Text Assignment 2: Frames of Gay Rights

I wish this was an opinion assignment rather than one that has to relate to our topics because, after reading the text regarding the “framing” of social movements as well as recruitment and retention, I found myself relating to these topics not with my social movement, but with my sorority.  I did not consider this organization, that I hold dear to my heart, a social movement, but in a way it is.  There are many Gamma Phi Beta Chapters all over the United States, and every woman who is a part of it strives to “Promote the Highest Form of Womanhood,” as stated in our mission statement. Every fall semester of school every sorority participates in recruitment where we try to women who meet our values and vice versa; we have to frame our values in ways that will stand out from the other sororities and that will also attract potential new members. The whole thing is a great process that is easier said than done.

Anyways, as far as the gay rights social movement I have decided to research about goes, I feel as if there is not much of a frame to this lifestyle choice, according to the definition the book gives on framing: “[For a movement to have a strong following], its issues must be ‘framed’ so that they fit or resonate with the beliefs, feelings, and desires of potential recruits” (p55).  Under this definition, Gay Rights can be looked at in two different ways: the people who are gay, and the people who support this lifestyle. When someone decides they are gay, there’s no “club” that recruited them to join, or an organization telling this person they have obligations to uphold; they just continue living their life. Whether they decide to be open about their sexuality, or not, is their own personal preference. There is no frame in choosing this alternative standard of living. On the other side, there are the people who believe all humans were and are created equal and homosexuals deserve to have their God-given rights just like everyone else in the United States. These gay rights activists can be homosexual as well as heterosexual.  Activists can choose to participate in organizations such as the GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) that has been around for 25 years, or the GLBT Organization who is the second largest Gay Rights community in the United States.  The “frames” these organizations personify are much like, but not as drastic as, the Women Suffrage, or the Civil Rights Acts.  Gay Rights Activists are trying to make an impact on the equality of treatment of other homosexual people.

http://www.glaad.org/ Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation

http://gaycenter.org/ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, & Transgender Community Center

Below are links to the Gay Rights Organizations I mentioned above. If you haven't before ever checked out these websites, I found GLAAD to be incredibly interesting.