Amendment One
What is Amendment One?
Amendment One was a proposed legislation in the state of North Carolina that defined marriage between a man and a woman the only legal union in that state. Gay marriage was already illegal, but now with the bill passed, civil unions and all other forms of domestic partnerships are outlawed as well. The law passed with a 61% in favor of the ban, early May of 2012.
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Publication: ncpolicywatch.com Date: April 9th, 2012
Cartoonist: John Cole Location: U.S.
Title: Uniting One Man and One Woman…at a Time Number: N/A
This editorial cartoon shows Newt Gingrich standing with his wife and holding North Carolina’s Amendment One. He is saying, “I believe marriage is an institution uniting one man and one woman…” In the following frame he is finishes the statement with, “at a time.” Beside the couple is two woman in garbage cans, symbolizing Gingrich’s previous two divorcees.
Tone of cartoon:
Framing of sexual minorities: Positive
Framing of equal rights for sexual minorities: Positive
Newt Gingrich was one of the most well-known public figures supporting North Carolina’s proposed Amendment One. In a personal video to voters he explains his case for them to vote in favor of the law.
This cartoon is a personal prod at Newt Gingrich. It calls into question his morals in regards to marriage, for one large reason. In his past, Gingrich has been married and divorced multiple times. According to this story in the Washington Post, New Gingrich has been married three times. His first marriage ended only months after his wife went into surgery for cancer. After his second marriage ended, it was publicly revealed he had engaged in an extramarital affair. This all hardly seems like the qualifications for someone to be a leader in the campaign “protecting” marriage, and this is exactly the point that John Cole is trying to convey in his political cartoon.
Publication: ncpolicywatch.com Date: April 2nd, 2012
Cartoonist: John Cole Location: U.S.
Title: The Mess We’re Makin’ Number: N/A
In this cartoon, NC Speaker Thom Tillis is shown sloppily writing on the North Carolinian constitution ” no gay marriage.” He is telling a man next to him, labeled NC, that “someone will come along in the next 20 years and clean up the mess [we’re] making.”
Tone of cartoon:
Framing of sexual minorities: Positive
Framing of equal rights for sexual minorities: Positive
Thom Tillis, a speaker for North Carolina and a major proponent of Amendment One, later admitted that even if the amendment did pass, that he believed it would be repealed in years to come. The question then is, why does he favor it? If he knows that its not going to be representing the generations to come, why does he insist on adamantly pushing ancient view points on a rising generation? Not only does it make it limit civil rights for the people of today, but it creates another hurdle even when the general consensus opposes it, in Tillis’s future predictions.
Publication: Star Tribune Date: May 9th, 2012
Cartoonist: Steve Sack Location: U.S.
Title: Change We Can Believe In Number: N/A
A man labeled “equality” has tripped and fallen on a rock labeled “N. Carolina.” The setting is on an uphill incline and Obama is reaching out a hand to help the fallen man.
Tone of cartoon:
Framing of sexual minorities: Positive
Framing of equal rights for sexual minorities: Positive
This cartoon has various interpretive aspects. The scene is set upon an uphill incline, suggesting that it is currently an uphill battle for equality, (specifically for LGBT individuals.) With Obama’s announcement in favor of gay marriage, many consider him to be a inspiration for equal rights. The fact that Amendment One passed, is indeed a stumbling stone for LGBT marriage rights. But Steve Sack sees the president’s support as a positive sign for the future. That’s why the runner in the cartoon is pictured bloodied and on the ground, but he’s not out of the climb, and he has eyes looking up.
Publication: The Scranton Times- Tribune Date: March 6th, 2012
Cartoonist: John Cole Location: U.S.
Title: Local NC Number: 108802
This editorial cartoon shows a man labeled “gay rights” tied to a large number 1 behind the word “amendment.” The bottom of the one is labeled “religious intolerance.”
Tone of Cartoon:
Framing of sexual minorities: Positive
Framing of equal rights for sexual minorities: Positive
This editorial cartoon is simply put, inflammatory. But that is the goal of cartoonists, to raise the topic to the public forum. And the fact of the matter is, religion (and Christianity most dominantly in the U.S.) plays a huge role in the same-sex marriage debate.
North Carolina Pastor Sean Harris is only one example of the many religious figures that see gays as “unnatural” and “going against god.” During the Amendment One debate, he was an outspoken voice. In this video, he states that parents should “squash” effeminate behavior in their sons “like a cockroach.” Later, he says to “give em’ a good punch.” More perturbing is the laughter of the audience that follows a connotative violent remark. It’s hard not to feel like LGBT individuals are subject to a religious persecution, and the goal of this political cartoon is to portray it as such.
Publication: Rome News-Tribune Date: June 29th, 2011
Cartoonist: Mike Lester Location: U.S.
Title: Gay Marriage Question Number: N/A
The cartoon has two panes. One shows a same-sex couple with the words “gay” and “marriage” on their chests. Above them the words, “If this is marriage”. The second pane shows the same couple, with a third man added on to the end with the word “tomorrow” on his chest. He is saying, “and we’re cousins.” Above the three is the question, “why isn’t this?”
Tone of cartoon:
Framing of sexual minorities: Negative
Framing of equal rights for sexual minorities: Negative
Although this cartoon was not featured around the time that Amendment One was passed, the argument being made certainly was. The framing for this cartoon is that if today, we let same-sex couples marry, consequently we will have no grounds on which to deny other non-traditional relationships marriage. The two being addressed simultaneously in this caricature are plural marriage, as well as marriage between family members (in this case, cousins). This type of argument is what is called a “slippery slope” fallacy. This flawed thinking has the mindset that if one thing happens, it is inevitable that a string of unintended results will necessarily follow.
However, this is not a solid foundation of thought. We cannot assume that allowing same-sex marriage will lead to the legalization of other definitions of marriage, just as we cannot assume that simply because we allow citizens to bear arms we will eventually allow them to carry nuclear weapons. They are over-simplified statements and irrational attempts at logic.
Publication: The Washington Post Date: May 9th, 2012
Cartoonist: Tom Toles Location: U.S.
Title: N/A Number: N/A
This cartoon shows a same-sex couple getting married. The person uniting the two is asking (seemingly the reader,) “If anyone here objects to the marriage of these two men, speak up now because opponents are aging and dying off and soon won’t matter anymore…”
Tone of cartoon:
Framing of sexual minorities: Positive
Framing of equal rights for sexual minorities: Positive
Statistically speaking, one of the biggest predicting factors in support of same-sex marriage favor is age. It has been shown that the in chronological order, the more recent the generation, the more likely the support.
If current trends remain steady, support for same-sex marriage will increase with time. The cartoon therefore is statistically true, however opposition is alive and well, and one can assume that it will never disappear completely. In fact, of those who participated in the Amendment One vote, 28% were aged 65+, and 36% were aged 46-65%. This leaves only 36% of all those voters being being younger than 46 years old. Its no wonder the measure passed, even though predictions thought the margin would be much smaller. If marriage equality is ever to gain a stronghold in today’s political climate, the young adult vote is crucial.
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Cartoon Sources:
http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2012/04/09/uniting-one-man-one-woman-at-a-time/
http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2012/04/02/the-mess-were-makin/
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/150861375.html?refer=y
http://www.caglecartoons.com/viewimage.asp?ID={714CDA0B-0C95-4DE7-B95D-F3A55694ADC8}
http://www.romenews-tribune.com/view/full_story/14501979/article-Mike-Lester-s-cartoon–06-29-11
Spectrum of Caricatures 