Karla L. Drenner

Karla L. Drenner

Karla L. Drenner is a professor in the Department of Public Administration at Purdue University Global. Her research focuses on women in public service, legislative studies, politics, and social equity issues. She is serving an 11th term in the Georgia House of Representatives and sits on five legislative committees including Rules; Health and Human Services; Natural Resources and the Environment; Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications; and Small Business Development. She was elected as the first openly gay legislator in the Southeast and now shares firsthand knowledge of the legislative process and the importance of bridging the divide between those who have divergent viewpoints on issues.

Publications

Faith-Based Influences on Legislative Decision Making: Emerging Research and Opportunities
Faith-Based Influences on Legislative Decision Making: Emerging Research and Opportunities
Karla L. Drenner. © 2022. 353 pages.
In recent years, state legislatures in the United States have been transformed based on the social identities of their membership. At its most fundamental level, the debate over...
Public Accommodations: Discrimination and Sexual Orientation
Public Accommodations: Discrimination and Sexual Orientation
Karla L. Drenner. © 2022. 21 pages.
The chapter examines potential issues posed by the wide variety of state public accommodation statutes in the context of sexual orientation and religious freedom. The historical...
The Future of LGBT Politics
The Future of LGBT Politics
Karla L. Drenner. © 2022. 9 pages.
This chapter summarizes the role of the U.S. Supreme Court in national policymaking. In the United States there exists a nationally shared set of beliefs, values, and customs, or...
Social Change: The Power of Place
Social Change: The Power of Place
Karla L. Drenner. © 2022. 26 pages.
The differences between states and within states are profound, and while that has long been true, it is much more consequential to LGBT individuals since the legalization of...
The Implications of Religious Liberty
The Implications of Religious Liberty
Karla Drenner. © 2021. 14 pages.
The political terrain surrounding the legalization of same-sex marriage and the need to accommodate individual's faith based objections have been part of the public...
The Use of Faith in Legislative Decision-Making: Bill Sponsorship
The Use of Faith in Legislative Decision-Making: Bill Sponsorship
Karla Drenner. © 2021. 21 pages.
In recent decades, same-sex marriage has emerged as a national political issue. As a result, state legislators have sponsored and passed statutes on an array of issues directly...
Introduction to Faith in State Legislatures
Introduction to Faith in State Legislatures
Karla Drenner. © 2020. 17 pages.
This chapter introduces the complex history of the relationships among faith, politics and culture in state legislatures. Each of these concepts is explored by organizing them...
Social Jurisprudence in the Changing of Social Norms: Emerging Research and Opportunities
Social Jurisprudence in the Changing of Social Norms: Emerging Research and Opportunities
Karla L. Drenner. © 2019. 174 pages.
Equality is often trampled on by those who believe they are, in varying ways, superior. However, identifying how government systems can protect against discrimination can assist...
Tackling Climate Change through Educational Awareness: A Case Study on Georgia House Resolution 689
Tackling Climate Change through Educational Awareness: A Case Study on Georgia House Resolution 689
Karla Drenner. © 2017. 11 pages.
Utilizing renewable energy systems as an educational tool for students creates not only a source for clean energy; it also provides a tangible way to increase their knowledge...
Impacts of Faith-Based Decision Making on the Individual-Level Legislative Process: Emerging Research and Opportunities
Impacts of Faith-Based Decision Making on the Individual-Level Legislative Process: Emerging Research and Opportunities
Karla Drenner. © 2017. 186 pages.
Increased diversity and shifting social identities have created significant effects on contemporary legislative systems. These shifts have altered how legislative bodies conduct...
Tackling Climate Change through Educational Awareness: A Case Study on Georgia House Resolution 689
Tackling Climate Change through Educational Awareness: A Case Study on Georgia House Resolution 689
Karla Drenner. © 2016. 12 pages.
Utilizing renewable energy systems as an educational tool for students creates not only a source for clean energy; it also provides a tangible way to increase their knowledge...