Abstract
The current study analyzes the evolution of language used to discuss marriage equality in The New York Times between February and May 2004 and February and May 2012. Specifically, the study examines how sexual orientation labels were used as modifiers for “marriage,” “couples,” and “individuals.” Results indicate that the language evolved from a focus on the sexual orientation label gay in 2004 to a more inclusive language, with same-sex as the predominant modifier for marriage and couples in 2012. Further, while the overall language in The New York Times became more inclusive of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community at large, bisexual women and men are still largely absent within the marriage equality discourse.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams, T. E. (2012). Frames of homosexuality: Comparing Los Angeles Times’ coverage of california’s proposition 6 (1978) and proposition 8 (2008). Sexuality & Culture. doi:10.1007/s12119-012-9145-2.
American Psychological Association. (1991). Avoiding heterosexual bias in language. American Psychologist 46(9), 973–974. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/language.aspx.
Breno, A. L., & Galupo, M. (2007). Bias toward bisexual women and men in a marriage-matching task. Journal of Bisexuality, 7(3/4), 217–235. doi:10.1080/15299710802171308.
Buxton, A. P. (2006). Counseling heterosexual spouses of bisexual men and women and bisexual heterosexual couples: Affirmative approaches. Journal of Bisexuality, 6(1/2), 105–135. doi:10.1300/J159v06n01_07.
Capulet, I. (2010). With reps like these: Bisexuality and celebrity status. Journal of Bisexuality, 10(3), 294–308. doi:10.1080/15299716.2010.500962.
Clarke, V., & Kitzinger, C. (2005). ‘We’re not living on planet lesbian’: Constructions of male role models in debates about lesbian families. Sexualities, 8, 137–152. doi:10.1177/1363460705050851.
Earp, B. D. (2012). The extinction of masculine generics. Journal for Communication and Culture, 2(1), 4–19. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=9d98c1de-0b90-4777-80ce0bb03a509314%40sessionmgr14&vid=3&hid=5.
Edser, S. J., & Shea, J. D. (2002). An exploratory investigation of bisexual men in monogamous, heterosexual marriages. Journal of Bisexuality, 2(4), 5–43. doi:10.1300/J159v02n04_02.
Frost, D. M., & Meyer, I. H. (2012). Measuring community connectedness among diverse sexual minority populations. Journal of Sex Research, 49(1), 36–49. doi:10.1080/00224499.2011.565427.
Galupo, M. P. (2009). Introduction. In M. P. Galupo (Ed.), Bisexuality and same-sex marriage (pp. 1–6). New York, NY: Routledge.
Galupo, M. P., & Pearl, M. L. (2007). Bisexual attitudes toward same-sex marriage. Journal of Bisexuality, 7(3/4), 287–301. doi:10.1080/15299710802171357.
Gastil, J. (1990). Generic pronouns and sexist language: The oxymoronic character of masculine generics. Sex Roles, 23(11/12), 629–643. doi:10.1007/BF00289252.
Herek, G. M., Kimmel, D. C., Amaro, H., & Melton, G. B. (1991). Avoiding heterosexist bias in psychological research. American Psychologist, 46(9), 957–963. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.46.9.957.
Hidalgo, D., Barber, K., & Hunter, E. (2007). The dyadic imaginary: Troubling the perception of love as dyadic. Journal of Bisexuality, 7(3/4), 171–189. doi:10.1080/15299710802170797.
Israel, T., & Mohr, J. J. (2004). Attitudes toward bisexual women and men: Current research, future directions. Journal of Bisexuality, 4(1/2), 117–134. doi:10.1300/J159v04n01_09.
Landau, J. (2009). Straightening out (the politics of) same-sex parenting: Representing gay families in us print news stories and photographs. Critical Studies in Media Communication, 26(1), 80–100. doi:10.1080/15295030802684018.
Lannutti, P. J. (2007). “This is not a lesbian wedding”: Examining same-sex marriage and bisexual-lesbian couples. Journal of Bisexuality, 7(3/4), 237–260. doi:10.1080/15299710802171316.
Lee, T., & Hicks, G. R. (2011). An analysis of factors affecting attitudes toward same-sex marriage: Do the media matter? Journal of Homosexuality, 58(10), 1391–1408. doi:10.1080/00918369.2011.614906.
Moscowitz, L. M. (2010). Gay marriage in television news: Voice and visual representation in the same-sex marriage debate. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 54(1), 24–39. doi:10.1080/08838150903550360.
Ochs, R., & Rowley, S. E. (Eds.) (2005). Getting bi: Voices of bisexuals around the world. Boston, MA: Bisexual Resource Center. Retrieved from http://www.robynochs.com/writing/essays/biphobia_short.html.
Pan, P., Meng, J., & Zhou, S. (2010). Morality or equality? Ideological framing in news coverage of gay marriage legitimization. Social Science Journal, 47(3), 630–645. doi:10.1016/j.soscij.2010.02.002.
Pitt Jr., R. N. (2006). Downlow mountain? De/stigmatizing bisexuality through pitying and pejorative discourses in media. Journal of Men’s Studies, 14(2), 254–258. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy-tu.researchport.umd.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=a05ceed1-af90-4ad1-8f0b-60ae3cd151eb%40sessionmgr15&vid=5&hid=10.
Reinhardt, R. U. (2011). Bisexual women in heterosexual relationships: A study of psychological and sociological patterns: A reflective paper. Journal of Bisexuality, 11(4), 439–447. doi:10.1080/15299716.2011.620472.
Rust, P. (1995). Bisexuality and the challenge to lesbian politics: Sex, loyalty, and revolution. New York: NYU Press.
Saad, L. (2012). U.S. acceptance of gay/lesbian relations is the new normal. Gallup Politics. Retrieved from http://www.gallup.com/poll/154634/Acceptance-Gay-Lesbian-Relations-New-Normal.aspx.
Wolf, T. (1985). Marriages of bisexual men. Journal of Bisexuality, 11(1–2), 135–148. doi:10.1300/J082v11n01_11.
Xigen, L., & Xudong, L. (2010). Framing and coverage of same-sex marriage in U.S. newspapers. Howard Journal of Communications, 21(1), 72–91. doi:10.1080/10646170903501161.
Yost, M., & Thomas, G. (2012). Gender and binegativity: Men’s and women’s attitudes toward male and female bisexuals. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 41(3), 691–702. doi:10.1007/s10508-011-9767-8.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported, in part, by a grant from the American Institute of Bisexuality awarded to M. Paz Galupo.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hackl, A.M., Boyer, C.R. & Galupo, M.P. From “Gay Marriage Controversy” (2004) to “Endorsement of Same-Sex Marriage” (2012): Framing Bisexuality in the Marriage Equality Discourse. Sexuality & Culture 17, 512–524 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-012-9159-9
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-012-9159-9