Gender And Sexuality : Perspectives On Lgbt History Essay

The history of the gay rights movement goes as far back as the late 19th century. More accurately, the quest by gays to search out others like themselves and foster a feeling of identity has been around since then. It is an innovative movement that seeks to change existing norms and gain acceptance within our culture. By 1915, one gay person said that the gay world was a "community, distinctly organized" (Milestones 1991), but kept mostly out of view because of social hostility. According to the Milestones article, after World War II, around 1940, many cities saw their first gay bars open as many homosexuals began to start a networking system. However, their newfound visibility only backfired on them, as

Throughout the 1950’s, the United States belonged to the Leave It To Beaver era. Families were structured around a strong, hard working father and a wonderful homemaker mother. Children were brought up with solid ideologies on what society expects from them and were warned about living a different and dangerous life. Only one-year separates Tennessee William’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room from there publishing dates during this decade of unwavering beliefs. These texts were seen as extremely controversial during their time due to their themes of homosexuality. Sexual orientation was an awkward topic during such a “to the book” time period and these texts pushed the limits, making them remarkable and memorable works. Both Tennessee Williams and James Baldwin explore the panic men experience while trying to comprehend what sexual orientation they belong to and highlight the masculine gay man. These texts also examine the woman’s role in the mist of it all.

During the 1980’s indulging in homosexual activity was considered in crime, people were imprisoned when caught doing so. But in 2003 some parts of the United States, suspended the law, and made homosexuality legal, soon European countries such as Canada, Belgium, and Netherlands passed an act which approved of homosexual weddings (Bonvillain 2006). If one digs deeper into this issue, where these debatable, one can find that it roots back from religions. Most religion disapprove of homosexuality but in religions such as Hindu, for sexuality, scriptures of homosexual activity only stated that it was normal and natural, to be attracted to the same sex (Bonvillain 2006). But in today’s society the main issue is regarding the issue of males being attracted to each other, an example of this issue is ‘Homophobia of men’. Homosexuality is considered to be a cultural construct, which apart from the ‘lesbian identities’ gave rise to the ‘gay identities’ (Herek 1986). It is common for normal men, to avoid influencing with homosexual men, as they fear what the public might think of them being judged as not ‘masculine’, where as its more normal for woman to associate with lesbians or homosexual women, as they are not being judged by the rest of the females (Herek 1986). Studies showed, that the social construction of gay identities meant that there was something psychologically wrong with that person,

The lives and careers of gays and lesbians from the era of the Harlem Renaissance have been discussed at length. Numerous works have been published on the lives and careers of Alberta Hunter, Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, Langston Hughes, Alaine Locke, Richard Bruce Nugent, and Countee Cullen. Eric Garber’s 1989 article “A Spectacle in Color,” explores the gay and lesbian subculture during the Harlem Renaissance. He underscores the ways in which black gays and lesbians created social and intellectual spaces not only in private but public places as well. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. describes the Harlem Renaissance as being “as gay as it was black, not that it was exclusively either of these.” Most of the work produced on this era has focused on the

Alfred Charles Kinsey’s work supports Historian Dagmar Herzog’s findings by comparing Europeans’ reactions to Kinsey’s research on homosexuality. With Americans’ reactions Kinsey’s research had a profound effect on the gay subculture in the United States (“The Kinsey Institute – Kinsey Sexuality Rating Scale,” n.d.). However, it also impacted homosexuals in other parts of the world. Historian Dagmar Herzog argues that activists for homosexual rights in France and West Germany were thrilled by Kinsey’s research that showed heterosexual and homosexual behaviors as being on a continuum rather than as a dichotomy between gay and straight (Herzog, 2006). This is ultimately due to the fact that in West Germany homosexuality was still illegal and in

Throughout history, it is easy to realize that Maine has always been a predominantly white and heterosexual state. A state where some communities have been put through many hardships in coming out publicly in an attempt to stop the abuse that they were facing. For example, over time many communities and organizations have tried to change this stereotype about Maine including the LGBTQ community. As the curator of the new Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer History Museum I have the task of choosing the centerpiece for the museum. The two documents that I have chosen to be the centerpieces are both related to Michael Rossetti and are both from the same event. The documents include a poster of the pride pier dance of 1996 and an article called “These Days, Apology is Refreshing” which is a recollection of the events that took place during and after the pride pier dance. These two documents should be the centerpieces of the museum because the pride pier dance of 1996 was an important event in Maine gay history, and because of the major role Michael Rossetti played during that time period in addition to how perfectly he handled the situation that was caused by the event.

January, 1933 is when everything changed for homosexuals living in Germany. Homosexuals became heavily more scrutinized than previous years and even criminalized. Nazis began to crack down on homosexuals by introducing the law, Paragraph 175 which essentially made it illegal for any sexual acts or romantic relationship between two men. Homosexuals’ meeting places were continually being raided. With fear of being caught and arrested most homosexuals lost both heterosexual and homosexual friends. Those who they still recognized ignored them and passed by them on the street without a word. An anonymous homosexual recalls this, “In order not to mutually incriminate ourselves, we decided to no longer recognize each other. When we came across each

Throughout the first half of the semester, we have explored a number of themes and issues that pertain to literature that can best be described as “queer.” “Queer theory includes both queer readings of texts and the theorisation of 'queerness ' itself. Queer theory ‘focuses on mismatches between sex, gender and desire’". Giovanni’s room by James Baldwin, is a great example of sexual orientation, race, sex, heterosexuality, and whiteness. The main character, David, struggles with his sexuality. The author goes into great detail to show this. Toni Morrison’s, Recitatif, is another piece of literature that explores race, sex, whiteness etc… The two main characters, Twyla and Roberta face challenges with race and class. Toni Morrison is an

Although during the early modern period the term “homosexuality” may not have existed, the persecution of homosexuals was a vicious practice which was sweeping across society in Early Modern Europe. Without a name, homosexuality and homosexual identities were heavily diluted down to simple definitions which would set the standard for how homosexual identities developed and how homosexual individuals were treated for many years to come. This essay will discuss the criminalization of sodomy and the demonization of homosexual individuals in Early Modern European society. It will also argue that these brutal practices and

Bechdel mentions her extensive reading and how she discovered her sexuality first through books and the accounts and wisdom of her forerunners before she had her own experiences to judge from. In writing this novel detailing her coming of age story, wrestling with her father’s suicide, and exploring her sexuality often in graphic terms and illustrations, Bechdel transfers her knowledge and expands on this literary legacy of representing and giving a voice to the LGBTQ+ community and experience. Similar to Sexton, Bechdel recognizes in her writing that she is entering a discussion which has very few participants, both due to limited information and resources and further, from the shame perpetuated by social stigmas and ignorance. Arguably, American literature strives to educate its readers, not merely academically, but also socially and emotionally. Thus, by providing and illustrating their personal experiences, writers such as Wright, Bechdel, and Sexton teach their audiences about greater discussions, diverse opinions and traditions, and ultimately recognize the value in conscientiousness. Perhaps knowing every individual experiences and views the world in their own way may also empower every individual to live better

Many people believe that all the troubles we have today with the treatment and rights of homosexuals, and the LGBT+ community as a whole, is something new. However even though not addressed, this group of people have been around since the beginning of time. And although it has never been proven, Walt Whitman was assumed to be a homosexual because of the feminine way he carried himself (as well as some questionable lines in his poems). Even before his time, however, there is a long line of LGBT figures and stories throughout all of history.

Homosexuals were viewed as being unable to fill the roles of warrior and father that were essential to the Nazi ideal of Nordic manhood. Homosexuality was considered a disease by the Nazis, one they believed could be cured through hard labor, torture, and frequent intercourse with women (Feig 80). In order to justify the imprisonment of homosexuals, the Nazis strengthened Germany’s existent laws regarding sexual deviance. Following its amendment on January 28,1935, the famous Paragraph 175 stated: “A male who indulges in criminally indecent activities with another male or allows himself to participate in such activities will be punished with jail” (Plant 206). The paragraph goes on to include detailed situations that constituted “criminally indecent activities” as well as to suggest a sentence of no less than three years. This anti-gay law was stretched to its limit by the Nazi regime and eventually came to include such innocent gestures as hugging and smiling at other men under the title of “criminally indecent activities.” It is important to note that lesbians were not included under this law because they were still biologically capable of fulfilling their reproductive duties to the state, despite their sexual preference. Homosexual men were also biologically capable of reproduction but were considered diseased, unmanly, and unworthy of aiding in the procreation of the master race. The subordination of women was far

In the scholarship of nineteenth century American literature, the focal point is most often the rise of romanticism and transcendentalism. While both movements are well deserving of the scholarly attention they have received, one of their most definitive effects is often sidelined: the popularization of queer literature. The uncertainty and openness of nineteenth century literary movements allowed for LGBTQ+ themes to be entwined in various works with little to no suspicion or negative response from the general populace. One of the most recognizable representatives of the rise of queer American literature is Emily Dickinson, who has long been believed to be lesbian or bisexual. What little is known about her appears to support this conclusion; the poet was never married, and composed frequent amorous letters to Susan Gilbert Dickinson, her sister-in-law (Norton 1661). While the sexuality of Dickinson is indeterminate, her poems contain definitively queer content. An excellent example of this can be found in Poem 194, or “Title divine, is mine,” in which Emily Dickinson utilizes parallelistic imagery and tonal confusion to subtly portray feminine homoeroticism.

Different cultures across the world have developed various views on homosexuality. Most cultural perspectives developed from religious or humanitarian sources. Living in 21st Century America, I have personally witnessed some of the strides and struggles of GLBT (gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgender) youth. In the United States there exist laws that both promote sexual diversity and laws that restrict the complete rights of such individuals. On a more cultural than legal level, tolerance for this group of people has grown significantly. America is currently in the midst of cultural change. Nonetheless, this story does not hold true for other cultures. On one hand, the

Homosexuality can be tracked throughout history. In ancient Rome, philosophers, such as Socrates, were having sexual relations with their students. They believed it was a part of becoming a man. The Bible, one of the oldest books in literature, discusses homosexual practices among the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah. Some of the most influential people throughout history were discovered to be homosexual: Susan B. Anthony, William Shakespeare, Leonardo Da Vinci, and Tennessee Williams. Homosexuality is worldwide and has a global impact on society; it transcends borders, cultures, and governments. The homosexual society even bears its own international flag, a rainbow which signifies the bond between different people all over the world. The