LesBiGay Identity as Commodity

32 Pages Posted: 28 Feb 2007

See all articles by David Skover

David Skover

Seattle University School of Law

Kellye Y. Testy

University of Washington - School of Law

Abstract

In America's popular culture, LesBiGay identities abound. In its political culture, however, they emerge more tentatively. The commercial and entertainment industries increasingly commodify and celebrate LesBiGay identities. The courts and legislatures generally discount and condemn them. Thus, there is a deep dissonance between the validation of LesBiGay identities in the economic marketplace of items and ideas, and their devaluation in the legal arena of rights and remedies. This piece explores the deep dissonance that exists today between the validation of American LesBiGays in the commercial marketplace and their devaluation in political and legal arenas, and questions the failure of legal scholars and civil rights activists to account meaningfully for this dissonance in their theories and practices.

Keywords: Same-sex, Queer, Gay, Lesbian, TV, Film, Politics, Commodification, Identity, Commodity, Assimilation

Suggested Citation

Skover, David and Testy, Kellye Y., LesBiGay Identity as Commodity. California Law Review, Vol. 90, p. 223, 2002, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=965787

David Skover (Contact Author)

Seattle University School of Law ( email )

901 12th Avenue, Sullivan Hall
P.O. Box 222000
Seattle, WA n/a 98122-1090
United States

Kellye Y. Testy

University of Washington - School of Law ( email )

William H. Gates Hall
Box 353020
Seattle, WA 98105-3020
United States
206 543 2586 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: https://www.law.washington.edu/directory/profile.aspx?ID=313

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