Abstract

This article uses Kenneth Burke’s pentad to analyze Pro and Anti gay rights arguments from 1980 to 2005. A longitudinal application of the pentad shows a consistent struggle along an agent-act ratio in the early formation of gay rights arguments in the 1980s, Bill Clinton’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” rhetoric in the early 1990s, and the Supreme Court’s Lawrence v. Texas (2003) ruling. However, with the introduction of same-sex marriage arguments, the agent-act ratio shifted to an agent-purpose ratio. This article concludes with a discussion of the ideological underpinnings represented by this shift, allowing for a better understanding of one the most divisive issues of our day.

Key words: Pentad, Kenneth Burke, Gay Rights, Same-Sex Marriage