The LGBT Community: Ending Discrimination In The United States

In the 65-year history of LGBTQ activism in the United States, the present moment stands out on the basis of gay marriage being legalized. At no other time would an observer have imagined that the LGBTQ movement was likely to succeed in such a manner that any gender can marry any other gender with the permission by the law (Stewart-winter

Queer as Folk: Over the extent of of the United States’ history, we have had a lot of social movements. One of the most notable being the fight for equality for LGBTQI — that is, lesbian, gays, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and inter-sexual. The LGBTQ started its uprise in the ‘50s as homosexuals started to become more well known — not necessarily accepted, however — among society. The LGBTQI community has quickly progressed since the ‘50s and ‘60s, bringing along with it many social changes, transgressions, feelings of hate, misconceptions, and a plethora of stereotypes — changing society’s views on sex, marriage, love, and what it is to be human. It is important to understand the impact the LGBTQI community has had on our society, and which titles have made the greatest impact. Out of all six titles, one has became the most prominent in today’s society: gay men.

The history of the United States tends to be understood through analysis of periods of conflict. From the Revolutionary War, to the Civil War, both World Wars, the Cold War (and its affiliate proxy incidents), and finally modern day. What this skeletal description misses are the individual struggles of people who spent their lives marginalized due to societal stereotypes and discriminatory legislation. Groups have been affected due to identities that include but are not limited to: race, religion, ethnicity, immigration status, and sexual orientation. Of course this history of identity politics is not limited to the US, but the exploration of the LGBT movement within these borders can offer an important perspective on the tumultuous

The struggle for equality has been intense, and still continues to this day. With this being said, much progress has been made in establishing respect and external acceptance for all individuals sense of identity. For example, in 2015 the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Same Sex Marriages, marking a pivotal point in the civil rights movement for the LGBTQ community. For many, this act helped to support their sense of self, a right that been denied for so long. The United States effectively validated the LGBTQ community, giving this group all rights granted to all other citizen’s, However, the creation and acceptance of this community has not had positive benefits for all members. The Gender Binary has been changed, but many distinctions

“To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.”-Nelson Mandela. When people are prohibited from being who they are, it is almost like telling them that they are not human. Whenever people are hiding their true selves, they are usually miserable and depressed. This is why we have movements such as Gay rights movement, civil right movements, women rights movements, etc. fighting to be accepted in the world. No one wants to ever feel isolated especially in a place that is supposed to be safe. Gay rights and ethnic oppression are fighting for different rights and struggles; however they are trying to achieve the same outcome.

When you hear the word discrimination what is the first thing you think of? A majority of the population says wither blacks and whites or Jews and Nazis, but that’s not the only discrimination there is. Discrimination is, actually, unjust treatment of a different race, age, sex, or sexual preference. On this note, gays are probably one of the most discriminated against.

Over the years, this country has experienced its fair share of social movements. Some of the most famous among these are the Civil Rights Movement, the Women’s Rights Movement, and the LGBTQIA Rights Movement. Brave members of these marginalized minority groups rose up and fought for equality and justice, and historically, they have achieved it. All of these movements share similar struggles and experience comparable triumphs, and they often use the same strategies to overcome obstacles and achieve victories. The most recent of the movements mentioned is the LGBTQIA Rights Movement. In fact, it is a movement that is currently taking place. Members of sexual orientation and gender identity minority groups are still being oppressed and treated unfairly, so the fight for their rights continues.

Former President, Obama once said, “We are big and vast and diverse; a nation of people with different backgrounds and beliefs, different experiences and stories, but bound by our shared ideal that no matter who you are or what you look like, how you started off, or how and who you love, America is a place where you can write your own destiny.” Many things have changed in the past decade, the United States electing its first African-American president not only for one term but for two. President Obama administration helped expand and advance equality regarding the LGBT community. The Obama Administration provided support and equality towards the LGBT community. Numerous people have come to accept their ‘true identity’ without the fear of

The LGBTQ movement has been taking place since the late 19th century (Morris, 2016) with many people now acknowledging and paying attention to the colorful movement in the 21st Century.

On June 26th, 2015, the US Supreme Court decided that the US Constitution guarantees the right for same-sex couples to marry in all 50 US states. This means all US states must allow gay and lesbian couples to have a marriage license and recognize marriages that have taken place in other states. This decision is a significant victory for gay rights activists who have fought for years in the lower courts. Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia already recognized marriage equality. The remaining 13 states ban these unions, even as public support has reached record levels nationwide. The LGBT community has made a lot of progress over the years, and there is still more to come. Now that gay marriage is legalized it has not only made a huge impact on gay culture, but also on society.

America’s LGBT+ community in the past year has seen significant development in both civil rights and social representation. The nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage and increased media focus on LGBT+ icons such as Laverne Cox and Caitlyn Jenner have shown the nation that queer lives and identities are a valuable part of American culture that will continue to flourish with time. Personally, this development has shown me that my own identity can continue to flourish alongside my community.

To willingly want to fight for the safety and security of your country is courageous, selfless, and deserving of the utmost respect. One would think that more people would not want to risk their lives at war, than those who do. But countless brave souls go off to war because they want to and they love the idea of defending their home and loved ones. So the idea that such institutions would ever deny someone of risking their lives for the country seems absolutely ridiculous. But this was the very harsh reality of the LGBT community who wanted to serve in the military and be proud of not only their country, but also their identity and orientation. The extremely controversial “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy treated the gay and lesbian soldiers

The rights of the LGBTQ people have been highlighted in the United States over the past several years. The LGBTQ community is facing discrimination and a twisted portal of their character throughout the media. A more recent example of discrimination is the HB2 law that our governor Pat McCrory signed into effect in April of this year. This law created an issue that did not even exist in what feels like an attack towards the LGBTQ community. Discrimination to this community has become something that we can no longer afford to ignore. We have normalized discrimination against this group of people by allowing it to invaded our homes, schools, and workplace.

We are gathered here on this lovely Sunday afternoon to not only motion that the Gays, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, and Transgender community should get married, but to also make sure that they get accepted by the nation as well. In this day and age that we live in, most Americans feel as if the LGBT community isn’t equal with the rest of normal society. This has caused congress to not allow the Lesbians, Gays, Bi-Sexual, and Transgender to marry one another. America feels that it is un-ethnical, non-religious, and the work of the devil. Today I stand here, right on this podium, in Washington, DC to publicly apologize for the stupidity of this place which we all call our home. We as a nation should have stopped, and asked ourselves what makes the LGBT community so different from the rest of us on this earth? Everyone in the LGBT community was born

“We’re here, we’re queer, get over it.” In 1990, these words, shouted and displayed proudly on signs waved by the activist group, Queer Nation, were revolutionary. Never, not since the Stonewall Riots, had non-straight, non-cis people been so vocal about their existence and demanded acceptance – something that straight people take for granted on a daily basis. However, in the years since the Riots, LGBT activism has become much more mainstream, no longer whispered about behind closet doors or something to be wholly ashamed of. Gay marriage is legal in all 50 United States, something that has been fought for since the conception of the LGBT movement. In fact, gay couples are routinely being featured on popular television and other forms of media. Some might say that in 2016, the dreams of the rioters in Stonewall have been realized. Marriage rights and the spotlight on nighttime television; equality seems to truly be right on the horizon.