GAA Constitution preamble
The following document is a scanned image with a self-descriptive title. For more background information about LGBT organizations including the Gay Activists Alliance (GAA) click here. This preamble comes from the GAA's constitution, which was approved on December 21, 1969. For the full constitution in pdf format click here.
Active Analysis:
- Read through this preamble.
- Document based questions below help guide reflection.
Document Based Questions
What does it mean for a person to have rights? Who determines or protects people's rights?
The structure and tone of this document can be likened to what other famous document? Why would the authors write in this way? What are they suggesting? How does this support their cause?
When was this document created? What do you imagine were the societal attitudes and norms at this time?
The first paragraph references "mechanisms." What does this term mean? Who is being inhibited? How so? What specific groups, institutions, structures are inhibiting the authors? Why would these be called "mechanisms"?
Why do the authors place quotation marks around the phrase "moral authority" in the second paragraph? What are they saying about societal attitudes? How are they confronting opposing viewpoints?
Paragraph 5 references "governance of laws justly made and executed." What is the significance of this statement? Are the current laws during the creation of this document just?
Who is responsible for carrying out the stated goals and mission? How would they accomplish such ends?
What is the significance of organizations within a social movement? What can a group such as the GAA accomplish? What challenges would they face?
Why do you think the GAA was created? What is suggested in this document about the organizations aims?
What are the attitudes of the authors? How do they feel about their own group? How do they feel towards opposition? What evidence shows these feelings?
The structure and tone of this document can be likened to what other famous document? Why would the authors write in this way? What are they suggesting? How does this support their cause?
When was this document created? What do you imagine were the societal attitudes and norms at this time?
The first paragraph references "mechanisms." What does this term mean? Who is being inhibited? How so? What specific groups, institutions, structures are inhibiting the authors? Why would these be called "mechanisms"?
Why do the authors place quotation marks around the phrase "moral authority" in the second paragraph? What are they saying about societal attitudes? How are they confronting opposing viewpoints?
Paragraph 5 references "governance of laws justly made and executed." What is the significance of this statement? Are the current laws during the creation of this document just?
Who is responsible for carrying out the stated goals and mission? How would they accomplish such ends?
What is the significance of organizations within a social movement? What can a group such as the GAA accomplish? What challenges would they face?
Why do you think the GAA was created? What is suggested in this document about the organizations aims?
What are the attitudes of the authors? How do they feel about their own group? How do they feel towards opposition? What evidence shows these feelings?
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document via mousing over the "Primary Sources" tab.