Abstract:
This case recounts the political career of a gay Republican who, first, decides to run against an incumbent state legislator who has traditionally been a liberal advocate of gay rights, and, second, decides to accept a Republican governor's appointment as head of the Massachusetts state anti-discrimination agency. In both contexts, Michael Duffy is a lightning rod for controversy, particularly among politically active gays concerned about the mixture of libertarian and conservative policy stances he avows. In conjunction with the background note on the history of organized gay political activism in the United States, the case allows for discussion of the relationship between members of marginalized groups and the political/cultural mainstream. Duffy represents one of many approaches to that relationship.
Learning Objective:
The ethics and effectiveness of various approaches are likely to arise in the case discussion.
