The LGBT Opinion Editorial

Abstract

Newspaper editorials give everyday writers a professional space. The vast majority are focused on modern politics and the writer’s arguments; the LGBT-focused op-ed is no exception to this rule. The author of these often has a personal connection to what they are writing about—often, they have experienced homo- or transphobia, and thus feel compelled to speak out about what they overcame in a political situation, and therefore contribute to modern-day activism. Over the course of several months, the presenter studied several LGBT-themed op-eds to determine their function. He concluded that, in order to be successful, that the writer of such an editorial must pay special attention to their title, must be explicit and emotional, and must find the balance between describing their personal experience without alienating the audience from a sociopolitical critique. The project is a detailed exploration of seven different LGBT-themed op-eds, from four different countries, to show how even as identity politics change across bidders the structure needed for success does not.