florida) individuals reported less legal knowledge than states where they were certain (i.e., Illinois, Georgia).

Exploring the Opinions on Legal Rights for Same-Sex and Transgender Individuals

Presented by: Claire Kimberly

Research has rarely teased apart the issues related to the transgender community from lesbian, gay, and bisexual concerns. Thus the proposed presentation will include data from a quantitative measurement assessing the similarities and differences in political attitudes influencing the sexual orientation and gender identity communities. Contextual variables were also included to understand its potential impact on attitudinal changes. Preliminary results reveal that positions on legal rights surrounding two significant minority groups are assertively taken in the absence of pertinent information, but that these positions are often influenced by contextual circumstances. "