Cultural Snapshot

The Single Story of LGBT Members

1) Mormons Protest Faith's LGBT Policy 

 Link: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/11/15/hundreds-mormons-protest-faith-lgbt-policy.html 

Associated Press. "Hundreds of Mormons Protest Faith's LGBT Policy." Fox News. Fox News Network, 14 Nov. 2015. Web. 7 Apr. 2016. <http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/11/15/ 
     hundreds-mormons-protest-faith-lgbt-policy.html>. 

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints changed it's policy on LGBT in reference to the ordinances that can be obtained by children that have LGBT parents.
• There was a large mass of Mormons who protested this policy and have resigned their church membership. 
• The messages that are being sent about this cultural group are a bit conflicting. Many of the protesters identify as part of the Mormon faith but resign their membership because of one church policy. The message of this group is that they choose love. They do not support the LDS church because the policy to not allow children of LGBT parents to participate in baptism until age 18. Their message is that this policy does not support the teachings of Jesus Christ - to love one another. 
• This message could impact how a child from this cultural group is viewed and treated in the classroom by creating a lot of assumptions about the child. Others might assume the child supports gay marriage and is anti-Mormon. The child might be seen as an outcast among Mormons but a hero in the LGBT community.   

2) Same Love

Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, and Mary Lambert. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis - Same Love Featuring Mary Lambert. YouTube. YouTube, LLC, 7 Sept. 2012. Web. 24 Jan. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50V0QRlxafM>.

•  Same Love by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Mary Lambert 
• This song is about the struggle of being gay in today's world. There is a lot of focus on being gay is not a choice you get to make, it's a predisposition. It's not something that can be cured. 
• There are a few references to everyone being God's children and the Bible. Yes, many religions believe that being gay is a sin, but God commanded us to love one another as he loves us. We are all His children no matter what our sexual orientation or gender is.   
• The main message of this song is that there are stereotypes, judgments, and opinions about people who identify as gay, but "we have to change us, whatever God you believe in, we come from the same one" because at the end of the day we're all human. The message is equality for all because every human being deserves to be treated with respect.   

3) Modern Family

Laneia. "Modern Family’s Gay Kiss, More Lip Service, Postmodern Literature, Tao Lin." Entertainment Weekly 23 Sept. 2010: n. pag. Print.

• Modern Family is a television show that portrays the "modern family" of the 21st century. 
• The two men on the front cover of Entertainment Weekly are Mitch and Cam, a gay couple who raise a child together. 
• The message that is portrayed is gay relationships are being more common in the modern day family. It is now normal to have a brother or son come out and admit they are attracted to men then enter into a romantic relationship shortly after. Some of the reasoning for more people coming out about their sexual orientation is because it is so publicized as normal that the negative stigma among the younger generation has done a complete 180. Being an LGBT member is embraced among the younger generation and in modern day families now. 
• Overall, the message here is there has been a shift in what is considered a modern day family. Before this shift families were traditional -- husband and wife -- but that is not the case in today's world anymore. Now, families are very diverse and include gay parents and adopted children. The general populations' view of what is considered  a modern family has shifted. 

4) Ellen DeGeneres 

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ellen-slams-mississippis-anti-lgbt-law-in-powerful-monologue_us_57065b49e4b053766188c9b6 

DeGeneres, Ellen. Ellen DeGeneres Speaks out about Mississippi. Ellen Tube. Telepictures Productions Inc., 7 Apr. 2016. Web. 7 Apr. 2016.
 <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ 
     ellen-slams-mississippis-anti-lgbt-law-in-powerful-monologue_us_57065b49e4b053766 
     188c9b6>. 

Ellen Degeneres' Monologue - Mississippi's Anti-LGBT LawIn Mississippi, Anti-LGBT laws were
 passed stating that religion freedom allows LGpeople to be denied marriage, adoption, foster care 
services, employment, and decline to rent or sell them property.
The message from Mississippi is very conflicting and also brings up issues of civil rights. The supreme 
court ruled that same sex marriage is legal across the country along with rights that every human has as 
a result of living in America. 
Freedom of religion protects denying marriage to same sex couples if the church does not support gay marriage, 
but civil rights such as employment, renting and selling property, adoption, and foster services should not be 
denied to a person because of their attraction to the same sex as their own. When Ellen commented on this issue 
she was very disappointed at the law that went into effect. She personally has been fired from employment 
because she identified as gay. She says hate less and love more. 
If I have a student that is part of the cultural group that is supportive of the Mississippi law then people may 
view the student as a person who does not believe in equality for everyone. This could be problematic because 
if a student does not believe in equality then other negative assumptions may be made. If I have a student that identifies 
with Ellen they may be viewed as a supporter of gay rights or equality for all. 

5) Catholic Couple Provides Safe House for LGBT Youth 

Link: http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/07/opinions/franken-weingarten-lgbt-protection/

Franken, Al, and Randi Weingarten. "What Congress Must Do for LGBT Kids." CNN. Cable News Network, 7 July 2015. Web. 7 Apr. 2016. 

<http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/07/opinions/franken-weingarten-lgbt-protection/>.  

This Catholic couple has been taking in homeless LGBT youth for 6 years. Their purpose is to create

a safe house for them because many LGBT youth end up homeless after coming out to their parents. 

Homeless LGBT youth is a huge problem across the nation that needs to be addressed. 

The message the couple has is that LGBT youth want to feel accepted and loved. They should not be 

kicked out of their house because of their sexual orientation. The couple also states that LGBT people 

should not be denied the right to have access to the same services that heterosexual people do. 

If I had students that identified as LGBT I would want to assure them that they have a safe place in my 

classroom even when they do not have a safe place at home. I would also encourage them to talk to 

me about issues that have arisen at home so, I can work with them and the situation to the best of my 

ability. 

 [The message among these artifacts is that LGBT members want equality. They want to be treated the same as someone who identifies as straight, only likes one gender, or does not have gender confusion. LGBT members do not want to be discriminated against; they want to be respected. This message can impact how a child from this cultural group is viewed and treated in the classroom because this might be the single story a teacher hears but it might not be the single story that applies to that student. A teacher can have the perception that a student who is an LGBT member might want equality but in reality maybe they want to be treated as different in some way. With the view of LGBT members wanting equality it can lead to more positive interactions with students who identify with LGBT. Students might feel safer knowing that a teacher is not going to treat them differently or attack them for being different. It is important for teachers to examine how cultural groups are represented in the media, curriculum, and policy because it can affect how a student views themselves. Students are heavily impacted by the media and their thoughts, feelings, and attitudes can be affected by what the media identifies as the latest social norm.]