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Christina Bethman

Professor Kramer

CAS 137H

2 October 2016

Respect Diversity and Accept Change

There is an evident rhetorical connection between the Respect Gender Identity PSA

Video and Obamas speech addressing the Supreme Courts decision that the Constitution

guarantees marriage equality. Both the video and Obamas speech address the issues that are

present within society concerning gender identity and sexual freedoms, discussing the

importance of acceptance, respect and nondiscrimination. The video and Obamas speech both

aim to address the equality that should be present with society. Within his speech Obamas goal

is to ensure the general public of his support of the Supreme Courts decision to legalize same-

sex marriage and encourage the general public to do so as well. Paralleling the Respect Gender

Identity video and Obamas speech it is evident both use similar methods of appeal; within his

speech Obama uses logos and a secure tone to establish his call in support of the Supreme

Courts decision to legalize same-sex marriage, similarly the Respect Gender Identity video

fosters a sense of community and pathos to spread awareness of those of various genders and/or

sexual orientations. Together this video and speech both support the central claim that those

within society should support equality and respect those of various genders and sexual

orientations.

When analyzing Obamas speech concerning the Supreme Courts decision to legalize

same-sex marriage it is crucial to understand the context and kiaros of his speech. This speech
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was presented to the people of the United States on June 26, 2015 when the Supreme Court

decided to adopt the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States. Obamas uses the

opportunity of same-sex marriage becoming legal to gather support for it and to ensure that every

citizen is treated with equality under the constitution. In the years leading up to the legalization

of same-sex marriage it was an uphill battle in the fight for equal rights. The Supreme Court

itself did not deny nor accept the existence of same-sex marriage. The Supreme Court was

considered a separate entity from this issue for quite some time until it became apparent within

society that it was necessary for them to step; therefore, the issue was voted upon and same-sex

was constituted as legal within all fifty states of America. Obama uses a series of commonplaces

such as the Constitution and American governmental ideologies in support of the Supreme

Courts decision to legalize same-sex marriage. Obamas main focus is to make it known to the

people that the legalization of same-sex marriage is a step in the right direction for America and

that it will provide endless opportunity for those of same-sex marriage. Obama emphasizes in a

way that the legalization of same-sex marriage is something that should have always been

present because everyone in society deserves to get married regardless of his or her sexual

orientation.

The Respect Gender and Identity PSA effectively drew in its audience by relaying the

differences within society and using those differences to its advantage. This video effectively

uses kiaros in the sense that its release date was only a year before there was any progression

within the Supreme Court to change the same-sex marriage law. The video considers all forms of

identity and sexuality to support its claim that respecting those of various gender and sexuality is

something that should be done in everyday life. The video offers a positive view of the way in

which those of different types of sexuality and gender deserve to be treated within society.
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Within society today there is a plethora of ways in which one can identify and everyone

identifies differently. This video encourages civicness by emphasizing the importance of

respecting others regardless of how they identify in order to eliminate discrimination against

those of various sexual orientation or gender. This video makes it apparent that awareness is a

very large part of acceptance of those of various genders and sexual orientation. The main goal

of this video is to present that respecting others and rejecting discrimination are civic acts

allowing for progression within society with diversity and equality.

Provided the background, it becomes much more evident why Obamas speech takes a

secure tone to ensure the support of the general public for the legalization of same-sex marriage.

Since individuals within society have such varying views on the issue of legalizing same-sex

marriage it is difficult to sway those with strong opposing opinions. Obama takes a secure tone in

ensuring that it is clear that the Supreme Courts decision was sound and a necessary step for

progression within American society. With this statement, Progress on this journey often comes

in small increments. Sometimes two steps forward, one step back, compelled by the persistent

effort of dedicated citizens (Obama), Obama ensures the audience that dedicated citizens have

made persistent efforts to make change and that it was the will of the people that made legalizing

same-sex marriage a reality. Obamas tone enables the listener to become invested in the issue

and calls to them to understand what it means for our country to have become so politically

diverse. He establishes communality in the sense that we are all within the United States of

America and should all be bestowed the same rights.

Whereas Obama takes a secure tone to support his claim the Respect Gender Identity

PSA fosters a sense of community through its use of various individual voices to enable the

viewer to envision a wide array of individuals speaking about their sexual orientation and gender.
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This is present through the use of many different voices, some girls and some boys with high

pitch and low pitch voices that correspond with various types of genders and sexual orientations.

The creators purpose of employing this tone was to ensure that the viewer understood that there

are various different types of people with various types of sexual orientations and genders. The

video states, we should all be human and stand up for those who cannot stand up for

themselves. It does not matter what they are, but rather it matters who they are. The creators

make it clear that anyone can be of a different gender or sexuality, but will always be who they

are no matter his or her gender.

Altering focus from the tone of both the speech and the video, to rhetorical appeals,

Obama uses logos to establish his claim. Throughout the speech Obama primarily employs

logical appeals to relay a secure message that calls on the audience to support the Supreme

Courts decision of the legalization of same-sex marriage. Obama does this by beginning his

speech with, Our nation was founded on a bedrock principle that we are all created equal

(Obama). With this simple statement Obama immediately captures the attention of the audience

by drawing upon the simple liberties given to each and every citizen of the United States. He

emphasizes that because the Constitution portrays all individuals as equal then logically all

individuals should be given the same types of rights within society regardless of his or her sexual

orientation. Obama also states as his concluding sentence, This ruling will strengthen all of our

communities by offering to all loving same-sex couples the dignity of marriage across this great

land (Obama), which logically calls attention to the fact that marriage is a dignified action that

is now presented to both heterosexuals and homosexuals. He uses logic to make people aware

that it is not just those of different genders that should get married it is also those of the same

gender.
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In comparison to Obamas logical approach to establish his claim, the Respect Gender

Identity video employs pathos to make audiences feel for those of various types of gender and

sexuality. The video states, be a human being and stand up against hate, calling attention to the

fact that we are all one people in the eyes of society. It calls attention to the fact that standing up

for someone is something one should do because they would most likely want the same thing to

be done for them. It offers communality in making individuals aware of the repercussions of not

standing up for hate. This video provides a positive view of the ways in which those of various

genders and sexualities should be viewed and treated within society.

Without question, this video and speech support the same claim that gender and sexual

orientation are valued parts of our society as a whole and provide us with the ability to think

openly and more effectively about these issues. Obamas secure tone makes people aware the

Supreme Court ruling to legalize same-sex marriage was justified, due to the fact that he draws

upon the Constitution and how it provides equality of any sort to all people. Within his speech

Obama also employs logic to provide the listeners with a view of how the Constitution and

general rights work within society. The video provides a sense of community in providing

various voices to present the information. The video also uses pathos to make the reader feel as

though there is a difference they can make in the rejection of discrimination against those of

various genders and sexual orientation. Both of these artifacts offer a positive view of the way in

which individuals of various genders and sexual orientations should be viewed and treated by the

law and society.

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