《天使在美國》里的同性戀者身份認(rèn)同研究

PAGE23AnAnalysisofHomosexualIdentity:ACaseStudyofTonyKushner’sAngelsinAmerica《天使在美國》里的同性戀者身份認(rèn)同研究AcknowledgmentsIwouldliketotakethisopportunitytoexpressthegreatgratitudetomytutorMrs.FangQingintheaccomplishmentofthisthesis.Withoutherearnestguidanceandsuggestion,Icouldnotfinishthisthesis.Also,Iwanttoshowmythanktothefriendswhogivemeahand.Withtheirencouragement,Icanfinishthisthesisbetter.

AbstractTonyKushner’sepicdrama“AngelsinAmerica”tellsthesocialandpoliticalrealityoftheReaganeraintheUnitedStatesfromtheperspectiveoftheAIDScrisis.Homosexualityasasocialphenomenon,itsresearchwillintensify.Thefirstneedsofhomosexualityistodefinewhatishomosexuality.Therefore,itisveryimportanttoexploretheprocessofhomosexualidentityformation.Thethesischooses"AngelinAmerica"asanexample,usingthesocialidentitytheory,combinedwiththesocialsituationandproblemsintheUnitedStatesintheplay,analyzesthehomosexuals'self-identityandsocialidentitybarriers,andexploreshowcontemporaryhomosexualscangetoutofthedilemmaofidentitydisorder.Keywords:AngelsinAmerica,Homosexual,socialidentity,

摘要托尼庫什納的史詩劇《天使在美國》以美國里根時(shí)代為背景從艾滋病爆發(fā)的危機(jī)講述了當(dāng)時(shí)美國的社會(huì)和政治現(xiàn)實(shí)。在對(duì)同性戀者越來越開放的社會(huì)環(huán)境下，同性戀作為一種社會(huì)現(xiàn)象，其研究必將愈加深入，由于同性戀的第一個(gè)需求史定義什么是同性戀，其定義與同性戀如何定義他們身份密不可分。因此探索同性戀者身份認(rèn)同形成過程十分重要。論文選取《天使在美國》為例，運(yùn)用身份認(rèn)同理論，結(jié)合劇作中美國的社會(huì)形勢及問題，分析同性戀者的自我身份認(rèn)同與社會(huì)身份認(rèn)同障礙，探索當(dāng)代同性戀者如何走出身份認(rèn)同障礙的困境。關(guān)鍵詞：《天使在美國》；同性戀者；身份認(rèn)同

ContentsAcknowledgments 1Abstract 2摘要 3Contents 4ChapterOneIntroduction 5ChapterTwoBriefIntroductionofWriterandAngelsinAmerica 62.1TonyKusher 62.2AngelsinAmerica 72.2.1MillenniumApproaches 82.2.2Perestroika 9ChapterThreeHomosexualIdentity 113.1WhatisHomosexualIdentity 113.1.1Self-Identity 133.1.2SocialIdentity 143.2HomosexualIdentityinthePlay 153.2.1IdentityBarriers 153.2.2TurnaroundofHomosexualIdentity 19ChapterFourConclusion 22References 23?ChapterOneIntroductionHomosexuals,asaminorityanduniquegroupinsociety,havealwaysreceivedspecialattentionfromthemedical,psychology,andsociologycircle.Asasocialphenomenon,homosexualityhasitsprofoundsocialrootsandinfluences.Animportantpartofthisrootcauseandinfluenceisitsdoubtoraffirmationofitsidentity.Homosexualidentityisnotonlyanindicatorofhomosexuality,butalsocanprovideareasonableexplanationforstudying,workingandlivinginsociety.Theidentityofhomosexualshasadecisiveinfluenceonthewaytheybehave.Ifthereisnoidentity,homosexualswillfallintoendlessdistressandconfusion,andeveniftheyhaveidentity,theycannotreasonablyexplaintheiridentityandwillleadtothepainandstruggleofhomosexuals.Ontheotherhand,inreallife,homosexualswillencountermanypressuresfromdifferentlevels,whichwillaffecttheirownidentity.Therefore,itisverymeaningfultoexploretheprocessandpathofidentityofhomosexuals.

ChapterTwoBriefIntroductionofWriterandAngelsinAmerica2.1TonyKusherTonyKushner’sAngelsinAmerica:AGayFantasiaonNationalThemesfollowsthelivesoffivegaymen,twoofwhomareinfectedwithAIDS.GrowingupasagayJewish,Kushnerrecognizedhissexualpreferenceinhischildhoodyears.However,hedidnotrevealhissexualidentityafterhediscoveredhewasgay.Analyzinghisworksisagoodwaytounderstandtheauthor’sthoughtsandfeelings,especiallyhisviewabouthomosexualatthattime.ApartfromAngelsinAmerica(PartOne:MillenniumApproaches1991,Perestroika1992),hewroteplayssuchasSlavs!ThinkingAbouttheLongstandingProblemsofVirtueandHappiness(1995),ABrightRoomCalledDay(1985),ordramaTheIntelligentHomosexual’sGuidetoCapitalismandSocialismwithaKeytotheScriptures(2009).Heisaco-authorofthescreenplayofthe2005filmMunichorthefilmLincoln(2012).AuthorswhoinfluencedKushnerinsomewayaremainlyWalterBenjaminandBertoltBrecht,thenforexampleEugeneO’Neill,RainerMariaRilkeorKarlMarx.ReadingBrecht,togetherwithpoliticalmilitancy,ledhimtothinkofacareerinthetheatre.Oncehesaidthatthetheatrecreatedanenvironmentinwhichitwaspossibleforhimtohandlehishomosexuality.Heidentifieshimselfwithmarginalizedcommunities,especiallygaysandlesbians,Jews,socialists,politicalactivists,andartists.TonyKushnercelebratesdifferences,community,alliancethatacceptsrace,sexualpreferenceandgender.Inoneinterview,henamedthingsandqualitiesthathehates:“Homophobia,racism,sexism,antisemitism,arrogance,privilege,mean-spiritedness,dishonesty,xenophobia,deliberatestupidity,greed,bellicosity–inbrief,conservativepolitics.”.Inthenext,IwillintroduceanddescribetheplayAngelsinAmerica.Itisdividedintoageneralintroductionoftheplay,andthenitcontainstwochaptersthatarefocusedontwopartsoftheplay–MillenniumApproachesandPerestroika.2.2AngelsinAmericaAngelsinAmericaisaplaywrittenbyTonyKushneranditissetatadifficulttimeforgaypolitics,in1985whenRonaldReaganisinpower.BigsbydescribesReagan’seraasfollows:“hisshapingoftheSupremeCourtseemslikelytodeterminethenatureofAmericansocietyanditsresponsetominoritiesandliberalcausesfortheforeseeablefuture”(forReagan’spolicyofAIDS,seebelow).Theplayisdividedintotwoparts,PartOne:MillenniumApproaches(1992),andPartTwo:Perestroika(1994).2AngelsinAmericaisaseriousdrama.Ithasalsobeenthemostcommented;mostcriticisedandawardedplayontheAmericanstagefromthemiddle1950s.AccordingtoMu?oz,theplay’ssuccessrepresentsabigturningpointinAmericandrama.TonyKushnerexplainedwhyistheplaysosuccessful:“ThereasonthatAngelsisthebestthingIhaveeverwrittenisbecauseIdecidedtowriteaboutbeinggay.”.Itisalsoapost-modernplay,whosepostmodernismismoststronglypresentedintheacknowledgementoftheplaceofthepastinthepresent.Moreover,theplay’spunninglanguage(asin:“Ohmyqueen;youknowyou’vehitrock-bottomwhenevendragisadrag”(Kushner,1992,p.31))alsosignifiesapost-modernplayfulness.Theplay’stitle,specificallythewordAngel,wasinspiredbyWalterBenjamin’sworkThesesonthePhilosophyofHistory(1940).Theplayissubtitledas“GayFantasiaonNationalThemes”.Inoneinterview,Kushnerexplainedtheimportanceofthesubtitleandlinkingtheterm“gayfantasia”withtheexpression“nationalthemes”:IfeltthatalotofwhatyoucouldidentifyasgaytheatreinAmericainthelatesixtiesandseventieswasfocusedveryextensivelyondomesticissuesandrelationalissues.Thatwasappropriatetoitshistoricalmomentandtowhatwasofconcerntothecommunityatthattime,becausethenotionofgayliberationwasrelativelynew.Ithinkthere’sashiftinattentionhappeningnow,andAngelsisanexampleinthat(JonesinVorlicky,1998,p.18).KushnerdividedAngelsinAmericaintotwoparts:PartOne:MillenniumApproacheswhichissetbetween1985and1986andPartTwo:PerestroikawhichtakesplacefromJanuary1986toFebruary1986.TheEpilogueinPerestroikaissetin1990,whentheBerlinWallhasfallenandtheColdWarhasalmostbeenover.ThecharacterofHannahdeclares,besidesotherthings,inthispart:“Iwonderwhat’llhappennowinplaceslikeCzechoslovakiaandYugoslavia.”(Kushner,1994,p.97).2.2.1MillenniumApproachesMillenniumApproacheshasthreeactsintotal,fromwhicheveryacthasdifferentnumberofscenes.ActOne:BadNewstakesplaceinFall1985andcontainsninescenes.ActTwo:InVitroissetinEarlyWinter1985.Thisacthaseventenscenes.ThelastoneisActThree:Not-Yet-Conscious,ForwardDawningsetinLateWinter1985–86.Thisactiscomposedofeightscenes.Thefirstpartintroducesthecharacterstospectatorsandtellsastoryofstoriesthatoverlap.LouisIronson,awordprocessorofSecondCircuitCourtofAppeals,liveswithhisboyfriendPriorWalter(whooccasionallyworksasaclubdesigner),whoisdyingofAIDS4.TonyKushnersaidaboutthischaracter:“PriorWalter,whoisthepersonthatyou’recallingthehero,andIthinkinacertainsense,heistheplay’shero.He’sdonedrag,buthe’snotnecessarilyadragqueen.”(fortheexplicationofthetermdragqueen,seebelow).Louishastodealwithhisboyfriend’sdisease,butheisincapableofdoingso,andheleavesPrior.JosephPitt,achiefclerkoftheSecondCircuitofFederalCourtofAppealsisasuppressedhomosexualwholiveswithhisValiumaddictedwife,Harperwhohashallucinationsandmaddreamsandwhopretendstobepregnant.Inherhallucinations,HarpermeetsMrLies5,atravelagentwhotakeshertoAntarctica.Becauseofacareerinpolitics,JoegetsanofferbyRoyCohntoworkinWashington,butheisdoubtful,becauseHarperdoesnotwanttomovetoWashingtonandhedoesnotwanttoleaveher.RoyCohnisasuccessfullawyerwithlargepower.HeisaclosethomosexualwithAIDSwhorefusestobeaccusedofbeingahomosexual.Prior’sformerloverisablackex-dragqueen6Belizewhoworksasanurse.KushnerworriedaboutmakingBelizeanursebecauseofracialstereotypes,butthisprofessioncapturescharacter’sfunctionintheplay,whichistorespondwithgenerositytothosewholackgenerosity.OtherimportantcharactersinPartOneareHannahPitt,Joe’smotherwhomovesfromSaltLakeCitytoNewYork,andTheAngel,whoappearstoPrior.TheAngelmanifestsaContinentalPrincipalityofAmerica.OthercharacterswhoappearinMillenniumApproachesare:RabbiIsidorChemelwitz,Henry(adoctor),Emily(anurse),MartinHeller,EllaChapter,Eskimo,EthelRosenberg,Prior1andPrior2(Prior’sancestors).2.2.2PerestroikaPartTwo:PerestroikaisasecondpartoftheplayAngelsinAmerica:AGayFantasiaonNationalThemesthattakesplacein1986.Inthisyear,namelyinApril1986,therewasanexplosioninChernobyl.Thistragicmomentisalsomentionedinthispart;intheplay,itisannouncedbytheBritishradio.Itcanbeseenasnonsense,becauseweknowthatPerestroikaissetinJanuaryandFebruary1986.However,thisaccidentisdiscussedbyTheContinentalPrincipalitiesandastheyareimagined,theycanseethefuture.WhenoneofthePrincipalitiesaskedaboutthedate,theotheroneanswers:“April26th.Sixty-twodaysfromtoday.”(Kushner,1994,p.85).Thenameofthispart,Perestroika,comesfromRussianword[perestroika],whichcanbeexplainedasrebuildingorreorganisation.Thismeaningcanbeconnectedwiththenameofthispartindifferentways.Itcansignifymillenniumapproachingandthechangesitcanbring.Oritcanhiderebuildingoftherelationshipsbetweenthecharacters,orthechangesintheirlives.AlthoughKushnersaidthathemadePartTwo:Perestroikaathree-actplay,Iworkedwithaversionthatconsistsoffiveacts.ActOne:SpoojhassevenscenesandissetinJanuary1986.ActTwo:TheEpistle(dedicatedtoSigridWurschmidt)consistsonlyoftwoscenesandtakesplaceinFebruary1986.Thenextact,ActThree:Borborygmi,setalsoinFebruary1986,includesfivescenes.ActFour:JohnBrown’sBodycontinuesinFebruary1986andhasninescenesinall.Thelastone,ActFive:Heaven,I’minHeavenfinishesinFebruary1986andconsistoftenscenes.Epilogue:BethesdaisapartofPerestroikaandissetinFebruary1990.ThecharactersinPerestroikaarethesameasinMillenniumApproaches,buttherearesomenewcharactersadded:AleksiiAntedilluvianovichPrelapsarianov(theWorld’sOldestBolshevik),theContinentalPrincipalities(theAngelofEuropa,Africanii,Oceania,Asiatica,Australia,Antarctica)andSarahIronson(Louis’deadgrandmother).PerestroikafollowsMillenniumApproaches,notonlyindevelopingthestory,butalsoinstaging.Kushnerwrites:“PerestroikaproceedsforwardfromthewreckagemadebytheAngel’straumaticentryattheendofMillennium.(Kushner,1994,ANoteabouttheStaging).Unlikethefirstpart,Perestroikadevelopsthestory.LouisandJoehaveabriefromancethatendswithafight.LouisperceivesitasapunishmentforleavingPrior.Hannah,whocametoNewYorkinPartOne,meetPriorbecomesoneofhisbestfriends.BelizestartstoworkasaprivatenurseforRoyCohnwhohadtostayinthehospitalandwhosestashofAZT8Belizelooksafter.Duringthispart,RoyCohndiesbecauseofAIDS.

ChapterThreeHomosexualIdentityThischapteristhemostimportantoneofthisthesis.ItisfocusontheanalysisofthehomosexualidentityintheplayAngelsinAmerica.Inthefirstpartofthischapter,therecanbefoundtwodefinitionsofhomosexualidentitybasedonsocialidentitytheory.Thesecondpartcontainstheanalysisofhomosexualidentityofthecharacter.What’smore,asRegan’serawasmarkedbytheproblemswithAIDSepidemic,andasAIDSisasignificanttopicinAngelsinAmerica,Idecidedtoanalyzethisissue.3.1WhatisHomosexualIdentityBeforewetalkabouthomosexualidentity,letusfirstmakeclearthatwhatisidentityandsocialidentity.Theproblemofidentitycanbestudiedinthedimensionsofphilosophy,socialpsychologyandsociology.Identitycontainstwomeaningsofwhatapersonisorthequalitiesofapersonorgroupthatmakethemdifferentfromothers.Identityisthepositionofmembersofsocietyinsociety,demonstratedasanormorrole,anindividualorgroupidentity.Onthebasisoftherecognitionofidentity,therearetwofactionshavebeenarguingendlessly.Oneofthembelievesthathomosexualidentityisonlyaprocessofdiscoveringandacknowledgingone’sownsexualorientation.However,theotherfactionbelievesthatsexualidentityisinfluencedbysocial,cultural,environmentalandotherfactorswiththesocialandculturalnetworkchanged.Weneedtodistinguishthedifferencebetweensexualorientationandsexualidentity.TheAmericanPsychologicalAssociationstatesthat"sexualorientationreferstoanenduringpatternofemotional,romantic,and/orsexualattractionstomen,women,orbothsexes"andthat"thisrangeofbehaviorsandattractionshasbeendescribedinvariousculturesandnationsthroughouttheworld.Akrivopoulou,ChristinaM.ProtectingtheGeneticSelffromBiometricThreats:Autonomy,Identity,andGeneticPrivacy:Autonomy,Identity,andGeneticPrivacy[M]IGIGlobal,2015：72Eventhough,sexualidentityiscloselyrelatedtosexualorientation,buttheyaredistinguished,withsexualidentityreferringtoone’sindividual’sidentitythatreflectshis/hersexualself-concept.Akrivopoulou,ChristinaM.ProtectingtheGeneticSelffromBiometricThreats:Autonomy,Identity,andGeneticPrivacy:Autonomy,Identity,andGeneticPrivacy[M]IGIGlobal,2015：72ThesocialidentitytheorywasdevelopedbyHenriTajfelandhisdiscipleJohnC.Turnerandothers.Itwasproposedintheprocessofinter-groupbehaviorandinter-grouprelations.Tajfeldefinessocialidentityasaself-definitionasamemberofagroup.AccordingtoTajfel,thedefinitionofsocialidentityisrelatedtotheindividual’sperceptionofbelongingtoaparticularsocialgroupandtheemotionalandvalueimplicationsofthatgroupidentity.Itispreciselybecauseindividualsbelongtovarioussocialgroupsthattheyneedasocialidentitytodeterminetheirspecialpositioninsociety.Accordingtosocialidentitytheory,personalidentityisadistinctrecognitionforoneself,whichmakesindividualidentityhimself(herself)asaspecialentity.Withthislimitedconceptofsocialidentityinmind,thereargumentisbasedonthefollowinggeneralassumptions:1.Individualsstrivetomaintainorenhancetheirself-esteem:theystriveforapositiveself-concept.2.Socialgroupsorcategoriesandthemembershipofthemareassociatedwithpositiveornegativevalueconnotations.Hence,socialidentitymaybepositiveornegativeaccordingtotheevaluations(whichtendtobesociallyconsensual,eitherwithinoracrossgroups)ofthosegroupsthatcontributetoanindividual'ssocialidentity.3.Theevaluationofone'sowngroupisdeterminedwithreferencetospecificothergroupsthroughsocialcomparisonsintermsofvalue-ladenattributesandcharacteristics.Positivelydiscrepantcomparisonsbetweenin-groupandout-groupproducehighprestige;negativelydiscrepantcomparisonsbetweenin-groupandout-groupresultinlowprestige.TaifeiH,TurnerJ.AnIntegrativeTheoryofIntergroupConflict[J].1979:33-47TaifeiH,TurnerJ.AnIntegrativeTheoryofIntergroupConflict[J].1979:33-47Fromtheseassumptions,somerelatedtheoreticalprinciplescanbederived:individualsstrivetoachieveortomaintainpositivesocialidentity.Positivesocialidentityisbasedtoalargeextentonfavorablecomparisonsthatcanbemadebetweenthein-groupandsomerelevantoutgroups:thein-groupmustbeperceivedaspositivelydifferentiatedordistinctfromtherelevantout-groups.Whensocialidentityisunsatisfactory,individualswillstriveeithertoleavetheirexistinggroupandjoinsomemorepositivelydistinctgroupand/ortomaketheirexistinggroupmorepositivelydistinct.TaifeiH,TurnerJ.AnIntegrativeTheoryofIntergroupConflict[J].1979:33-47TaifeiH,TurnerJ.AnIntegrativeTheoryofIntergroupConflict[J].1979:33-47Accordingtothis,wecandefineitintoself-identityandsocialidentity.Basedontherecognitionofsocialidentity,researcherscanlearnmoreabouthomosexualidentity.ThewriterofAHistoryofHomosexualityinEurope,FlorenceTamagne,regardedhomosexualidentityasahistoricalphenomenontointerpret.Shebelievesthathomosexualidentityisconstructed,indicatingthatanenvironmentiscreatedandaparticularconsciousnessmakeshomosexualsdefinethemselvesasagroup.However,itisdifficulttodistinguishwhetheritisonlyacceptingone'sownsexualorientationorwhetheritisrequiredtobelongtoahomosexualgroup.Thissituationdiffersdependingonthecountry,region,andsocialclassinwhichtheidentityislocated.Itcanbeseenthathomosexualidentityshouldincludebothself-identityandsocialidentity.Aswhatshewroteinherbook,thehomosexualidentitywasbuiltontwoaxes:self-discovery,one’sviewofoneself,andotherpeople’sview.FlorenceTamagne.AHistoryofHomosexualityinEurope,Vol.I&II:Berlin3.1.1Self-IdentityAbouttheself-identityinhomosexualidentity,theearliestandmostwidelyusedmodelwasproposedbyCass.Shedividedtheprocessofhomosexualidentityintosixstages:identityconfusionidentitycomparisonidentitytoleranceidentityacceptanceidentityprideidentitysynthesisInCassidentitymodel,identityistheprocessofdiscoveringthenatureofone’ssexualityanditneverchangedaftertheformation.Thosewhofailtocompletetheentireidentificationprocessareconsideredtobeidentitybarriers.Afterthismodel,therearemanypeopledevelopedthismodel.However,itjustsimplifythefactofhomosexualidentityitself,ignoretherepeatedlearningandcognitiveprocessesofhomosexualidentity.Duringtheprocess,thereareinteractionofvariousfactorswithdifferentstage.Afterthat,Plummerconcludedthatself-identityconsistsoffourkeyprocesses:(notnecessarilyfollowingafixedorder)selfconversationtoownself;tellothers-relatives,friends,andcolleaguesinprivate;beknownbymorepeopleandbecomeopenmessage;finallyopenidentityonthepoliticallevel.3.1.2SocialIdentityTheidentificationinthesociologicalsenseistheidentificationof“identity”,whichindicatestheconfirmationofthelegitimacyofidentityorrole,theconsensusofpeopleanditsinfluenceonsocialrelations.Theexistingliteratureonthesocialidentityofhomosexualidentityisveryrare.Butasanindispensablepartofidentity,socialidentityinfluencestheprocessofhomosexualidentityintheprocessofidentity.Homosexualsalsodefinethemselvesthroughothers.Althoughtheytrytobeself-affirming,theycannotsurpasstheconceptsimposedbytheoutsideworld.Socialcategorizationsareconceivedhereascognitivetoolsthatsegment,classify,andorderthesocialenvironment,andthusenabletheindividualtoundertakemanyformsofsocialaction.TaifeiH,TurnerJ.AnIntegrativeTheoryofIntergroupConflict[J].1979:33-47Buttheydonotmerelysystematizethesocialworld;theyalsoprovideasystemoforientationforself-reference:theycreateanddefinetheindividual'splaceinsociety,andprovidetheirmemberswithanidentificationofthemselvesinsocialterms.TaifeiH,TurnerJ.AnIntegrativeTheoryofIntergroupConflict[J].1979:33-473.2HomosexualIdentityinthePlayAngelsinAmericaincludesbothhomosexualandheterosexualcharacters.What’sinterestingisthatinthatplaysomecharactersareMormonsandMormonsdonotaccepthomosexual.WhatMormonsbelieveisthattheonlylegallyrelationshipisbetweenahusbandandwifeandhomosexualityisagainstGod.Oneofimportantcharactersintheplayissuppressedhomosexuals.Theyrefusedtheirownidentityinspiteoftheirneeds,feelingsandeventheirdiseases.Formakingtheanalysisclearer,Idecidedtochoosethreeimportantbuttotallydifferentcharactersanddividethecharactersaccordingtotheirhomosexuality.Thuswewillhavesuppressedhomosexual-RoryCohnandJoePitt,andhomosexual-PriorWalter.Thetwocharactersbelongtotwoopposingideologicalcamps.RoyCohn,acharacterbasedupontheactuallawyerofthesamename.Heisapowerfulfigureinconservativeandright-wingpartiesand,alsoahiddenhomosexual.However,PriorWalterisanopenlygayNewYorkerwhichoccasionallyworksasaclubdesignerorcaterer.3.2.1IdentityBarriersIntheplayRoyisinachaoticstateofself-recognition,unwillingtoadmitordenyhissexualorientation.Asweknow,theplayissetinRegan’seraandatthattime,masculinitywasassociatedwithpoliticsandclout.RoyCohncanbecalledasatypicalexamplesofconnectionbetweenhomosexualidentityandpower.WhenRoyspeakswithhisdoctorHenryabouthisdisease-AIDS,heshowsoffhispower.RoyasksHenry:ROY.Icanpickupthephone,punchfifteennumbers,andyouknowwhowillbeontheotherendinunderfiveminutes,Henry?HENRY.ThePresident.ROY.Evenbetter,Henry.Hiswife.HENRY.I’mimpressed.(Kushner,1992,p.32)Kushner,T.(1992).AngelsinAmericaPartOne:MillenniumApproaches.London,UnitedKingdom:NickHernBooks.Kushner,T.(1992).AngelsinAmericaPartOne:MillenniumApproaches.London,UnitedKingdom:NickHernBooks.Andhedenytoadmitheishomosexual.Becauseaccordingtohim,homosexualhavenopower.Thedifferencebetweenhomosexualsandhimisthathehasclout,powerandconnections.ROY.Likealllabelstheytellyouonethingandonethingonly:wheredoesanindividualsoidentifiedfitinthefoodchain,inthepeckingorder?Notideology,orsexualtaste,butsomethingmuchsimpler:clout.NotwhoIfuckorwhofucksme,butwhowillpickupthephonewhenIcall,whoowesmefavours.Thatiswhatalabelrefersto.Nottosomeonewhodoesnotunderstandthis,homosexualiswhatIambecauseIhavesexwithmen.Butreallythisiswrong.Homosexualsarenotmenwhosleepwithothermen.Homosexualsaremenwhoinfifteenyearsoftryingcannotgetapissanteanti-discriminationbillthroughCityCouncil.Homosexualsaremenwhonownobodyandwhonobodyknows.Whohavezeroclout.Doesthissoundlikeme,Henry?(Kushner,1992,p.31)WhenheasksHenrywhatdoeshehave,hesaysAIDS,butRoyrefusesitandinsiststhathehas“l(fā)ivercancer”(Kushner,1992,p.46).HetriestoforceHenrytosaythatRoyCohnisahomosexual,butHenryiscarefultosayso.Instead,hedeclares:HENRY.RoyCohn,youareYouhavehadsexwithmen,manymanytimes,Roy,andoneofthem,oranynumberofthem,hasmadeyouverysick.YouhaveAIDS.ROY.AIDS.Yourproblem,Henry,isthatyouarehunguponwords,onlabels,thatyoubelievetheymeanwhattheyseemtomean.AIDS.Homosexual.Gay.Lesbian.Youthinkthesearenamesthattellyouwhosomebodysleepswith,buttheydon’ttellyouthat.(Kushner,1992,p.31)Attheendofthispolemic,Cohndeclares:“RoyCohnisnotahomosexual.RoyCohnisaheterosexualman,Henry,whofucksaroundwithguys.”(Kushner,1992,p.46).RoyevenforcesHenrytowriteintohismedicalchartsthathehaslivercancer.Royusespoliticalsophistrytoconfusethedefinitionofhomosexualityanddenyhissexualorientation.Socialidentitytheoryholdsthatsocialidentityisestablishedbysocialcategorization,socialcomparisonandpositivedistinctiveness.AccordingtoTajfel’sresearch,aremarkablyomnipresentfeatureofintergrouprelationsisin-groupbias.Itmeansthat,oncerealizetheawarenessoftheexistenceofanout-groupwillaggravateintergroupcompetitiveordiscriminatoryresponsesonthein-group.Tajfelfurtherproposedtheself-categorizationtheoryin1985,whichsupplementshissocialidentitytheory.Hebelievesthatpeoplewillautomaticallyclassifythings,therefore,peoplewillautomaticallydistinguishthein-groupandout-group.Whenpeoplecategorizethemselves,theyarebeincludedinthisgroup,andit’salsoaredefinitionoftheselfintermsofgroupmembership.Itcanbedescribedasaprocessofself-stereotyping.RoyandJoe,boththemareinNeoconservativeandRepublicanparties.Thedecadesof1980s’tenyearswasAIDSbediscoveredandspreadof.AmericanwasthefirstplacediscoveredbyAIDS,andhomosexualswereconsideredtobethesolecarriersanddisseminatorsofthisvirus.AIDSisregardedasevil,sinandoriginalsin.Atthesametime,the80swastheReaganera.OnesenioradvisorofReagan,PatrickJosephBuchanan,hewroteinhisarticlethathomosexualhavedeclaredwaruponnature,andnownatureisextractinganawfulretribution.Becausethegovernment’sattitudeandthesocialcategorizationofthattime,whenHenrytellRoythathehasAIDS,herefusestorecognizeit.Heinsiststhatpoliticalidentitydeterminesexualidentity.WhenhewasdiagnosedasanAIDScarrier,hewasabandonedbytheNeoconservativegovernment.Hislawyer’slicensewasrevokedbytheNewYorkBarAssociationforAIDS.Hewasabandonedbyhissocialgroup.Intheplay,Royusethesam