Stonewall Riots: The Year 1970

Historically, the same sex marriage movement can be traced back to the early 1970’s, when gay rights activists begun the movement by bringing forward three suits in Minnesota, Kentucky, and Washington, but none of the suits were successful (Rosenberg). Following these actions in 1986, the case of Bowers v. Hardwick was brought before the Supreme Court

Value is an inherent part of all human beings and should not be decided nor measured by the vast accumulation of monetary wealth. That being said, I do believe we can have a better understanding of human behavior based on Marx’s theory, especially so in modern America, where the value of an individual is mainly based on the amount of money they possess.

The first spark to set flames to the waging war on marriage equality happened on October 15, 1971. In the Supreme Court case of Baker v. Nelson on October 15, 1971, one of three cases brought forth by same-sex couples, Richard Baker and James Richard McConnell were denied a marriage license by a county court clerk in Minnesota in May of 1970 (Minnesota Legislature, 1971, Richard John Baker and Another v. Gerald R. Nelson). The initial trial court dismissed their claim, declaring that the clerk had the power to refuse the right of marriage to gay couples. The couple lost again in the Minnesota Supreme Court, and the U.S. Supreme Court followed by confirming the ruling. For the next twenty four years, basic human rights were continuously denied nationwide in cases similar to Baker v. Nelson and in anti-gay attempts to restrict homosexual marriage. Eventually, there showed signs of hope such as the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in May, 1996 and Massachusetts becoming the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in December, 1996. In relatively recent news, the LGBTQ community celebrated a monumental win as the Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriage a constitutional right for Americans nationwide. On the 25th of June, 2015, many rejoiced this new ruling. Unfortunately, just as many were disgusted at the new legislation. The topic of marriage equality is a unique controversy due to the fact that it gathers so many strong opinions to the cause from many different walks of life.

The case Obergefell vs. Hodges reached the United States Supreme Court in 2015 (Oyez). This case dealt with the rights of same-sex marriages and became important case in our nation’s young history and in our society in general. The problem was groups of same-sex couples were being told that their marriage licenses were not being upheld to the same legal standards as those of heterogeneous couples. Therefore same-sex couples in Ohio, Tennessee , Kentucky, and Michigan went and sued these agencies in challenge of their constitutional rights (Oyez).They took their issue to court because they believed that the states were denying them their 14th amendment rights without due process. They couldn’t understand why their marriages license were not

Everyone knows what happened at Stonewall. The story has been glorified and romanticized throughout the decades since the original riot in 1969. The public perception of the Stonewall Riots is that this three day long episode was the beginning of modern LGBTQIA organization, or, as it is commercially referred to, LGBTQIA "pride". However, another police raid occurred four years earlier at California Hall in San Francisco, California. This narrative has been trivialized into local history, while the succeeding police raid has made it into national history. The religious groups and the homophile movements tell an extremely contrasting story of the LGBTQIA community and the chronicles of the police raids they faced from the common

Today, we see an example of the Supremacy Clause taking action when it comes to same-sex marriage rights. Prior to June 26, 2015 each state had the option to ban or recognize gay and lesbian marriages in its own government. For instance, some states, such as Texas, did not deliver marriage licenses to the LGBT community, where other states would. In June, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that all states must issue same-sex marriage licenses and lift their ban on the issue. Although each individual state was previously allowed to govern this area independently, once a Supreme Court decision was introduced, that power was over-ruled. When it was decided that gay and lesbian couples had a right to marry, the states no longer had the ability to pass laws against gay and lesbian couples. This became the new law of the land.

The uprising tension between friends, families, and communities has been spreading around the world and has only been getting worse each month. The reasons why is because of countries and how they treat colored people, LGBT people, and women. But the LGBT community has gotten the most absurd reasons to why they have to fight so hard. From claiming homosexuals are mentally disabled to putting them to death, hate crimes and discrimination against LGBT people have been taken to the extreme. People have been making organizations for human rights ever since 1924 and have been protesting ever since The Stonewall Riots in 1969 but have made a little step from then to now (infoplease). But finally, each year comes closer and

Acceptance is not a word the LGBT community has been able to use to describe societies mindset about them, especially in the 1960’s. Gay bars were a place they could be free to be themselves. They could socialize and for that evening, be with people who accept and understand them. Yet, outside those doors were police trying to shut down these places of sanctuary. Homosexually was considered illegal during this time, “police used other morals laws to harass and arrest gay men and lesbians.” (Henretta pg.840) On June 27th, 1969 the police raided a particular bar called the Stonewall that started an uprising of protests within the LGBT community.

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

It's like the saying “Never Judge A Book By Its Cover”. On the outside they look sweet and caring but on the inside they’re bold and ferocious.”June 28th will mark the 40th anniversary of stonewall riots, the event largely regarded as a catalyst for LGBT Movement for civil rights in the United states” (The Leadership Conference) . A Lot of people underestimate LGBTQAI thinking they won't stand up for themselves just because they're different when in reality were all the same. If you mess with someone weaker than you underestimate them and they will come back 10 times harder. “The riot inspired LGBT people throughout the country to organize in support of gay rights within 2 years of the riot gay rights group had been started in nearly every

In the past, the definition of Marriage was a union between a man and a woman, but not anymore; today it has changed to a union between two individuals. Times have changed Mr. Prime Minister and the term of Marriage has been redefined. Society has come to learn and accept that being gay is not a choice or a sickness and that gay couple should have the right to be legally united with the ones they love. We live in the land of which my generation’s great grandparents have been fighting to establish, a county which they can be free in. We must promote equality rather than creating second class citizens. Sadly, these individuals are being deprived of their right to marry. We work, vote, and pay taxes. Just like I have my civil duties Mr. Prime Minister, I should have my civil rights. When this basic right is being prevented from these equal individuals, it sends a wrong message to the

Gay marriage was first applied for in 1970, but was rejected until 2003. This is the way it should have stayed… In 1970, Richard John Baker and James Michael McConnell applied to Hennepin County District Court clerk Gerald Nelson for a marriage license. He denied the application because both applicants were men. Baker and McConnell sued Nelson and the court sided with Nelson, as did the Minnesota and U.S. Supreme Courts because all ruled that marriage is between a man and a woman. Same-sex marriage should not be legalized in any other states and should be reconsidered in the 37 states it’s currently legal in because children need a mother and father and legalizing these unions could lead to a slippery slope of approving

Same sex- marriage is still the topic of many peoples conversation across the country. Citizens, divided by politic party, are very passionate about how they feel about it. The president didn’t approve of it at first, but now he finally accepts same- sex marriage, the Judicial System uses its power to dictate to the States, forcing them to accept same- sex marriage. Both houses of Congress continue to debate what marriage means.

Political movements have changed and developed over time. Many have survived the decades, and are just as alive now as they were fifty years ago. The rights of women and people of color sparked movements dating back to the 1960s and earlier, and both are back in the spotlight today. Environmental activism became an important issue in the 1970s, and is still a concern today, although to a lesser extent. Although the gay rights discussion at the national level began following the Stonewall Riots in 1969, and Pride Parades began popping up nationwide shortly thereafter, LGBT individuals had no legal rights or protections before the increased activism of this decade (Dreier, 2015). Peace movements are also found in many different time periods, reflecting an ever-prevalent anti-war sentiment that becomes visible whenever our country engages in foreign conflict.

June 26, 2015, the day in which the Supreme Court declared that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to legally marry nationwide. Legalizing same-sex marriage has become a major political issue and has caused many debates. Many believe that homosexuality is immoral and against the bible, while others think of it as just another way of living. Although every person has their own perspective, whether they are for or against same-sex marriage, it should not be looked down upon or disrespected for the sake of what they believe in. Each person should be able to live their life comfortably no matter what the circumstance and this is one of them.