Rhetorical Situation
Music giants joined forces to promote marriage equality as both gay and straight couples were married simultaneously on the 56th Grammy’s, featuring Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Madonna, Queen Latifah, Mary Lambert and Trombone Stone. The song titled “Same Love” became the anthem for gay rights and equality in 2013 & 2014 when released by the Hip-Hop duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis on the heel of their rising star power in pop culture.
Macklemore, having an uncle who is gay, felt that to see his uncle truly happy would require him being able to marry his partner. Additionally, Mary Lambert, who co-wrote and sang on the song, is herself a lesbian and saw the need for marriage equality. Madonna and Queen Latifah, too, are long time gay rights activists, added their voices to the cause with their actions in pulling off this instantaneously classic performance. 2013 was landmark year for gay rights as the U.S Supreme Court ruled in favor of recognizing gay marriages in all states where it’s legal. The court struck down DOMA(Defense of Marriage Act 1996) which limited the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman for the purposes of federal benefits, as a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law.
“A certificate on paper isn't gonna solve it all
But it’s a damn good place to start
No law is gonna change us
We have to change us
Whatever God you believe in
We come from the same one
Strip away the fear
Underneath it’s all the same love
About time that we raised up”
Your group is doing such a great job including outside visual texts. And I really like your connection between pop culture and legal changes. Nice work.
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