This research explored how newspapers in New Zealand and the United States utilised four news frames (conflict, human interest, morality and responsibility) about same-sex rights to construct a cultural reality during a critical three-year period of crisis for the gay and lesbian community in both countries. Through the examination of 277 newspaper articles, this research found striking differences between coverage in these two countries. This research explores the implications of these differences and argues that media, and news in particular, can function as an authoritative version of reality, particularly during such times of crisis when the public are dealing with issues in which they may not have direct experience.