Identify at least one type of behavior considered to be unacceptable within the world of the text on your comparative course. Explain why such behavior is unacceptable in this cultural context and discuss the responses of society to such behavior. Support your answer with references to the text.

The film I studied during my comparative course was ‘Pride’ directed by Matthew Warchus. This film is a prime example of certain behaviors being seen as unacceptable in society. This film portrays the story of a group of Gays and Lesbians, forming a group called the LGSM. This group was formed in order to support Welsh miners who were struggling while on strike. The film shows the group's journey, their highs, and their lows. During the film, there are a number of scenes that portray the nonacceptance of Lesbians and Gays.

This film is set in the 1980s in London, England, a period under Margaret Thatcher’s harsh rule. This was a period when being Gay or Lesbian was seen as a sin. It was considered a terrible thing to be. The majority of society considered being Lesbian or Gay as a choice which is simply not true. In fact, being Lesbian or Gay shouldn't be considered 'behavior'. It's not behavior. It's just simply who you are. Societies back in the 80's didn't understand this due to the culture they were born into. They were lead to believe this belief was correct.

In my opinion, being Lesbian or Gay was seen as unacceptable behavior purely due to the period of time. Although the film was set just roughly 29 years ago, the culture of many European societies have undergone massive changes. The difference between acceptance of Lesbians and Gays has changed massively. In the the 1980's, the mindset of people from England was if you're not straight, you're not right. In order to be right, you must like the opposite sex. Therefore, the LGSM group were purely not accepted by their society. In general, people in societies in the past didn't like change. Societies were supposed to consist of 'normal' people. These people's ideas of 'normal' was being straight. People didn't like outliers. This isn't their fault though. It's the society they've grown up in. It's the culture they've been taught by their parents and their society. It's all they know. Being Gay or lesbian is different, something no one ever wanted to be. The rigidity of what was allowed under Thatcher's rule was a massive contributor to the nonacceptance of Lesbian's and Gays, without a doubt. There was a very clear right and a very clear wrong under Thatcher's rule. She was brutal. The responses of society to the LGSM group were truly horrific. Endless looks of disgust and horror were made by various members of society towards the members of LGSM whilst they were fundraising for the Welsh Miners or simply just minding their own business. Whilst this is horrible and very wrong, I don't blame the people. I blame the culture of the society they were brought up in. 

There are a number of scenes throughout the course of this movie which display the sheer disgust and nonacceptance of society towards Gays and Lesbians.

The first scene which displays the lack of acceptance of society towards Lesbians and Gays happens very early on in the movie. Joe, a closeted 19 year old gay man is at his first gay march on his birthday. He hadn't yet joined the march. He was just standing on a pathway beside the march, watching as the massive group of Lesbians and Gays marched by him with pride. He is hesitant to join. He is worried about how his society will see him if they find out his secret. They won't see him as 'normal' anymore. As Joe is watching, a woman and her daughter walk by him. The lady mutters "disgusting" at him as she walks by. Joe nods and responds with "yes, yes". While this might seem like a quite small and insignificant scene, it is one that has really stuck in my memory. It displays perfectly how scared and nervous Joe is about vocalizing and displaying his sexuality. He is truly terrified. I can only imagine how he feels, growing up in a society with a culture of nonacceptance of Lesbians and Gays only to discover he is a gay man himself. He agrees with this lady immediately. He still hasn't fully accepted who he is. If he grew up in our society today, there would be no question of acceptance or nonacceptance. The culture which I've grown up in is you are who you are and who is anyone else to judge that? 

The second scene which displays the disgust and nonacceptance of people in society towards Gays and Lesbians occurs as the LGSM group are fundraising to support the Welsh miners who were struggling massively while on strike. While the group were fundraising, a middle-aged man walks by and spits at them. He doesn't say a word. It's as if Lesbians and Gays aren't even worth his breath nor his effort. All they're worth is his spit. 

These two scenes display the nonacceptance of Lesbians and Gays in society perfectly. There is evident differences in the class' of people. There's 'normal' people and then far below them, there's Lesbians and Gays. This different class of people began years and years ago from people in society being taught the culture of nonacceptance of Lesbians and Gays.