| dc.description.abstract | Previous research has suggested that coming out is constituted by either the message, speaker, or audience, and with a recent focus on "coming out for yourself" it appears that queer people are the single force responsible in the coming out situation, but this is not possible. In any rhetorical situation, there must be consideration given to all three points of the rhetorical triangle- first the message, then speaker, and audience. The single-axis models we have been using to understand coming out are insufficient. Therefore, I suggest a new, three-dimensional model that better emphasizes the interaction between message, speaker, and audience. In this model, the way one delivers their coming out message is centered on the queer speaker's agency but constituted by the audience as well. These articles aim to connect with straight, cis audiences and reach across the aisle, bridging the rhetorical triangle and emphasizing the equilateral impact of both queer speaker and straight audience. Composed of various topics and genres exploring the impact of audiences on coming out stories, these articles may be read separately but are tied together by overarching themes. Each piece focuses on something different, from Ellen DeGeneres to tips on allyship. Similarly, these topics are explored through a multitude of genres, including commentary, rhetorical analysis, and personal narrative, each working to demonstrate the power of the audience role in coming out situations. | |
