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Recent Political Advances in LGBT

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Recent political advances in the LGBT community suggest that the gay rights movement has progressed tremendously since the country's first known gay rights organization was formed in 1924. In fact, 14 states currently recognize same-sex marriages, and other states like Illinois will soon follow the same path (NCSL, 2013). LGBT rights were also championed at the national level with the repeal of DOMA. However, social progress often lags behind political reforms: while numerous states and the country as a whole are slowly accepting the LGBT community, laws do not necessarily guarantee social acceptance. 33% of the US population still believes society should not accept homosexuality (Pew Research Center, 2013). As a result of the large portion of the country still opposed to LGBT rights, homosexual men and women are affected by stress, loneliness, prejudice, out group bias, conformity, and a lack of a stable self-concept. All of these aspects of social psychology create a hostile social environment that can foster mental health issues such as depression (Meyer, 2003). To reduce the severity of these issues and the probability of mental health problems amongst the LGBT community, future reforms must be made both in legislation and society as a whole. In conclusion, this Capstone consists of three parts: analysis of recent political and social advances, problems that the LGBT community faces as a result of existing homophobia, and recommendations for future laws and

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