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Morgan Frye
English 250 PA
Assignment 4
Ms. Futhey
10/9/14
Rhetorical Analysis of “The Conservative Case for Gay Marriage:
Why Same-sex Marriage Is an American Value”
One of the many benefits of living in America is the diversity of citizens. However
sometimes this can cause problems when people don’t understand the values of those who are
different from them. The essay written by the conservative Theodore B. Olson titled “The
Conservative Case for Gay Marriage: Why Same-sex Marriage Is an American Value” discusses
what values are in gay marriage. Olson is well-known for his career as a U.S. attorney in Los
Angeles and Washington, D.C. Aside from being in the court house delegating issues the author
also served on the U.S. Department of Justice while Reagan was president. Olson argued fiftyeight cases in front of the U.S. Supreme Court including two cases that helped George W. Bush
win the election in 2000. Olson is not just credible because he is a known conservative, but also
because he was named one of the top 100 most influential people in the world in 2010 according
to Time magazine (Olson, 75). “The Conservative Case for Gay Marriage” was first published on
January 8, 2012 in the magazine Newsweek. Initially, the essay could have easily shocked
people because Olson, a conservative, wrote about why same-sex marriage was good when the
majority of people with the same political views generally felt opposed to the idea. The author is
primarily speaking to the conservatives who are against gay marriage; but he also addresses
neutral or left leaning who assume all conservatives are for gay marriage. Olson successfully
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describes how the conservative American values align with those of gay marriage through
passionate evocative word choice, showing both sides based on his credibility, and pulling on the
heart strings of the reader through their emotions.
A predominant pattern seen in this piece is the use of collective pronouns such as we, our,
us and Americans. By using these words, once again, he is demonstrating the thought that we are
all on the same team and it is not “us” and “them”. Together. The first word Olson uses in his
essay. Olson uses this word to begin the essay in order to start on the right foot with whoever the
audience may be, trying not to separate people onto sides of the topic. He also connects the
reader to them in everyday lives in a casual way saying they are “our doctors, our teachers, our
soldiers… and our friends”(Olson, 78). A successful technique that Olson uses is word choice.
He utilizes a variety of adjectives to pull out your emotions such as decent and hard-working.
These words can be used to describe any citizen not just gay people. Olson uses these examples
because society wants people who are decent and hard-working, their sexual orientation should
not matter. Passionate words are also used in this essay, words such as drastically, universally,
inferior, and unjust.(Olson, 77) These are not just rudimentary words, they are meant to be said
with a meaningful and powerful tone. He uses extreme words to show the audience how
important same-sex marriage is to America.
Along with using a variety of words he uses different tones throughout the piece.
Beginning the essay with a literal tone, he writes “Legalizing same-sex marriage would also be a
recognition of basic American principles…”(Olson, 76). With this tone, he is able to address the
conservative readers with a direct voice, not straying away from the main idea he wants to
convey. Olson writes like this in the beginning in order to connect with the reader, finding
common ground through allowing the reader to gain knowledge about such a controversial topic.
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While he is a conservative he is very passionate about this topic, we can see this when he
changes his tone to be more emotional when talking about how gays are oppressed stating, “It is
an expression of our desire to create a social partnership, to live and share life’s joys and burdens
with the person we love…”(Olson, 77). Olson is using a more emotional tone to relate to those
conservatives in a happily married relationship by reminding them of their significant other and
how special it is to be able to have that. Olson is trying to bring out empathy in the reader by
discussing the benefits of marriage and make them think about what it would be like to have
those experiences denied. He finishes the essay with almost a demanding tone enticing us to do
something. He discusses the Proposition 8, a ballot proposition in California that made same-sex
marriage illegal, and how it did not pass. In regards to that, he writes, “This is an irrational
system, it is discriminatory, and it cannot stand.”(Olson, 82) His word choice here is raw and real
and makes the reader feel like they are obligated act. As a conservative Olson feels like he is
obligated to pursue the American dream of equality and justice for all and that is why he is
fighting for same-sex marriage even though he is a known conservative.
Olson is a great spokesperson for same-sex marriage because he can speak for both sides
fairly and knowledgably. In this essay he is clearly supportive of same-sex marriage but he
writes about it respectfully taking into account the views and emotions of those who disagree
with same-sex marriage. He knows that his primary audience is conservative so he uses his
credibility as a conservative to appeal to them. Throughout the essay he references and quotes
many well-known political figures and documents such as Abraham Lincoln, Justice Salia, The
Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and the Proposition 8 in order to establish
credibility. By using this tactic he shows that by following the rules in that way, same-sex
marriage should be the next step towards equality in America. Olson references documents and
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people that are seen to be trustworthy in order to, again, establish credibility with the reader.
These documents and people have a reputation of being successful with their visions and purpose
and his point is that if they align with same-sex marriage then what else is there to hold us back.
He references the Civil War and that before 1857 an African-American was not considered a
citizen. However, “At the end of the Civil War, to make the elusive promise of equality a reality,
the 14th Amendment to the Constitution add that ‘no State… shall deprive any person… or deny
to any person… the equal protection of the laws’”(Olson, 76). Olson includes the whole law so
that there can be no confusion. He is showing that the law that everyone obeys says that no
person can be denied rights. Being an attorney, he is familiar with court cases such as Romer v.
Evans, Lawrence v. Texas, and the case regarding Proposition 8. Olson uses them in his essay as
examples of progress made over the years towards legalizing same-sex marriage in our
government, showing that America is continually getting closer and closer to marriage equality
for all. He also references Justice Antonin Scalia’s quote talking about how he does not know of
anything in the Constitution that can prevent same-sex marriage being legal. By including
Scalia’s statement, he wants the reader to think of what else there is that is keeping these
Americans from marriage equality.
While Proposition 8 was still a valid amendment, Olson received questions regarding the
issue and in the essay he discusses some answers he has heard. In the reactions from him and
other Americans regarding proposition 8 the reader can almost hear the emotion in the text. He
discusses how they live among us in our neighborhoods and communities. Generally,
neighborhoods and communities are places people feel safe, at home, and surrounded by people
they love and trust. Why would anyone want their friends or loved ones to be denied rights?
However, not all people see them as neighbors or friends. Transitioning from loving emotions,
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he then uses harsh words like persecution and discrimination to show the reader how cruel
society can be. Nobody wants to be known as someone who persecutes and discriminates. Olson
is opening the reader’s eyes to how they as a person and America as a society are treating these
people. In the following sentence he states “…just like the rest of us.”(Olson, 80) which also
brings the two sides together. Olson continues to talk about how we need to come together.
Throughout the essay his goal is to portray gays, lesbians, and straight people as one society, one
America.
America is known as the melting pot of the world for being filled with a variety of
people. With many different types of people come controversies. Addressing controversies like
same-sex marriage through essays like Theodore B. Olson’s can help improve adversities the
country is facing. In his essay “The Conservative Case For Gay Marriage: Why Same-sex
Marriage Is an American Value” Olson successfully uses passionate language, views and
opinions on both sides of the topic, and society’s emotions to pull together the two sides. By
using a collective tone throughout the essay, words like we, our, us, and Americans helps the
reader to become unbiased on the topic. One thing that Olson does not reference is the progress
that has been made thus far for same-sex marriage. By adding that it may show the reader that
the movement has already started and they just need to join. Olson begins the essay with
“Together with my good friend…” (Olson, 75)and ends with “…it is time that we, as Americans,
embrace it”(Olson, 82). Through this he unites his readers as Americans and one body, allowing
the nation to see this issue through his eyes and think about a change in the way identify
conservatives and same-sex marriage.
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Works Cited
Olson, Theodore B. "“The Conservative Case for Gay Marriage: Why Same-sex
Marriage Is an American Value”." Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for
Critical Thinking and Writing. By Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie
Lisle. 9th ed. Boston: Bedford of St. Martin's, 1992. 75-82. Print.