“I think people feel threatened by homosexuality. The problem isn’t about gay people; the problem is about the attitude towards gay people. People think that all gays are Hannibal Lecters. But gay people are sons and daughter, politicians and doctors, American heroes and daughters of American Heroes” (“Stacy”). In recent years, sexuality, specifically homosexuality, has become a large issue in America. Not to say that homosexuality is something relatively new, considering it was first noticed in the early twentieth century. After World War I, many men and women were dishonorably discharged due to their sexual status of homosexuality. Persecution of homosexuals became rampant. They were brutalized by the police, and often ostracized by family members and their communities. It even went as far as the president at the time, Dwight D. Eisenhower, even declaring that homosexuality was a just enough cause to terminate someone’s employment. However, through a series of events, such as the founding of the Mattachine Society, the first homosexual political organization, homosexuals have been able to acquire more of their rights (“Allies”). However, there is still a large amount of people who believe that homosexuality is indecent, and that it should not be allowed to happen. I say who are we to get in the way of another’s happiness if we so readily defend our own? I do no believe that others have the right to judge based on their own personal, religious, and emotional views on life.
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.
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.
The word “gay” has gone through drastic changes. Traditionally, it was a positive term that meant to be “happily excited” or “jolly” (Merriam Webster, “Gay”). It was used regularly to express one’s feelings about life. Today, it has a far different meaning. Now people use the word gay to label homosexuals, those with feminine qualities, or those who do something thought to be outside of the norm for their gender. “Being gay” went from expressing someone’s happiness to describing his sexual preference. The definition of gay has changed so much that its original meaning has become archaic and lost to the times.
Whether we like it or not, discrimination is a problem that has been occurring for thousands of years and is one that will continue to occur for years to come. American history has seen its share of discrimination, perhaps none more evident than the mid-19th century. Political tensions between northern and southern states concerning states’ rights and slavery sent the country into turmoil. The bloodiest battle in American history soon began and the country would never be the same again. However, after the conclusion of the war at Appomattox Court House, the definition of American citizenship and personal liberties would be changed forever. Unfortunately, discrimination has continued to take place within the nation’s borders against other groups of people. Recently, discrimination against homosexual individuals has been quite an intense topic of debate. Although I do understand the logic behind people’s beliefs, it is astonishing to me that there are people in this world that aggressively disallow others to be who they are and live the life that they so choose to live. Persecution of others for religious or political beliefs, although understandable, is a devastating problem to the entire world. In my eyes, how can America be the land of the free and the home of the brave when citizens are unable to be free in their choices and are forced to be brave to act against these unethical doings? We have seen reforms take place to minimize discrimination throughout
According to an opinion widely held, homosexuality is said to be freer today than ever before. It is present and visible everywhere: in the street, in the newspapers, on television, at the movies. It is even supposedly completely accepted, judging by the recent legislative advances made in many countries for the recognition of same sex couples. Certainly, some work remains necessary in order to eradicate the last vestiges of discrimination. But with changing public opinion, it will only be, according to some people, a matter of time, the time needed for a movement begun many decades earlier to achieve its goals.
When we find a reading vastly interesting and informative regarding a recent or an upcoming event, we fail to realize that many writers insert their biases when composing their work. There are certain things they don’t want to include as well as things that they want the reader to believe. It seems kind of like a jack in the box. You crank the pull bar and never pay attention to the noises or anything and then bam! You’re hit with the jack and you get a reality check. Although people don’t want to admit it there is still a stigma towards homosexuality. Many are bullied and discriminated through the USA solely based on the person they want to be happy with. If we let our old ideology cage us from following what our hearts want, we cannot say
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
How America should react to homosexuals Many experts agree that homosexuality has existed as long as human beings themselves, although the attitude towards them has undergone dramatic changes in some countries. Accepted by many societies during Greek and Roman era, most of the time homosexuals were considered to be sinners against nature and even criminals. In Medieval and modern periods homosexuals were prosecuted. Enlightenment brought some liberation, substituting death penalty by imprisonment. In Nazi Germany so-called "doctors" tried to "cure" gays by the ways of castration and extreme intimidation. Until 1973 attempts to find a cure against homosexuality, what by majority was viewed as a disease, were
In People to be Loved-Why Homosexuality is not Just an Issue, Preston Sprinkle goes into an in depth discussion about homosexuality and how it is not just about being an issue and sin, homosexuality is about the treatment of the people. The tone of this book is conversational, making the understanding of the issues at hand much easier to comprehend.
Homosexuality has always been a controversial topic in the United States, and the twenty-first century has brought about many new rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender group. The American Gay Rights Movement has a long history, but the LGBT community is now starting to have more rights and protection.
Gay discrimination has been present for many years in the United States history. In colonial America homosexuality was regulated with harsh penalties but was rarely enforced (Chauncey 1). Between the 1930’s and 1960’s, Discrimination of homosexuality peeked (Chauncy 1). Homosexual men and
Over the years in America life has tremendously changed in this society as homosexuality is becoming a more controversial topic to many . In this past decade, this topic has sprung to the top of religious and political debates . Homosexuality has led to a debate of social matter, however when it comes to laws to protect homosexuals' rights, and equal right that other Americans have society turns its nose up in disgust. The individuals of today fear a world of change and are stuck in their "old ways". I'm here to say that it is time for a change. The lesbians, gays, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community should have the same rights as other American.
The Gay Rights Movement has come a long way from 1960 through the 1990’s. There were many milestones and important events that occurred and helped to propel rights for this segment of society in a positive direction. Although this is a great thing and I believe there have been many positive advances I continue to believe that we have a long way to go to accomplish equality. The word “equality” has been used a lot over our recent fight for rights but truly believe it is the most accurate term to convey what is so lacking for the GLBT community.
Throughout history, there have been many cases of injustice and discrimination both around the world and in the United States specifically. There has been oppression of and discrimination against differing ethnic groups, women, and now, individuals with a different sexual orientation than what can be seen as normal. While the rights of these groups have improved significantly, discrimination still occurs. However, discrimination against them is still less rampant than the discrimination against people who identify as homosexuals and other similar sexual orientations. Since we, as a society, have made extensive leaps and bounds regarding similar social issues, we can and must make similar strides regarding societal views of sexual orientation.
It’s widely known that the LGBT life is spreading. There’s Pride month, same sex marriage is now legal, and more people than ever are starting to show who they really are. Even though it’s starting to be more accepted, I still struggled for months to find a way to tell people. I was scared my mom wouldn’t let me be happy and embrace who I really wanted to be. Then I had to consider how my friends would react, and it was an awful feeling losing some of the people that I thought was my friends through everything. Good definitely came out of the whole process though. Although, there are definitely still people who discriminate and banish people from their lives. All because others cannot accept who people choose to be. According to Morris (2017), in the 1950s, there was an investigation into homosexuals holding government jobs. This in turn, led into the first American demand for equality. In 67 years, we still cannot find a way for the life styles to be nationally accepted. “In 1965, as the civil rights movement won new legislation outlawing racial discrimination, the first gay rights demonstrations took place in Philadelphia and Washington, DC.” Also, in 1970, is when the pride marches started taking place in June every year Morris (2017). Acceptance is a hard pill for many to swallow, and it may even be