Research on the Representation of Sexuality in the News

Manny Pacquiao apologises for comparing homosexuality to animals- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-3448981/Manny-Pacquiao-reveals-shocking-views-homosexuality-boxing-champion-claims-gay-couples-worse-animals.html (Leaving career and wants to be a politician). - The Daily Mail
Daily Mail writer uses homophobic slang in an article towards a bisexual MP- http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/10/15/did-the-daily-mail-really-just-compare-an-out-mp-to-ginger-beer/ - Pink News on the Daily Mail
The Daily Mail on gender issues- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-3422060/Gender-madness-Trans-girl-Demi-boy-Inter-sex-Government-survey-asking-13-year-old-s-pick-25-genders-absurd-dangerous.html
The Daily Mail on Ella Giselle- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3480948/Caitlyn-Jenner-introduces-friend-Ella-resembles-Kim-Kardashian.html (Headline)

Analysis of the Representation of Power in the News

‘How are different genders and sexualities in Britain represented in the selection of articles found?’ 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-3422060/Gender-madness-Trans-girl-Demi-boy-Inter-sex-Government-survey-asking-13-year-old-s-pick-25-genders-absurd-dangerous.html

 In this article by The Daily Mail, the author discusses their opinion on the added genders to the list of 'female' and 'male'. Some of the phrases and words used in this article express the authors negative opinion on this matter and clearly they do no want this extra list of genders to come out to the world and is trying to get the audience to disagree to the 25 genders possible. 

 According to this article, there is a new questionnaire being designed for young people (13-18 years old) to state their gender and whether they are comfortable using gendered toilets or whether they want unisex ones. The author: Damian Thompson, clearly does not agree with this as he states 'This sounds like the stuff of science fiction', almost comparing the people going on with this as aliens or 'abnormal', which is certainly discriminatory.

 By using phrases like 'science fiction', 'this is loopy feminist drivel' and 'infiltrated by a new generation of feminists', Thompson opposes this idea and tries to claim his power over these 'hardline feminists' by stating his qualifications in the article and by being the author of this newspaper article, he thinks he has power over this woman and this idea, but really, he's just ranting about his loss of power because his opinion is finally being opposed and being put forward to the new generation as wrong. 

 Of course it is wrong to label people and what they are, especially with derogatory words but when you aren't in your own body or you don't feel right, you feel you are something specific. You can't help what you are, so why is the sexuality of somebody more accepted than their gender? Because somebody is born some way doesn't mean they have to live like that forever, it's the same with sexuality, you may not realise it until later on in life, but just because you have one set of reproductive organs doesn't mean you have to live by them.

 Sometimes you have to think, no wonder people feel natural as other genders, feminists being looked down upon like this and the female gender is still being put down as the lower ground. On the other hand, males have people like Damian Thompson representing them, which isn't the most positive reinforcement of the male gender. 

 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/10/15/did-the-daily-mail-really-just-compare-an-out-mp-to-ginger-beer/

Also, in The Daily Mail, other authors haven't been the most supportive of sexuality either, Quentin Letts also wrote in one of his articles, a derogatory slang phrase for queer/ gay: 'ginger beer', used to describe a bisexual MP who had come out in confidence to the public after divorcing his wife and being with a male.

 It's not just The Daily Mail either, celebrities around the world are having to keep apologising for their words towards homosexuals and other gendered people, for example, Manny Pacquiao had to apologise for comparing homosexual people to animals, seeing as they can determine one sex from another, so 'homosexuals are worse than animals'. Obviously, the human stereotype of animals is dirty and rough, so when compared to an animal, you can imagine how the public felt about this. It's understandable.

 In my opinion, I believe that same sex marriage shouldn't be called a civil partnership or even same sex marriage, it's just marriage, it's no different to any other marriage, so why does it need a label? I would also argue that The Daily Mail are incredibly biased and they seem to enjoy opposing human rights, only people like Donald Trump or Hitler would agree with this newspaper.