Following the 2015 legalization of same-sex marriage in the U.S., researchers conducted a nationwide audit experiment to examine bureaucratic responsiveness at local offices. They investigated whether legal equality translated into practice.
Audit Experiment on Marriage License Issuance
* Tested officials across various jurisdictions and backgrounds
* Assessed responsiveness using multiple measures (e.g., speed, helpfulness)
* Controlled for state legal history
Overall Findings: No Evidence of Discrimination Against Same-Sex Couples
Regardless of the measurement approach or bureaucratic context, we found no systematic discrimination against same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses.
Surprising Difference in Responsiveness to Lesbian vs. Male Couples
Interestingly, officials showed significantly higher responsiveness toward lesbian couples compared to gay male couples, a pattern not observed in other government service contexts.
| Bureaucratic Responsiveness to LGBT Americans was authored by Kenneth Lowande and Andrew Proctor. It was published by Wiley in AJPS in 2020. |
