Fears Of Homosexuality In The 1950's

Life for most homosexuals during the first half of the Twentieth century was one of hiding, being ever so careful to not give away their true feelings and predilections. Although the 1920s saw a brief moment of openness in American society, that was quickly destroyed with the progress of the Cold War, and by default, that of McCarthyism. The homosexuals of the 50s “felt the heavy weight of medical prejudice, police harassment and church condemnation … [and] were not able to challenge these authorities.” They were constantly battered, both physically and emotionally, by the society that surrounded them. The very mention or rumor of one’s homosexuality could lead to the loss of their family, their livelihood and, in some cases, their

Many people from the United States hold the belief that being gay is something that has always been considered to be okay. They believe that it is just a given. Despite people’s current beliefs on the subject, for a very long time, it was something that was widely believed to be taboo. In the past, people were imprisoned due to their sexuality. Regardless, throughout the decades, people have pushed for the widespread acceptance of people who are part of the LGBT community. Today, homophobia still exists in some parts of the United States, but we have come a long way since the early 1900s.

“Sex was something mysterious which happened to married couples and Homosexuality was never mentioned; my mother told me my father did not believe it existed at all ‘until he joined the army’. As a child, I was warned about talking to ‘strange men’, without any real idea what this meant. I was left to find out for myself what it was all about.” Mike Newman, who was a child during the 1950s America recalls how homosexuality was perceived during the post-World War II era (F). This sexual oppression was not only in Newman’s household, but in almost everyone’s. While the civil rights movement began in the mid-1950s and ended late 1960s, the LGBT community started to come out of the closet slowly. The gay rights movement stemmed from the civil rights movement

how scary it must have been to be in the LGBT+ community at that time.

In this time society was going through much social change. Protests and movements were very present. In the 1960s women’s rights movements, black power movements, and civil rights protest were going on. This influenced the gay community and sparked energy for them to stand up for their own rights. In 1969 Stonewall riots were occurring in result to the police raiding a gay bar by the name of Stonewall Inn. The legal system in the 1950’s and 1960’s was anti-gay. These groups were being formed to show and prove that society could function. Very few businesses welcomed publicly gay people in the 1950s and 1960s.After the series of riots and the push for social reform gays still faced many obstacles to being openly accepted and integrated into society.

Within the midst of the sexual revolution, homosexual women struggled to find comfort in the whole sexual revolution. “For most of history, lesbianism was so little understood that it was actually pretty easy for gay women to live out their lives in peace and quiet” (Collins 173). Although it was great that these women were not persecuted for being themselves, it still must have been so difficult to hide themselves. It really brings me back to our modern day because I think it is so cool to think that I lived in the year where gay marriage was legalized. Going along with that though, I can not believe how long it took for homosexual people to be accepted into our society. I could not imagine the feeling of having to hide your true self. I am thankful that the LGBTQ community can finally make their love

During the late 1940s, the lavender scare was a time of extreme injustice towards homosexuals in America. Homosexuals were being persecuted because they were thought to be a threat to American society. Homosexuals were being accused of disloyalty to the government, communism, and simply, affecting America’s values. This history of homophobia was driven by fear and reassurance of America’s predominant role in the world. Although American society has come a long way in aspect to justice for the LGBT community, it still falls short for complete equality. Because of this, it is important to be aware of the history of this community as it affected various homosexuals at the time.

In the Introduction to LGBT+ Studies class we discussed many themes of the history of the LGBT+ community, these themes include; oppression, fighting for our visibility and having it delayed, and a sort of power within the community. The LGBT+ community has gone through an immense amount of oppression, having to fight its way into the light and having it be pushed aside multiple times. In a historical context when the LGBT+ community started to show itself so to speak was around the 1920’s there were the first gay rights movements starting, and surprisingly it was the start of some acceptance. However, when World War II began in 1939 it oppressed the movement, as well as setting it back by gay men being denied from the military because

In the 60s being LGBT was not excepted by society, which includes the police. Many people were harassed and abused by police. The people who were suposed to keep them safe were harming them for being themselves.

During the 1960’s to be gay in the United States was essentially a crime. It was the time of the “Lavender Scare,” in which thousands of people were fired from the federal government for no other reason than their sexuality. The fear stemmed from Cold War concerns that homosexuals would be a “security risk,” exploitable by communists (Sherouse) (Sears). Dozens of anti-gay legislation was in existence, specifically prohibiting employment of “homosexuals and other sex perverts” in civil service positions, and subsequently creating a president of discrimination throughout the country (Sears).

In the past decades, the struggle for gay rights in the Unites States has taken many forms. Previously, homosexuality was viewed as immoral. Many people also viewed it as pathologic because the American Psychiatric Association classified it as a psychiatric disorder. As a result, many people remained in ‘the closet’ because they were afraid of losing their jobs or being discriminated against in the society. According to David Allyn, though most gays could pass in the heterosexual world, they tended to live in fear and lies because they could not look towards their families for support. At the same time, openly gay establishments were often shut down to keep openly gay people under close scrutiny (Allyn 146). But since the 1960s, people

In the early 1980’s the nation feelings were very anti-gay. At the same time the HIV/AIDS virus which attacked the immune system and could prove fatal, started showing up in many homosexuals and was named the gay disease. The public was so afraid that many medical facilities refused to treat anyone suspected of the having the virus. President Reagan refused to mention or support research or education to find a cure until the late 1980’s. He went along with what many TV Evangelists preached that this was god’s way of punishing homosexuals. He ignored the problem until he was politically pressured to recognize that the AIDS virus could affect more than just Homosexuals. The result of his non-action was that in the 1980’s over 100,000 thousand

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born January 30th, 1882, to James Roosevelt and Sarah Delano Roosevelt. Roosevelt attended several renowned educational institutions, such as Groton preparatory school and later Harvard University. After graduating with his Bachelor’s degree in history in 1903, he attended law school at Columbia University. On St. Patrick’s Day 1905, he married his wife, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, the niece of President Theodore Roosevelt. The next year, the couple’s first child and only daughter, Anna, was born.

For example, many people would attack others, or even, kill them based on their sexuality, saying it to be disgusting or even a sin. Nowadays people often speak out about it and even protest, helping set laws that gave the people of the LGBT community rights like others. Another example, being the mistreatment of women,

For the first time in my life, I was afraid of being gay. In the LGBT community, it kind of comes with the territory. I mean not everyone is going to be on your side and fully accept you. And that is okay! When it comes to bigotry you just need to be able to kind of roll with it. It creates a hard exterior for you to have. But never have I ever felt a genuine sense of fear for being gay.