The Gay Rights Movement

The Gay Rights Movement
Tri An Nguyen
Mr. Gage
AP Government
12 March 2015
The Gay Rights Movement Homosexuality has been an issue for the public for an extremely long time dating back to even Ancient Rome and Greek.
Especially with the birth of Christianity, the religious society has been persecuting anyone claiming homosexuality, forcing people to hide their own
sexuality for centuries. It is important to understand and know the past of the homsexuality to understand the reason for their fight and the mentality
of their opposition. Homosexuality has never been accepted into the norms of society and was even viewed as a mental disease by the American
Psychiatric Association (Bowman). Not until a few decades ago has the movement for gay rights began to kick off. The event that really set off the
movement was the Stonewall Riot of 1969. "New York's gay community had grown weary of the police department targeting gay clubs, a majority of
which had already been closed. The crowd on the street watched quietly as Stonewall's employees were arrested, but when three drag queens and a
lesbian were forced into the paddy wagon, the crowd began throwing bottles at the police" ("Stonewall"). This event is regarded as the foundation for
the modern gay rights movement including the formation of many gay, lesbian, and bisexual civil rights organizations. As the movement takes off, the
gay rights activists face many oppositions in its path. Take for example, in 1986, the federal court ruled that the fifth and
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Essay on Gay Rights Movement
Gay Rights Movement Have you ever thought how much progress the LGBT community has made and how it affects other people? The gay rights
movement was and is currently a movement that "strives to end all discrimination towards the LGBT community" (Redlingshafer). As early as 1924,
the Society for Human Rights in Chicago becomes United States' earliest known gay rights organization ("Milestones in the American Gay Rights
Movement"). However, most people recognize the Stonewall riot in 1969 as being the beginning of the gay rights movement. Almost ninety years
later, society and the government have progressed over time and are still growing. Harvey Milk, author of "The Hope Speech", was a politician who
led a portion of the gay rights...show more content...
Also people should realize that gays should have the same rights and privileges as straight people. In addition, Milk tries to encourage the gay
community to step up and speak, use their voices. In the article, "The LGBT Moment Must Look Past Gay Marriage, the author talks about how other
things are important in the LGBT community than just the issue of marriage. Redlingshafer speaks on the issue of how hate crimes are occurring in
the workforce and how there sometimes not as many benefits that gay people or transgender people have that they should have as they are citizens
too. The author states, "In 39 states one can be fired for being transgender. Not many people are aware of this; supporters of the movement need to
publicize that sexual orientation has no bearing on how someone can do their job" (Redlingshafer). From this quote, one could only assume that we
should already have rights in the work force for all people, gay, straight, transgender, right? Wrong. There are work places all over America that still
have not given rights that everyone deserves, to these citizens.
Milk wrote the Hope Speech for all that wanted to change the ways of the issues expressed in the gay community and outside of it as well. The
intended audience was both gay and straight civilians. Moreover, Milk stated in this speech, "Unless you have dialogue,

Gay Rights Movement Essay
The start of the Gay Rights Movement
During the 1960s and 1970s lesbians began to speak up and fight for equal rights. The New York City's Stonewall riot in June of 1969 is understood
as the dawn of the gay rights movement. The 1960's is when lesbian mothers argued in court for the right to raise children and when they joined other
political movements like the civil rights movement; a movement that includes people of color, women and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and
queer community. The civil rights movement is a battle to receive political and social freedom and equality.
In 1973, the Roe vs. Wade case affirmed the legality of a women's right to have an abortion under the 14th amendment. This case continued for over a
decade...show more content...
I'm sure Professor Robert Jensen had this reflection before the year 2009, but maybe he hadn't think of feminism in this way at the dawn of the gay
rights movement in 1969. Andrea Dworkin wrote this between 1976–1989, at a time that men didn't listen to women, and maybe researchers would
argue that women aren't listened to, especially if you're female and black.
The Shift to Marriage Equality Andrea Dworkin's essay's was more than a writer doing his or her job. It was the impact of re–developing marriage.
Women had their own opinions and feelings and felt comfortable sharing them. As the fight forsame–sex marriage evolved the way that gay rights
activist continued to argue for and against same–sex marriage. The struggle by homosexuals for dignity and respect at work and in life became known
as "gay liberation". Gay liberation is the ability to hold jobs without having to play straight. The struggle for same–sex marriage became marriage
equality and refers to a political status where homosexual married couples and heterosexual couples are considered legally equal. For over 15 years,
the two groups did not receive equal rights by law, which made liberation through social institutions difficult. Marriage equality is important because it
guarantees benefits through social security and taxes, spousal privileges and even in death. Socially, if your partner dies, funeral directions do not have
to respect your union

The LGBT Rights : The Gay Rights Movement
Rough Draft "The gay rights movement is not a party. It is not a lifestyle... It is not about sin or salvation. The gay rights movement is an integral
part of the American promise of freedom" (Urvashi Vaid). Many people were not supportive of the minority of people coming out to the world
and becoming a part of the LGBTQ+ community. The actions of the many who did not accept the idea of being gay, lesbian or transgender, would
interfere with their confidence and freedom of being who they want to be. The idea of gay rights was not socially accepted since it had differed
from the social norm of a male and female sexually attracted to one another. However, there would be a 'safe haven' in most cities for the LGBTQ+
community to thrive and reveal themselves towards the people that truly accepted them for who they are. Although there were very few 'safe havens'
around, these places would be tormented by the police and many of the people in them would become oppressed since they wanted to be in a place of
acceptance. From June 28, 1969 through July 1, 1969, the gay community faced massive oppression from police raids in Greenwich Village, NYC at
Stonewall Inn, which caused them to start a riot which ignited a major conflict for the sake of their own safety and freedom. This riot allowed them to
show their oppressors that they are human as well and are able to fight back for themselves and for the future generations ahead of them. Due to the
lack of a formal compromise

The Civil Rights Movement And Gay Pride Essay
Often when we think of American civil rights history, we picture the African American struggle for equality; we think of famous court cases like Brown
v. Board, a milestone in ending segregation in public schools; we think of Dr. King and the NAACP's efforts to organize the black community through
speeches, boycotts, and peaceful protests. But often times, when we discuss civil rights history in classrooms we tend to overlook the discrimination
faced by other minorities and their separate movements towards social equality. One of the minority groups that came into prominence during this
tumultuous time were homophile activists who advocated for an assimilation of gays into society, and relied mostly on pacifist tactics. It wasn't until
the summer of 1969, in a Greenwich Village tavern, where a series of protests served as a catalyst to inspire gays to join together in the fight against
inequality through more radical means; thus setting into motion the beginnings of modern American LGBT rights activism and Gay Pride. Before this
major shift in gay rights activism, during the Great Depression, several experimental programs, collectively known as The New Deal, created new
jobs; and thousands of Americans came flocking to the capital in search of work. Many of these citizens were gay folks hoping to escape
conservative small town life, and find acceptance, and a community in a more liberal urban setting. But this life of relative comfort for gays came to an
end during the

The Gay Rights Movement: An Analysis
Trans liberation is not trans liberation if it is not intersectional. Trans people are not a monolith, as we come from different backgrounds that have led
us to have different experiences. In order for there to be a cohesive trans movement, all of these different experiences need to be considered. However,
this has not been the case in the past. From the mid– to the late–20th century, the issues that have inhibited a broad based transgender movement would
be racism and the erasure of trans people from the gay rights movement.
Racism has been a large factor in inhibiting a broad–based transgender movement. When Christine Jorgensen, an Ex–GI, became well–known for her
transition, non–white trans women who tried to receive the same amount of...show more content...
Willy Wilkinson, an activist who is a trans man of Asian descent, developed a model of cultural competency that is meant to establish safety and
respect for trans people and all of their intersectional identities (race, sexual orientation, class, etc.). According to Willy Wilkinson, "Cultural
competency refers to the ability to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with diverse populations and can be measured be
awareness, attitude, knowledge, skills, behaviors, policies, procedures, and organizational systems." (Wilkinson, "Memoir as a Cultural Competency
Tool") Through this model, Wilkinson has organized with others in order to address several issues affecting the trans community, including health
inequities, the use of pronouns, addressing privilege and marginality within the scope of race, and more. While this more intentionally establishes a
broad based trans movement, others have created and/or organized in response to societal neglect as well. Sylvia Rivera, while exiled from a
movement she helped start, was able to be a founding member of Street Transgender Action Revolutionaries (STAR), a grassroots organization that
was "willing to ruffle feathers and step on toes", as they often planned demonstrations in order to fight for the rights of trans people (Rivera, p. 81).
There were also

The Issue Of The Gay Rights Movement Essay
There is a serious problem with America. And no, the problem isn't the fact that we are trillions of dollars in debt, have people living off of
Welfare, or even that we can't seem to get an effective health care bill passed. Those are only minor issues. The real problem is that we give away
rights like they are free to give away. We gave the blacks their rights, and look what it got us. Barack Obama. We gave women their rights, and look
what it got us. Hillary Clinton. What's next? The Gay Rights Movement. The main issue with giving the gays their rights is that homosexuality does not
truly exist. It's an infection of the mind.
The Gay Rights Movement, otherwise known the Homo Virus (HOV), has silently been spreading throughout the world in a process known as the
"Rainbow Effect." This virus causes men and women to feel a strange attraction towards those of the same sex. It is now to the point where the
infected are begging for same–sex marriage. Obviously, we've let this catastrophe go on long enough. Even the Bible states marriage can only occur
between a man and a woman. Not once did it mention that same–sex marriage is acceptable. Trust me, I've read it twice. Before we let history repeat
itself and blindly give away rights, let us think of a simpler way to contain this issue.
What inspired me was the Ebola Outbreak. What saved most of the American population from contracting Ebola? An effective quarantine. The majority
of patients who were infected took the isolation

Gay And Trans Rights Movement Essay
Gay and Trans Rights: The Movement to Understanding The 20th century was a period of mass change, from technology to the ideals that people put
forth to the reformation movements that occurred. A major, but not well known movement that took place was the gay and trans rights movement.
This centered around the idea of those of the queer (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender+, or LGBT+) community that sought to be understood
during a time of extreme prejudice against them. This led to incidents like the Stonewall Inn riots led by Marsha P. Johnson and to political figures
like JosГ© Sarria and Harvey Milk, who worked tirelessly to help reform social views to make America a safer place. Even now America is not truly a
safe place for the queer community – over 100,000 hate crimes have been reported since 1991 (Crimes) – but there has been progress, as it is safer and
more acceptable than it was in the 20th century. Unfortunately, the statistics prior to 1990 and the passage of the Hate Crimes Statistics Act are scant
and likely inaccurate (Crimes), but there are numerous documents of hate crimes despite this. Some of the most notable ones are the raids on
Mafia–owned gay bars, which led to the Stonewall riots. This and other incidents came at a time when homosexuality was prohibited in public and
private, supportive businesses were "regularly raided and shut down" (Hate). Such crimes, generated by hatred to individuals sexual orientations and
gender identities, also tended to be

The Gay Rights Movement Essay
Thesis Statement: The Gay Rights Movement dates back to the 19th century. By 1970 gay and lesbian organizations existed all over the United States
and in other countries all over the world. Some supporters of the movement would say that our society as a whole has made great strides towards
acceptance of homosexuality. However, gays and lesbians are still fighting for equality in 2009. The issues are vast and widespread, with same–sex
marriage at the top of the list. In the world that we live in today one might be surprised to learn how many countries are accepting of gay and lesbians,
as well as how many are not. The world has made progress within the last decade regarding this issue, but definitely not enough. We need to take steps
...show more content...
Following the ruling more than 18,000 couples married. Prior to the November 4, 2008 election, a ballot called Proposition 8 was proposed for general
election. It called for a ban of same–sex marriages. It passed on November 4, 2008 leaving those previously married couples uncertain of their marital
status. There were numerous demonstrations throughout the nation. Several lawsuits were also filed. Oral arguments were heard on March 5, 2009
and a decision is expected within ninety days ("California Proposition 8"). As we await the decision, many individuals are speaking out. If the court
rules that only existing marriages of same–sex couples are valid, it will be a hollow victory, because we do not want to be the only ones on the
Freedom Train. The California Supreme Court needs to overturn Proposition 8 because what Prop. 8 does –– for the first time in American history––
is to take out of a constitution a group that has been declared equal by the supreme court (Tyler). LBGT supporters feel the victory must overturn the
November 4 ruling as it speaks to a fundamental civil right within our constitution. Same–sex marriage is a controversial and very serious legal issue
that needs to be resolved. I disagree with the individual state rulings. The laws honoring and protecting heterosexual married couples remains the same
in 50 states.

Gay And Gay Rights Movement
After the passing of the Criminal Amendment Act of 1968, gay and lesbian rights movements started booming in the 1970's (Smith 328). At first, the
purpose of the movements was to gain support from the public on their cause of equal rights for LGBT people. However, the main goal was for the
"legalization of homosexual behavior; an end to state regulation and repression of lesbian and gay life; and the passage and enforcement of
antidiscrimination measures, most importantly in the area of employment" (Smith 334). To do this, the gay rights movements of Vancouver, Montreal,
and Toronto sought for political action to gain rights (Smith 334). These gay rights liberations faced discrimination themselves when the newspaper
was unwilling to...show more content...
This can be seen through the laws that continued to pass in regards to the gay and lesbian community. Arguably one of the most important laws passed
by the government following the decriminalization of homosexual acts is the legalization of same–sex marriages in 2003.
In conclusion, the Criminal Amendment Act of 1968 mattered in Canadian history because it was the stepping stone towards recognition of theLGBT
community through the decriminalization of homosexual acts. The decriminalization of homosexuality led to more social movements that brought to
light the discrimination of LGBT people, which eventually led judicial powers to jump into the argument and recognize that all Canadians were equal
under the Constitutional Charter of Rights and Freedom. This change from homosexuality being a criminal act to an illness changed the way people
thought about homosexuality and was a step further in advancing gay rights for Canadian citizens. Without bill C–150, Canada may not have
progressed as fast in terms of LGBT recognition, because homosexuality would still be seen as a criminal act. Trudeau's actions helped to lead Canada
in the right direction to see everyone as equal and not judge someone based on their sexual preferences. Although it took over thirty years for Canada to
pass the law for nationwide marriage equality, the Criminal Amendment act was a crucial

The Rights Of The Gay Rights Movement
When it comes to the gay rights movement, the structure and the history of how it got to where it is today is a huge factor in today's society. There
have been a lot of things that negatively influenced gay rights. In some ways, things have happened in a positive way as well. The gay rights
movement today and legalizing gay marriage has struck some people the wrong way because of their beliefs. For the gay community, though, it has
been a very positive thing. Some of the big key moments in history went the way they did because of important events and important people causing it
to go that way. These include Jeremy Bentham, Magnus Hirschfield, Henry Gerber, the making of the Mattachine Society, Stonewall Riots, Clela
Rorex, the Ryan White...show more content...
This committee also created the first gay rights movement. The point of the Scientific Humanitarian Committee was to try and keep the homosexuals
from being exposed and threatened. Mainly just trying to protect them by trying to get rid of the law that made all gay, and homosexual acts illegal
for them to do. This law was called Paragraph 175. The Scientific Humanitarian Committee ended because of the Nazis coming and destroying
everything such as all the buildings that they had been in, and also all of the books they had. The Scientific Humanitarian Committee will never be
forgotten for what it did, and what it started for other foundations. Next, the person that will be discussed is Henry Gerber and what he did to the
sexual minority past. Henry founded the first gay rights association in the United States and it was called the Society for Human Rights (SHR). It was
founded in the year 1924. Henry had based this off of Magnus Hirschfeld Scientific Humanitarian Committee. Germany was the starting point for the
current gay rights movement, so then Henry Gerber had started the Society for Human Rights in the United States. This association was the first
known homosexual organization. The next thing I will be talking about is the Mattachine Society. The Mattachine Society was founded in 1950, and it
was considered one of the earliest gay rights movement in the United States. Harry Hay and some of his friends had started this group to protect and
form a

The Rights Of The Lgbtq Community Essay
he status of the LGBTQ community in each decade, starting in the early 1900s, held many key leaders, organizations, and events that were pivotal
in the Gay Rights Movement. The documentary begins speaking about homosexuality in the 1900s. No one really talked about sexuality. It was a
just common knowledge, however if you were thought to be living a lesbian or gay life, it was grounds for being locked up in a mental institution.
Many gay men however could recognize each other through either small gestures such as wearing matching a handkerchief and tie, a red bowtie
and simply eye contact. Throughout the 20s, many gay and lesbian people remained in isolation however, many began to gather in Bohemian
cities such as San Francisco, Harlem, and New Orleans. This now began homosexual undergrounds and the LGBTQ community began to flock to
Harlem. Since it was the Prohibition Era, it was the time for people to break the law and this community made sure they did it as much as they
could. Gays and Lesbians found it easier as well to be a part of Harlem's black clubs, since they were so open. Many of these female singers that sang
at the Harlem clubs were a part of the lifestyle as well such as Ethel Walters, Gladys Bentley and Smith and Hunter. Alas, because of the Bohemian
subculture was so unconventional it allowed gays to make their own world. Through this new world many of our important thinkers of the 20s wrote
books with gay and lesbian content. Many key authors were Langston

The Views Of The Gay Rights Movement
In the modern era, people of the United States of America have increasingly become more tolerant and accepting of differences in race, gender, sexual
orientation, and religion. However, the new liberal mindset of people regarding characteristics such as race and sexual orientation would not be
possible without the relentless protesters and dedicated activists who fought hard to make their views heard through a movement that would greatly
impact and shape the future of this country. The gay rights movement which started in the late 1960's aimed at achieving human rights for
homosexuals; the phenomenal empowering poems and widely acclaimed literary works of Audre Lorde significantly promoted gay rights and
provided a unique point of view of the life of a homosexual. Furthermore, the gay rights movement "is the effort to eliminate prejudice and
discrimination against homosexual women and men" (Stoddard). Organizations advocating for the rights of homosexuals thrived in Germany and
England from 1860s through the 1920s. However, similar organizations did not start appearing in the United States until 1950. On June 28, 1969,
police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar, which then became the turning point of the gay rights movement in the United States. The raids
were quite often at the Inn, and usually after the raids, members of the club would be arrested; however, the Inn would reopen after a few hours.
During the June raid most of the patrons of Stonewall resisted

Gay Rights Essay
Fighting for Gay Rights In our society we should protect LGBT rights it's unfair that we treat them differently. We should make more changes about
how we treat them they should be allowed to go as they please or shop at places they want to shop at. Without being told they can not go in a certain
restaurant because the way they are. People should not discriminate the reason being is you never know what that person been through or why they
are like that. And it's hard for a person to actually be themselves without people telling them that it's a phase or they are corrupt. In our society we
should not have to fight for our rights or act accordingly to what people think of us. In the LGBT community they have a high rate for...show more
content...
Which is not true they will love they child just like the opposite sex. We support other things that are going on in the world but why not supportgay
marriage ? or fight for they rights?. They are high risk for suicide rates the reason being they feel like they could not please everyone. They feel
like they failed to make everyone happy and reach their standards. My concern are the innocent people that are going through this. The LGBT
community already go through enough some of their families disown them because of who they are which is ridiculous. People make them feel
guilty because loving another sex is a sin which it is not. Our society thinks children needs a mother and father not a two mothers or two fathers.
They are not allowed to serve our country which is heartbreaking because the government feel like they are not fit to do so. Many states still have a
ban on gay marriage until this day. Before President Obama left office he promised to help the LGBT community to gain their rights and also appeal
the DADT. Our government should take more procession with their rights we have hateful people out there and would like to terminate them. In
2016 the military lifted the ban on transgender people. Which is a start I feel that it should not be a option to pick and choose who to fight for our
country. Also I feel that if a person love someone no matter what color , shape , size , gender , etc you should not stop them from finding their true love.

Argumentative Essay On The Gay Rights Movement
"The gay rights movement is not a party. It is not a lifestyle... It is not about sin or salvation. The gay rights movement is an integral part of the
American promise of freedom" (Urvashi Vaid). Many people were not supportive of the minority of people coming out to the world and becoming
a part of the LGBTQ+ community. The actions of the many who did not accept the idea of being gay, lesbian or transgender, would interfere with
their confidence and freedom of being who they want to be. The idea of gay rights was not socially accepted since it had differed from the social
norm of a male and female sexually attracted to one another. However, there would be a 'safe haven' in most cities for the LGBTQ+ community to
thrive and reveal themselves towards the people that truly accepted them for who they are. Although there were very few 'safe havens' around,
these places would be tormented by the police and many of the people in them would become oppressed since they wanted to be in a place of
acceptance. From June 28, 1969 through July 1, 1969, the gay community faced massive oppression from police raids in Greenwich Village, NYC at
Stonewall Inn, which caused them to start a riot which ignited a major conflict for the sake of their own safety and freedom. This riot allowed them
to show their oppressors that they are human as well and are able to fight back for themselves and for the future generations ahead of them. Due to the
lack of a formal compromise between the gay community and the police, many people questioned as well as oppressed them because of certain
religious aspects and social norms, but the conflict resulted in the development of the Gay Liberation Front and allowing the LGBTQ+ community to
freely express themselves. Within many religions, especially in Christianity, it is said that same–sex relations are a sin. Since most of the Americans
around this time were Christian, many of them believed that the relations between a girl and a girl or a guy and guy were so foreign due to the belief
that God created men and women so that only these genders could be together. Organizations were made to stop the gay community from flourishing.
They also made many feel like there was something wrong

Since the beginning of time, our society has been dealing with systems of oppression, whether it is regarding sexual orientation, social class, or race.
These three topics have each had their time in the spotlight with social movements. Three key social movements including the Gay Rights Movement,
the Occupy Wall Street movement, and the Black Lives Matter movement, has worked to confront and challenge forms of oppression and has created
change as a result. The Gay Rights Movement has been able to face and tackle oppression regarding sexual orientation overtime. This movement has
also initiated change to the way society views this type of oppression. The start of the Gay Rights Movement is most known to be on June 28, 1969,
when riots broke out at a gay bar known as the Stonewall inn, in New York City Greenwich Village, because police raided and harassed the patrons of
the bar. These riots continued to last for about three days. Andrew Freeman, an Associate Producer at TakePart, explains how this event and the people
who took part in it were substantial for this movement's future, "Gay people physically fought back against government persecution. The so–called
Stonewall riots were a flashpoint in the gay rights movement. Many of the protesters may go unnamed in history books, but they staked it all to fight
for the rights of future LGBT people." Before, this affair occurred, in 1924, what is known to be the first gay rights organization, The Society of
Human Rights, was

Gay Rights
Gay Rights 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. The history of homosexual people in the United States began in the early 1900s when the concept of Boston marriages became
common. These...show more content...
Throughout the course of history for the homosexual community, many people have played major roles in the push for equality and normalization of
the gay and lesbian lifestyle. In the 1970s, Harvey Milk became the first openly gay man to be given a position in the California government. Milk
pushed for homosexual men and women to always be open about their sexuality and who they are (Fenwick 32). Later on in the homosexual history
timeline, Ellen DeGeneres opened up about being a lesbian on the television show, "Ellen" (Staff), kick starting the infusion of gays and lesbians into
the entertainment business. Politically, Barack Obama made a huge impact on the current rights gays and lesbians have. In 2015, Obama signed a law
making same–sex marriage legal across the entire United States. President Obama also declared an annual gay pride month, along with making gay
hate crimes federal offenses, and ending gay conversion therapy for minors (Staff). Influential people prompted the creation of movements and
organizations. Beginning in 1950, with the Mattachine Society by Harry Hay and Chuck Rowland, groups and activists began pushing for equality for
the gay community (Staff). Following Hay and Rowland's work came the Daughters of Bilitis, "The Advocate," and the Gay Activists Alliance.
Organizations like The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and Parents, Families, and Friends of

The Gay Rights Movement Essay
The Gay Rights Movement 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...show more content...
"By 1973, there were almost eight hundred gay and lesbian organizations in the United States; by 1990, the number was several thousand. By
1970, 5,000 gay men and lesbians marched in New York City to commemorate the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots; in October 1987, over
600,000 marched in Washington, to demand equality" (Milestones) Over the next two decades, half the states decriminalized homosexual
behavior, and police harassment grew less frequent and obvious to the public. Also in 1975, it became legal for gays to hold federal jobs.
However all this headway also made room for more opposition. In 1977, Anita Bryant was so successful at obtaining a repeal of a recent gay
ordinance in her home state of Florida that by 1980, a league of anti gay clubs had come together to make a force, led in part by Jesse Helms. The
AIDS scare that began in the eighties did not help the gay image either, but more citizens joined their ranks in order to combat the oppression and fund
a search for the cure, so in the end it actually made the movement stronger. According to the Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia (2000), by 1999, the
anti–sodomy laws of 32 states had been repealed, and in 1996 Vermont granted its gay citizens the right to same sex marriages. Gay rights has come
a long way as a social movement, and though it still has a long way to go, it makes a good topic to analyze the process of the social movement.

Summary: The Gay Rights Movement
The easiest way to summarize a social movement is with dates. 1776 and its attendant documents were the beginning of democracy in the Western
world; in 1863, Lincoln freed the slaves with the Emancipation Proclamation; in 1969, the Stonewall riots marked the liberation of the gays. Obviously,
history is infinitely more complicated than a list of dates; the gay rights movement in particular is proof of this. The underground nature of U.S. gay
communities has ensured that records of important events in the "gay canon" are relatively sparse, and so the evolution of gay subculture is difficult to
map––until an event comes along that pushes the homosexual into the spotlight. Arguably, the biggest of these events was the AIDS crisis of the 1980's;
...show more content...
Concurrent with the foundation of the Mattachine Society (the second gay rights–focused organization in the U.S.) and the publication of Alfred
Kinsey's Sexual Behavior in the Human Male was the beginning of government investigations into persons considered potential security risks,
including Communists and homosexuals. It is telling that homosexual employees were considered a risk due to the fact that they were, according to
McCarthy, "subject to blackmail," (over, of course, their sexual orientation and activities.) Guy George Gabrielson, the Republican National Chairman,
is quoted in the New York Times as decrying "sexual perverts who have infiltrated our Government in recent years" as "perhaps as dangerous as the
actual Communists." A report submitted to the Senate Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Department asserts that "homosexuals and other
sex perverts are not proper persons to be employed in Government for two reasons; first, they are generally unsuitable, and second, they constitute
security risks." Newspaper articles and books that discuss the investigations take much the same attitude; rarely except in gay–specific publications is
terminology or tone favorable, even when an author dismisses the idea of homosexuals as

The Gay Rights Movement

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