Gay Rights

The movement of the gay and lesbian population in the United States is one that has been in progress since the early 1900s, and is still facing overwhelming controversy and backlash today. The push for gay liberation in a country founded on Christian morals and beliefs has subsequently led to struggles over equality of marriage, adoption, jobs, and healthcare. One side of the controversy argues that every individual deserves the same rights, while the opposing mindset argues that being homosexual puts you into a group of people that is different, and will therefore be treated as such.

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

“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

When it comes to the gay rights movement, the structure and the history of how it got to where it is today is a huge factor in today’s society. There have been a lot of things that negatively influenced gay rights. In some ways, things have happened in a positive way as well. The gay rights movement today and legalizing gay marriage has struck some people the wrong way because of their beliefs. For the gay community, though, it has been a very positive thing. Some of the big key moments in history went the way they did because of important events and important people causing it to go that way. These include Jeremy Bentham, Magnus Hirschfield, Henry Gerber, the making of the Mattachine Society, Stonewall Riots, Clela Rorex, the Ryan White

Two Diaries, Donald Vining’s A Gay Diary Vol. Two and Martin Duberman’s Gay in the Fifties look into the everyday life of gay males in the post-World War II Era. While World War II increased freedom to explore sexually within the male community, post-World War II extended the freedom of exploration but also created a backlash against homosexual practices. Nevertheless, during and after World War II gay men were fully able to develop social circles and create a sense of community for the first time. Although Vining and Duberman encountered different forms of backlash in response to the extension of gay freedoms in the post-World War II period, they still shared the freedom to explore friendships, relationships, and sexual activity.

Although equal right for all may seem accomplished, specific group in the United States still feel restriction still present for them. The LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) community feels the restrictions they have against them, while some of the straight community feels they are all treated as equals and that LGBTQ people should not have laws that are directly in their favor. The Institute for Policy Studies is acknowledging the struggles LGBTQ people face in the United States like their right to the basic rights all citizens should possess. The Heritage Foundation claims SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) laws threaten other citizen’s freedoms like free speech and religious liberty.

However, the later 1930s were a time where all the freedom and experimentation from the “roaring ‘20s” was reversed, and the national fell into a state of rigid conservatism once again. The gay community, like every other community in America, was feeling the effects of the Great Depression and the old Victorian and Puritan morals were beginning to take control once again. The 1930s brought an enormous decline in public

“God said Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve” we have all heard this quote. People use this quote because it is part of the Bible and people think that the Bible is the best judge out there. People diminish others by saying these types of quote. People also do not realize that the LGBTQA still do not have equal rights. People think that just because gay marriage was legalized that they also got equal. Some issues that the LGBTQA community faces is that they do not have any anti-discrimination laws. People should at least try not to be less hateful and be a little more informed.

John and Stuart, gay couple who have been involved in marriage equality movement for 12 years. John explained what he is doing to achieve that right. The first gay right law was passed in Michigan state, where the state tried on a city level government to see if gay rights laws works or not before they pass it to the whole state or even the federal government. Then the law passed through small liberal cities. In 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court passed a law saying that a state cannot put a gay person in jail just because they had a sexual relationship. On February 12, 2004, Gavin Newsom, mayor of San Francisco at that time, said he don’t want to discriminate any same-sex couples anymore because the constitution says we should not discriminate.

The topic I choose to discuss is the gay rights movement. This topic is presented well in the textbook, it is a long through couple paragraphs of important knowledge. The book talks about how people have started to change opinion about people who have a different sexual orientation than them. It is also talks about how people used to be put into mental hospitals for being homosexual and all the prejudice that goes on with them it’s no wonder that many people don’t announce it. It talks about people being homophobic, nowadays people like that are frowned upon. People don’t understand others who can’t handle if someone had a different sexual orientation than them. I agree with how the book presents this knowledge, I think it is helpful and an

Freedom- The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. In America we are all free, but not exactly because some are born into a harder life of less freedom. While some people say that others can't be born gay, it is not that way because of hatred, wants, and what you're taught.

In the summer of 1969, as the evening of June 27 rolled into the early hours of June 28, another night was coming to an end at the one of Greenwich’s Village’s most popular bars, The Stonewall Inn. Rumored to have been run by one of New York’s organized crime families, The Stonewall was a private club located on Christopher Street in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. Bars that served gay patrons were unable to acquire legal liquor licenses, and bars that catered to a gay clientele were forced to operate in violation of the New York State Liquor Authorities’ laws. As the result, and despite rumored pay offs, police raids were a regular occurrence for gay bars. At approximately 1:20 a.m., plain-clothed officers entered The Stonewall for what would normally have been a routine raid. This time, however, as arrests were being made a riot erupted. Thirteen were arrested and four police officers were injured.

Key concerns of advocates of LGBT rights are the exclusion and discrimination of LGBT people. Many people have misconceptions about homosexuality or homophobic tendencies that LGBT have to try to work against. I think that many LGBT advocates are scared of being judged because of their sexual preferences. During the dialogue, we discussed the similarities of the fight for LGBT rights and minority rights. For example, African-Americans had limited legal rights and there were restrictions on facilities they could use. Similarly, laws were passed in Mississippi discriminating against same-sex couples and gay marriage. I would identify these as key issues because I think that violating LGBT rights is going against human rights of all people. Also, I believe that people should be allowed to engage in relationships with and marry who they choose. A great concern at this time for advocates of LGBT rights is gay

“The gay rights movement is not a party. It is not a lifestyle… It is not about sin or salvation. The gay rights movement is an integral part of the American promise of freedom” (Urvashi Vaid). Many people were not supportive of the minority of people coming out to the world and becoming a part of the LGBTQ+ community. The actions of the many who did not accept the idea of being gay, lesbian or transgender, would interfere with their confidence and freedom of being who they want to be. The idea of gay rights was not socially accepted since it had differed from the social norm of a male and female sexually attracted to one another. However, there would be a ‘safe haven’ in most cities for the LGBTQ+ community to thrive and reveal themselves towards the people that truly accepted them for who they are. Although there were very few ‘safe havens’ around, these places would be tormented by the police and many of the people in them would become oppressed since they wanted to be in a place of acceptance. From June 28, 1969 through July 1, 1969, the gay community faced massive oppression from police raids in Greenwich Village, NYC at Stonewall Inn, which caused them to start a riot which ignited a major conflict for the sake of their own safety and freedom. This riot allowed them to show their oppressors that they are human as well and are able to fight back for themselves and for the future generations ahead of them. Due to the lack of a formal compromise

They are no longer a small population, but a booming revolution. These groups do not hide themselves in burrows, but flamboyantly celebrate their identities. The gays are now a people willing and ready to be heard. It has come to all of our attentions that in the light of marriage they have been depraved and deceived. Homosexuals cannot allow this persecution to continue, as they are constantly forfeited equal rights. The arguments are of lifestyle differences and the legalized discrimination of these people. It encompasses same-sex marriage as a cause worth fighting and defending so that we all may be, “one Nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”