Degree Name
Master of Science
Graduate Program
Mass Communication and Media Arts
Advisor
Freivogel, William; Barrett, Anita
Abstract
Generations of readers have bought and shared space inside the wedding pages in newspapers, and the introduction of same-sex wedding announcements has not always been granted immediate access. Although polls show same-sex marriage has become more generally accepted by society, the lifestyle and complete inclusion have been perceived as being directly challenged by newspaper policies and legislative efforts to pass religious freedom restoration acts. This paper explores the history of the wedding lifestyles pages, the evolution of media coverage surrounding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues and the recent wave of a religious freedom restoration act in Indiana and the subsequent media coverage that followed.