Jen Heerwig, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Stony Brook University. Her current research uses an original “big" data set called the Longitudinal Elite Contributor Dataset (LECD) to study patterns in the donation strategies of elite campaign contributors in federal elections. She has co-authored work in the areas of social demography, public opinion, and public policy including publications on the long-term effects of military service on health outcomes and attitudes toward gay marriage.
Heerwig says "Americans' attitudes toward gay marriage have steadily and very rapidly liberalized over the past decade. Recent polls have shown, in fact, a majority of Americans support allowing same-sex couples to legally wed (with important differences by age, political party, ideology.) At the same time, 36 states had already legalized the institution. In that sense, the Court's opinion is a reflection of underlying social change and finally brings federal law into line with public sentiment."
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