The Anatomy of a Queer Political Sex Scandal
Open Access DepositedThis research thesis analyzes sex scandals involving queer politicians in the United States of America from 2000 to present. The exact truth and intent of the politicians in these scandals isn’t the subject for discussion. Instead, this thesis looks at the stories we tell to make sense of these moments by looking at the politicians’ own statements, media reactions, and the commentary of third parties such as political leaders and organizations. This analysis aims to answer the question – what do these political sex scandals reveal about how we conceive of gender and sexuality, and how does that play out during crisis communications? Findings include that queer politicians can fall into a “trust trap” in which voters want their politicians to be honest about themselves but are also less likely to vote for queer politicians if they are honest about their sexuality. This dynamic creates a unique conundrum for queer politicians, especially those who can present as straight because they are married to members of the opposite sex. This thesis also offers practical advice to navigate queer sex scandals from a communications standpoint. Most importantly, politicians need to control the narrative as best they can. This can be done by revealing the dirty details of a scandal first and packaging them up through a sympathetic lens. Once the scandal occurs, the politician needs to work to rebuild trust. This process can’t be done quickly, and politicians shouldn’t try to. Instead, they should take time to meaningfully give back to their communities and causes they care about, so once they return to the public eye, they have a long list of proof points showing that they are constructive members of society.
- All rights reserved
Notice to Authors
If you are the author of this work and you have any questions about the information on this page, please use the Contact form to get in touch with us.