“The homosexual’s emotional longings, his development, his dreams are human phenomena.” In Sullivan’s essay, “What are Homosexuals for?” he expresses his views on homosexuality from his view, that of a homosexual male adult. In his best known work, Virtually Normal: an Argument about Homosexuality, he makes an argument against the discrimination faced by homosexuals to all those with a listening ear. The purpose of his argument in “What are Homosexuals for?” is to show his support for same-sex marriages, happiness, and equality in a society somewhat disapproving of such. His tone beginning the essay is warm and inviting as if to welcome you into his world and show you that he is a person, too –a homosexual person in the world of a homosexual. Sullivan tests the limits with his use of one of the three appeals.
These are the people we identify with, a place where we can comfortably express our beliefs. Rauch says, “Where there is genuine freedom of expression, there will be racist expression.” Some of these groups of people think homosexuality is an illness and can be treated because they just cannot comprehend it. If you cannot comprehend it, then you most likely fear it. A student at the University of Michigan expressed this same response of believing homosexuality is treatable and was punished for “violating the school’s policy against speech that ‘victimizes’ people based on ‘sexual orientation.’” But did he intend to hurt anyone? Or is his belief of homosexuality simply ill advised?
He is able to connect to the people of the gay, lesbian, and bisexual community because he gives examples of how these people are being hurt by society for being different. He can connect emotionally with this crowd, while also connecting logically with male individuals specifically, by expressing his views on manhood. Charles M. Blow is a fairly popular journalist for The New York Times, which means he has people that follow him and his writings and are influenced by his words. People trust in his character and what he has to say. In the beginning of the article, Blow gives an example of how someone’s comments can hurt others.
Elizabeth Savoy Professor Michael Griffin WGS 2500 Midterm Paper Heterosexuality and Homosexuality in Society Everyone is created differently from each other. We have different skin colors, facial features, genders, and sexualities. As we meet new people, we see the common similarities and differences we have with them, and we judge them by the characteristics they have. People tend to accept the majority’s characteristic as a standard one. That is because the most people are likely to be in that category.
The world has become more accepting to homosexuals because of advertisements like these. I wonder if a homosexual male would be turned on by these pictures. When a man sees a woman we first judge looks, examining it from a homosexual’s point of view, it makes sense that they would be turned on at first glance. Bordo’s example in “Male Decorativeness in Cultural Perspective” brings light to femininity in dressing style as well as masculinity. She uses Michael Jordan as an example of his masculinity in sports and femininity in dressing style.
Próspero brings up previous theories that suggest masculinity could be learned by other genders, including women and even LGBT populations, especially if these traits were valued in that society (such as excessive aggressiveness)(2008, 640-641). In his study, he found the gender of the perpetrator had effects on the type of intimate partner violence (644). Erbaugh makes another crucial observation when she remarks, “Isolation is a central tactic of abuse.” (453). The abusers take away the victim’s support network, encouraging co-dependence and leaving them nowhere to turn, socially, physically, economically. Not only is this abuser their familiarity, but they will be forced to give that up frequently for nothing familiar.
Sexuality plays a key role throughout: Williams' homosexuality perhaps influenced his interpretation of these characters. The tensions of the play centre on a hidden homosexual relationship of the past and its long lasting effects. Within the timescale of the play we see the negativity of certain gender and cultural attitudes, and Williams' concern with gender and sexual identity within society. These stereotypes, while perhaps seeming over-zealous, are historical and current. Williams was concerned to use strong imagery to investigate human weakness, and Streetcar is certainly laden with obviously stated imagery.
For Gay Marriage Andrew Sullivan’s article “For Gay Marriage” is an excerpted from Sullivan’s 1995 book, Virtually Normal: An Argument About Homosexuality, and reprinted by Behrens and Rosen (404 – 407). This paper provides a summary of Sullivan’s controversial article on this timely and long-fought civil rights issue. “For Gay Marriage” highlights the moral, philosophical and legal arguments surrounding the issue of denying marriage to homosexual and lesbian Americans. More importantly, it highlights the moral, philosophical and legal arguments in favor of gay marriage, which Sullivan clearly supports. Although Sullivan clearly supports gay marriage, his article is an insightful piece that provides a respectful look at various views of this philosophically and emotionally-charged subject, while providing a sound intellectual argument in favor of gay marriage.
When talking about homosexual vs. heterosexual unions, they are comparable in all ways; however, legalizing them together would cause irrevocable damage to our already weak view of the institution of marriage. Our young generation is in a time where they are being told how to speak and sometimes think, and societal indifference to gay marriage would further confuse our youths who already find their sexuality hard. It is very important that we continue to take strides toward accepting homosexual unions; however, legalizing gay marriage is not a necessary step for that to
History Boys Essay – Second Draft ‘Heterosexuality and homosexuality are a type of psychosis and the truth is somewhere in the middle’ Evaluate Bennett’s comic and philosophical approaches to sexuality in The History Boys It can be argued that homosexuality is a state of mind which implies either the temporariness of it or it being a conscious decision, however sexuality could also be central to the way you behave; an unconscious aspect of your identity that acts as a clear indication to others to how you are sexually inclined. In the History Boys, sexuality is a running theme that is seen more prominently in the characters of Dakin, Irwin and Posner, the latter being the only one who is ‘open’ with his sexuality, whereas there is a great deal of ambiguity when it comes to deciphering the sexuality of the others. This could be intended by Bennett to show that sexuality is not a fixed state but in fact quite fluid depending on the people you meet as you grow as a person. Through the analysis of Dakin we see the representation of most heterosexual teenage boys in the way he talks about Fiona in his conceit calling her his ‘western front’ indicating she is a territory to be taken over. This clearly presents his heterosexual lust for her; he also refers to her as ‘the Hun’ indicating that she is the enemy so as to speak, and is standing in between his ‘further deployments’ portraying how superficial his love for Fiona is, as he is obviously disappointed with her not allowing him to advance and is more concerned for his own needs.