Christian lobbyist groups and the negotiation of sexual rights in the UK

Hunt, Stephen

Abstract

Although sexual minority rights have not necessarily generated polarised views within Christian churches and organisations, the subject has tended to forge an arena of contestation between liberal and conservative constituencies. Theological differences have frequently been manifested through the mobilisation of cause groups lobbying the political realm and public opinion in order to advance their contrasting standpoints. Based on a survey of documentation and supplementary materials produced for public consumption, this article considers responses of the conflicting rights petitions of Christian cadres either endorsing or opposing minority sexual rights and the relevant legislative enactments in the UK. The article seeks to illuminate how these competing constituencies further their causes while at the same time devaluing the rights claims of their adversaries. © 2014 Taylor and Francis.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 2, 2014
• Journal: Journal of Contemporary Religion
• Print ISSN: 1353-7903
• Electronic ISSN: 1469-9419
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 121-136
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13537903.2014.864813
• Keywords: Christian lobbyist groups, sexual rights, Christianity
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/824770
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13537903.2014.864813