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I.ContemporaryAmericanSocietyandPolitics
marriagereferendatohelptheircandidates.ScholarssuchasLewis(2005),arguethat
surveyandactualelectionresultevidencesuggestgaymarriagehadamoremuted
impactonthe2004presidentialelection,andthatthewarinIraq,theeconomy,and
terrorismeachhadamoresignificantinfluenceovertheelection.
Whiletheeconomydominatedthe2008elections,controversyoversamesexmar-
riageremainedverymuchaliveasballotinitiativescontinuedtocomebeforevoters.
Currently,vestateshavelawspermittingsamesexmarriage:Maine,Vermont,Con-
necticut,Massachusetts,andIowa.InCaliforniain2008thestateSupremeCourtruled
thatitwasunconstitutionaltodenysamesexcouplestheopportunitytomarry.Afer
that,18,000gayandlesbiancouplesweremarriedinthestate.DuringtheNovember
2008elections,Californiavotersapprovedareferendumresultinginanamendmentto
theCaliforniastateconstitutionreading,“onlymarriagebetweenamanandawoman
isvalidorrecognizedinCalifornia”knownasProposition8.Teamendmentpassed
bya52–48margin.Testatesupremecourtheardargumentsinalawsuitchallenging
theamendmentonMarch5,2009,andupheldthevoters,decisioninJune.
SupportersandopponentsofProposition8brokedownalongtypicallines,with
evangelicalChristians,socialconservativesandsoonsupportingtheamendment,while
liberals,gayrightsgroups,andnumerouscelebritiesopposedit.Neithermajorpresi-
dentialcandidatein2008,northeirparties,supportedsamesexmarriage.However,
RepublicanJohnMcCainendorsedtheCaliforniameasure,whileBarackObama,who
supportsmarriage-likecivilunionsforgaycouples,opposedthemeasure.However,itis
thecelebritieswhoareofmostinterestfortheresearchpresentedhere.Specifically,this
paperinvestigatesthepossibilitythatanopportunityforcelebritiestomakepolitical
statementswhichhasheretoforebeenignoredbyscholarsmayindeedinfluencethe
politicalthinkingofyoungpeople:speechesbroadcastduringtheAcademyAwards.
TeAcademyAwards,popularlyknownastheOscars,areanannualawardspresen-
tationoftheAcademyofMotionPictureArtsandSciences(AMPAS).Tepurposeofthe
ceremonyistorecognizetheoutstandingworkofactors,directors,andotherprofession-
alsinthelmindustry.Te81stAcademyAwards,withits31/2hourruntime,airedon
nationalnetworktelevisiononFebruary22nd,2009,andgarnered36.3millionviewers,
makingittheyear,stopentertainmentbroadcast.Teshow,sviewershipincreased13%
overthepreviousyearandwaswatchedbynearlyaquarterofalltelevisionsinusein
America.AccordingtoNeilsen,thelargestincreaseinratingscameamongmenage
18–34,andadultsage18–49,whocomprised49.5percentoftheaudience.
Teawardshavehadahistoryofcontentiouspoliticalcontent,rangingfromMar-
lonBrando,s1973refusaloftheBestActorAwardasareactionagainstHollywood,s
treatmentofNativeAmericans(hesentNativeAmericanactressSacheenLittlefeather
(alsoknownasMariaCruz)toreadhisdenouncement,totheboosoftheaudience),to
MichaelMoore,sbeingbooedofstageforchargedremarksabouttheBushpresidency.
Controversyin2009cameasaresultofSeanPenn,sacceptancespeechfortheBest
ActorAwardforhisportrayaloftrailblazinggaypoliticianHarveyMilk.Milkserved
asaSanFranciscoBoardofSupervisorsfromJanuary8,1978toNovember27,1978.
HehadrunforSupervisorseveraltimesbeforewinning,andhispoliticalactivism
hadmuchearlierearnedhimthenicknametheMayorofCastroStreet,thelargelygay