Identity work in conservative political discourse: a cross-cultural comparison

Figures & data

Table

1.	Owen	gay people fall in love (.) just like straight people =
2.	Arlene	= they do, that’s right
3.	Owen	don’t you think they should have the right to express their love (.) for their partners just in the way you have the right to express your love (.) by getting married =
4.	Arlene	= they do have the right to express their love (.) nobody’s talking about anybody not being able to love another person
5.	Owen	but to get married to get married =
6.	Arlene	= but of c[…] (.) I believe that marriage is between a man and woman
7.	Owen	most people in Northern Ireland disagree with you
8.	Arlene	that could well be the case
9.	Owen	so why defy the majority of Northern Ireland by refusing to allow gay people to have the same civil rights as straight people =
10.	Arlene	= well (.) Owen as you know (.) this is a matter for the assembly (.) if the assembly was back and I want the assembly back as quickly as possible (.) I’m quite sure it will come to the floor of the assembly and then I think people should wait and see = ((OJ attempts to interject, AF continues quickly)) = because of course the composition of the assembly has changed since the last time uh and (.) the petition of concern is no longer available uh to us as a party because we don’t have 30 members (.) because as you know the assembly has shrunk from 108 members to 90 members (.) and therefore (.) I think we need to allow the assembly to have its space to debate this ((stops, smiles and nods, yielding the conversational turn))

Table

15.	Owen	((Speaks over Arlene)) Don’t you think you should go down in history as somebody who confronted their own party and said let gay people have the right to get married (.) and share their love just as I do
16.	Arlene	I think (.) Owen (.) the important thing is that as a politician (.) you have to have principles (.) and if you believe in something (.) I think you should be allowed to articulate that view =
17.	Owen	((interrupts)) = is that a principle (.) not for gay people to get married what principle is that =
18.	Arlene	= no no if you ah if you have a belief (.) I think you should be allowed to have a belief otherwise we would live in a very intolerant world wouldn’t we ((head tilt, exaggerated smile with eye-closure, Arlene steps forward and touches Owen’s upper arm)) good to see you ((Steps back, smiling and aide intervenes to usher Arlene away))