Walker Smith

800966792
UWRT 1102
Professor Kashtan
4/3/17
Proposal
After receiving constructive criticism from my professor and peers, I have
decided to change the subject on which I will be researching. I will now focus
on how the recent LGBT movement has affect and impacted American
identity, as well as how it has exposed some of the uglier sides of
mainstream America. This is a very important topic, as for years members of
the LGBT community were prosecuted in the name of religion and overall
societal wellbeing, but they have finally begun to gain acceptance. This is a
very important topic to me because many of my friends and family identify
or are a part of the LGBT movement. My prior knowledge of this topic is
rather limited, although I have some knowledge of the prosecution faced.
One of my ideas about this topic is that it has become extremely political,
with the left usually in favor of equal rights, but with the right usually more
resistant to a greater acceptance of LGBT movement. This is strange
considering they are a party holding individual freedom in very high regard,
but that is an argument for another time. I think I will learn how Americas
deep ties in religion and the racist themes this country was built on
contribute to the overall discrimination toward members of the LGBT
community.

Annotated Bibliography
Citation
Eleveld, Kerry. "How the Fight for Gay Rights Changed America." Alternet.
Basic Books, 30 Dec. 2015. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
Abstract
This article was an excerpt from Kerry Elevelds book Dont tell me to wait. It
talks about how LGBT activists and other factors pushed the Obama
administration to declare all love equal, and for the U.S government to pass
sweeping reforms preventing discrimination against LGBT members of
society. The extension of marital rights, and well as the end of workplace and
military discrimination against LGBT showed that the pressure applied to
activist was effective.
Author Credibility
Winner of GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Digital Journalism Article.
She covered the Obama administration for 5 years, and earned a Masters
degree in journalism from the University of California-Berkeley in 2003.

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Walker Smith
800966792
UWRT 1102
Professor Kashtan
4/3/17
Elevelds work has been published at Salon, The Atlantic, The Daily Beast,
and the Washington Post.
Publisher Credibility
Alternet is a liberal news outlets covering topics often left out of mainstream
coverage. They sometimes run articles using a lot of pseudoscience, such as
anti-GMO stances.
Opinion/Reaction
I thought that this paper was an interesting look at how the Obama
administration was affected and influenced by people who refused to in
acceptable and ordinary ways. It was also to see the connections Eleveld
made to DREAM activists and environmental activities copying the pressure
put on the administration by LGBT activist and how that yielded results. This
paper was pretty extremely biased from an LGBT perspective, and the author
has spent most of her adult life writing about and championing LGBT causes.
Reflection
This article showed how the pragmatism often showed by governments and
governmental organizations is a losing proposition in any fight for civil
rights. This article also showed how widespread the discrimination faced by
LGBT way. Due to the systematic denying of existence by the federal
government, LGBT faced discrimination in every facet of society controlled
by governments. She also goes into how the lack of response from the
government relating to some form of HIV/AIDS prevention allowed it to
blossom into an epidemic affecting all levels of society. I wish this paper
wouldve had another perspective, one from within the government so we
could have seen what the effect of the pressure applied by activists, along
with how fast legislation moved.
Questions
What did the protestors do so much differently that yielded such effects?
How did the repealing of Dont ask, dont tell affect the homosexual
populations opinion of the Obama administration?
Citation
Newport, Frank. "Some Change Over Time in American Attitudes towards
Homosexuality, but Negativity Remains." Gallup.com. Gallup, 01 Mar. 1999.
Web. 02 Apr. 2017. <http://www.gallup.com/poll/4045/some-change-over-
time-american-attitudes-towards-homosexuality.aspx>.

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Walker Smith
800966792
UWRT 1102
Professor Kashtan
4/3/17
Abstract
This article was by Gallup, and was a collection of their polls about how
public opinion on homosexuality has changed over time. Across the board,
the amount of people who thing gays should be accepted has risen. This
article was from 1999, and may not accurately show how opinions have
changed over the last 17 years.
Author Credibility
Frank Newport has a Ph.D. and is the editor in chief for Gallup. His articles
and op-ed pieces have appeared in the American Sociological Review, Public
Opinion Quarterly, The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and many
other publications. Before joining Gallup, Newport taught sociology at the
University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Publisher Credibility
Gallup is a credible polling organization, with their polls being cited from
things like CNN, Fox News, political campaigns and other media outlets.
Opinion/Reaction
This was an interesting look at how public perception of homosexuals has
changed. It comes from a very reliable source, Gallup, and looks at
perceptions ranging from the 60s all the way to the 2000s. One of the most
striking statistics to me was the fact that in 1999, 75% of people thought
homosexual doctors should be allowed, up from 44% in 1977.
Reflection
This article did a good job showing how public perception of homosexuals
has changed, and did so through the use of statistics and polls. It comes from
a very reliable source, which is counted on for polling topics around the
country. The problem is that it doesnt have very updated
Questions
How were the polls conducted, including the sample size and location of
people surveyed?
Through what form where people surveyed? Ex. Over the internet, phone
call, on the street, etc.
Citation

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Walker Smith
800966792
UWRT 1102
Professor Kashtan
4/3/17
Coontz, Stephanie. "Why America Changed Its Mind on Gay Marriage." CNN.
Cable News Network, 13 Oct. 2014. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
<http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/13/opinion/coontz-same-sex-marriage/
Abstract
This was an opinion piece by Stephanie Coontz, where she talks about the
transformation of public opinion and legality surrounding gay and lesbian
civil rights. She talks about the speed at which public supports has grown,
specifically between 2003-2013. Coontz attributes this new found public
support as the effect of treating marriage as a basic right, and establishing
social equality as a moral and ethical principal.
Author Credibility
Stephanie Coontz teaches at the Evergreen State College in Olympia,
Washington. She is a director of research and public education at the Council
on Contemporary Families, and has published a book Marriage, a History.
Publisher Credibility
CNN is a very popular left leaning news outlet, but one that has become the
least trusted news network among viewers, according to zero hedge. They
have received heavy criticism lately for pushing sensationalist news stories,
and replacing journalistic integrity with a profit and ratings driven system.
Opinion/Reaction
I thought this was a very interesting look at the rise of acceptance for the
LGBT cause. I agreed with her point that it has been the work of activism and
broader media coverage that has shown the population of America that
members of the LGBT movement are not different or scary, but simply
normal Americans seeking the same rights enjoyed by their heterosexual
equals.
Reflection
This article showed how sweeping social reform was more easily achieved
due the civil rights and feminist movement establishing equality as a moral
principal. It also illustrated that reforms like this were not possible in the 60s
and 70s, where more Americans were willing to admit to opposing equality,
including gender and racial.
Questions
How have changing gender roles affected the overall perception of social
equality by Americans?

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Walker Smith
800966792
UWRT 1102
Professor Kashtan
4/3/17
Citation
Drake, Bruce. "How LGBT Adults See Society and How the Public Sees Them."
Pew Research Center. Pew Research Center, 25 June 2013. Web. 02 Apr.
2017. <http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/06/25/how-lgbt-adults-
see-society-and-how-the-public-sees-them/>.
Abstract
This article talks about how society has become more accepting of lesbian
and gay members, but many still report discrimination. It goes to talk about
how the percentage of Americans who have personal contact with someone
who is gay or a lesbian has grown significantly in the last 20 years. The
biggest opponent to homosexuality continues to be people affiliated with
religion.
Author Credibility
Bruce Drake is a senior editor for the Pew Research Center. He has written
multiple articles that do not take a policy stance or political bias for the Pew
Research Center.
Publisher Credibility
The Pew Research center is a nonpartisan fact tank. They use acceptable
samples sizes, a reasonable margin of error, and are featured across multiple
news outlets and political organizations. They are non-profit and employ high
quality researchers.
Opinion/Reaction
Nothing in this article really surprised me, society becomes more accepting
of gays over time. The fact that some religious groups do not accept gays as
equals is not surprising either.
Questions
I would like to know the methods of survey, sample sizes, and location the
surveys were given.
Citation
Duke, Lynne. "Caught in Fate's Trajectory, Along With Gerald Ford." The
Washington Post. WP Company, 31 Dec. 2006. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2006/12/30/AR2006123000160.html>.
Abstract

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Walker Smith
800966792
UWRT 1102
Professor Kashtan
4/3/17
This was the story of Oliver Sipple, a former Marine and Vietnam Vet. He
stopped the assassination of President Gerald R. Ford by Sara more by
grabbing her arm as she fired. He was later outed as a gay man by the
media, and disowned by his parents after relentless hounding and teasing.
Author Credibility
Lynne Duke was a Washington Post Staff Writer. She began her career at the
Miami herald after graduating from Columbia Universities journalism school.
She was a Pulitzer prize finalist.
Publisher Credibility
The Washington post has recently gotten into some hot water over a
controversy with them pushing Fake News. They are a left leaning privately
owned print news source, with millions of readers every year. They remain
regarded as a highly credible new source.
Opinion/Reaction
This story did a great job at illustrating how far we as a country have come.
In the past, a man who saved the life of the president was ostracized by the
media, taunted at home and at work, and had his parents hounded to the
point of disowning him.
Questions
How were his connections to Harvey Milk used to oust him a homosexual?
How would somebody like him be treated in todays society?
Citation
Horsey on December 14, 2010 at 9:30 PM, David. "CARTOON/COLUMN: Gay
Soldiers, Gay Marriages Are Inevitable." David Horsey Cartoons and
Commentary. N.p., 14 Dec. 2010. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
<http://blog.seattlepi.com/davidhorsey/2010/12/14/cartoon-column-gay-
soldiers-gay-marriages-are-inevitable/>.
Abstract
This article featured a political cartoon satirizing the sanctity of marriage.
The first frame features two intoxicated people, a male and a female, who
state that they met in a casino bar four hours ago and are headed to get
married. The second frame is a man and a woman, and the woman states
that she has been married and divorced six times, and wants to get married

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Walker Smith
800966792
UWRT 1102
Professor Kashtan
4/3/17
again. The third panel is two gay men stating they have been in a committed
relationship for 20 years, and cant get married.
Author Credibility
David Horsey is a political commentator for the Los Angeles Times. His is a
two-time Pulitzer prize winning editorial cartoonist and columnist, and has
been syndicated by Tribune Media Services. His work has appeared across
hundreds of media outlets.
Opinion/Reaction
I thought that this comic was a funny look at what was one of the main
oppositions to gay marriage, which was the sanctity of marriage. It showed
two situations that happen often, and how its just not fair that gays cannot
get married.
Citation
Leachman, Gwendolyn M. "From Protest to Perry: How Litigation Shaped the
LGBT Movements Agenda." (2014): 1667-751. Lawreview.law.ucdavis.edu.
UC Davis, 2014. Web. 02 Apr. 2017.
<https://lawreview.law.ucdavis.edu/issues/47/5/Articles/47-
5_Leachman.pdf>.
Abstract
This article is a peer reviewed work looking at how the litigation shapes the
agenda of a social movement, and how professionals and elites will often
substitute their own priorities for those of their clients. It also looks at how
litigation can influence a movements agenda through subtle organization
dynamics.
Author Credibility
Gwendolyn Leachman is an assistant professor at the university of
Wisconsin. She has a Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley. Her
publication has appeared in both law reviews and empirical journals, and her
work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Williams
Institute, and the Institute for the Study of Societal Issues.
Publisher Credibility
UC Davis is a Public Ivy, or a publicly funded university considered to
provide an education comparable to those of an ivy league. It is a
comprehensive doctoral research university, and has very high research
activity.

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Walker Smith
800966792
UWRT 1102
Professor Kashtan
4/3/17
Opinion/Reaction
In this paper Leachman draws on quantitative and qualitative analysis of
data from more than 2 decades of LGBT movement history. She does a great
job showing how the LGBT movement separated itself from other similar
movements, and made a greater impact.
Questions
What caused gay and lesbian protestors to ban together, and when did this
change happen?
What rhetoric do activist have to use to get through to the American
consciousness?
Citation
"History of Gay Rights Movement in U.S." History of Gay Rights Movement in
U.S. University of Kentucky, n.d. Web. 04 Apr. 2017.
<http://www.uky.edu/~lbarr2/gws250spring11_files/Page1186.htm>.
Abstract
This is a timeline detailing the history of the gay and lesbian rights
movement in the us, going from the homophile years in the 40s-60s all the
way to gay and lesbian rights movements, to the impact of aids on the LGBT
movement
Publisher Credibility
The university of Kentucky is a highly accredited university
Opinion/Reaction
I thought that this paper was an interesting look at how the Obama
administration was affected and influenced by people who refused to in
acceptable and ordinary ways. It was also to see the connections Eleveld
made to DREAM activists and environmental activities copying the pressure
put on the administration by LGBT activist and how that yielded results. This
paper was pretty extremely biased from an LGBT perspective, and the author
has spent most of her adult life writing about and championing LGBT causes.
Questions
When did gay and lesbian rights group form together to create a broader
LGBT movement?
Citation

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Walker Smith
800966792
UWRT 1102
Professor Kashtan
4/3/17
Harms, William. "Americans Move Dramatically Toward Acceptance of
Homosexuality." Americans Move Dramatically Toward Acceptance of
Homosexuality | NORC.org. NORC at the University of Chicago, n.d. Web. 04
Apr. 2017.
<http://www.norc.org/NewsEventsPublications/PressReleases/Pages/american
-acceptance-of-homosexuality-gss-report.aspx>.
Abstract
This article states that young people are leading the way for the rapidly
changing public attitude toward greater acceptance of homosexuals. There
has been a marked increase in support of many civil liberties for
homosexuals, and the huge divide between under 30s and over 70s
acceptance of homosexuals.
Publisher Credibility
NORC has 70 years of experience collaborating with government agencies,
foundations, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and businesses
to provide data and analysis that support informed decision making. They
are an independent research organization headquarter in downtown Chicago,
and support a nationwide field staff.
Opinion/Reaction
This article supported what I thought it would support, that the older
generation that were raised with religion as a more prevalent part of life are
more against homosexuality, while the younger generation is more for it.
Questions
I would like to see sample sizes and locations of data collection.