Feminist Movements By Dorothy Sue Cobble, Linda Gordon,...

Feminist Movements By Dorothy Sue Cobble, Linda Gordon,...
Feminist movements have transcended generations while evolving as women's role within and
perspective of society change. These movements ranged from women wanting to simply being
viewed as equal to men in the eyes of employers to women who wanted to completely disassociate
themselves from men. On top of covering a wide range of desires they crossed generational lines as
well as race, class, professional, and ethnic lines. Some of these movements were integrated while
others were exclusively for one group of women. There is no clear cut event or day when women
began pushing for equality but it began around the beginning of the 20th century when women
pushed for the right to vote which culminated with Congress passing the Nineteenth Amendment in
1919 giving women the right to vote. Feminism Unfinished by Dorothy Sue Cobble, Linda Gordon,
and Astrid Henry picks up the history of feminist movements following the creation of the
Nineteenth Amendment. The book highlights many of the different movements that have occurred
from the 1920s until present day, it was published in 2014 so it discusses some of the latest
movements. The authors use the term "feminisms" as opposed to feminism since they want to
emphasize the fact that there were, are, and will continue to be many different approaches to
improve the quality of life for women in the United States. Despite the fact that there were many
different approaches to solving the issues or improving their situation it is all
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The Second Wave Of Feminism And The Gay Liberation Movement
These two films arrive amid the second–wave of feminism in the United States. During this time,
the country saw the Post WWII era of family values, and mass consumerism. The civil rights
movement became the topic of discussion throughout the media, and college students across the
nation became political activist. The Vietnam war erupts as the main focus of the mid–60s, and
tensions increase even more as the Gay Liberation Movement blooms into full effect throughout the
60s and 70s. With all the chaos, women saw themselves as secondary and decided to spark social
movements as a way to gain equality. Gloria Steinem became the face of the movement stating,
"The truth will set you free. But first, it will piss you off." The main focus of the second–wave of
feminism was to gain women's power and liberation. They sought to expose domestic violence
against women, the marriage inequality, child rearing, divorce, sexual assault, sexual liberation,
birth control rights, abortion (Roe v. Wade), education for women, as well as chattering the glass
ceiling in the workplace. These two films could be said to be a written response to the movement. In
the film Halloween, the female characters are sexually liberated but are consequently tortured for
their promiscuity.The women are young, vibrant, socially aware, and are comfortable with their
sexuality. It would be safe to say that these women would be a part of this movement given the
historical context. The women in the film Carrie would

Shaping American Cultures
Throughout the 1960s there was a cultural phenomenon that started in the United States and spread
like wildfire to multiple other cultures in the world. This phenomenon was also known as
countercultures. This decade raised the 76.4 million Americans born during the baby boom
generation. The babies of this boom entered their teen years during the 1960s and they definitely
embraced a multitude new standards, dramatically different from the way their parents were raised.
While some encompassed new ideals in dress, music and movies others joined countercultures and
rebelled against the social norms with poetry, novels and art. Three of the most altering
countercultures were the Hippies, the Sexual Revolution and the Gay Liberation.
These three countercultures emerged around the same time, but had prominently different agendas
and played huge roles in shaping the American culture. What effects did the Hippies, Sexual
Revolution and the Gay Liberation countercultures have on American society, why did they emerge
and what were their objectives?
One of the most distinctive countercultures of the very colorful decade of the 1960s were the
hippies. The hippie's counterculture developed during the 1960s in the Haight–Ashbury district of
San Francisco. The hippies adopted the language and counterculture values from the Beats
Generation. Their distinct style (bell bottom pants, brightly colored shirts and long loose hair on
both men and women), their addictive use of LSD, and their

Liberation Ideology Essay
Liberty and Equality for All
Oppression and discrimination has existed and continues to exist in the past, present, and future
history of the United States. The mistreatment of particular groups infringe on the idea that all
individuals are free and equal. Liberation ideology strives to eliminate external and internal
oppression of particular groups in both a formal and informal method in our legal system and
society. This ideology believes in the freedom and equality of the individual. Similar to welfare
liberalism, strong government interaction is necessary to eliminate oppression in the legal system. In
our current bipartisan ideological government system, liberation ideology continues to face
oppression and discrimination. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Therefore, liberation ideology can fully thrive in a liberal democracy that promotes individual
freedom and equal opportunity giving equal rights to all individuals without infringing on the rights
of others. Welfare liberals utilize strong government interaction to bring about change in society, in
which liberation theology strives to eliminate formal discrimination by creating or ratifying legal
policies. Welfare liberals work well with liberation ideology because they believe in the necessity
for strong government intervention to aid individuals who do not have equal opportunity to reach
their full individual freedom. The liberation ideology utilizes the government to make political
moves to overcome the oppression and discrimination. For example, black liberation movements,
women liberation movements, and gay liberation movements all formally made changes in the
political system to eliminate the inequality and to bring about liberation. Black liberation
movements banned racial discrimination and segregation in the workplace and in public places
during the Civil Rights Movement with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 1968, as well as the Voting
Rights Act of 1965. These legal movements allowed blacks to gain power to assimilate themselves
are full members and citizens in the United States. Women liberation movements made motion to
ratify the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution in the 1920's to

Stonewall : A Documentary About The Lgbt Community Essay
Before Stonewall, a documentary about the experiences of the gay community leading up to the riots
at Stonewall, opens with anecdotes from the LGBTQ community about their past experiences. One
woman recalled that when she was young she only knew that she should not talk about her sexual
orientation and she knew to hide it. The LGBTQ community felt suppressing their feelings was the
only choice due to the high risk of ruining their own and others lives if they did come out. For
instance, a woman names Donna Smith was picked up off the street by a police officer and put in an
insane asylum at the request of her mother. These feelings and experiences were representative of
what it was like for most of the LGBTQ community before the events at Stonewall in 1969. The
1920s was a time of economic prosperity. There was an increase of population in cities, and while
most gay people continued to live in isolation and secrecy, some started to form small communities
in neighborhoods such as Greenwich Village and in parts of San Francisco. Here, freer social norms
allowed for a homosexual underground which included many bars and parties. People often looked
up to musical artists, such as Gladys Bentley, and writers, such as Langston Hughes and Gertrude
Stein. These people among many others helped bring the community together and helped to
challenge social norms. In the 1930s, the Great Depression caused much social unrest. This resulted
in riots in Harlem and LGBTQ unions fighting for

The Traditional Family In Arthur Miller's Death Of A Salesman
Since the postwar era, various groups of people have understood the "traditional" family form as the
key to U.S. political and economic stability, a source of oppression and repression, and an imperiled
institution. And although American families have often been portrayed in these various ways,
American families have recently been pushing against the norm since WWII. What is this
"traditional" family form being mentioned? At the very least, this "traditional" family consists of a
husband who works to provide for his stay–at–home wife. This family form could be fulfilled by
just about any white heterosexual married couple with enough income to own a house and drive a
car. Therefore, if being part of this "traditional" family form is key to U.S. political and economic
stability, does that mean that differing in the slightest will ensure an unsuccessful livelihood? Arthur
Miller presents his perspective on this contention in his play Death of a Salesman. The play Death of
a Salesman focuses on a fictitious African American family living in Brooklyn, New York. The
father of the family, Willy Loman, has been a salesman his whole life, trying to provide for his wife
and two sons. Although Willy considers himself to be a successful, popular, and well–liked
salesman, it is the exact opposite that is true. As Mr. Loman aged, He tried to make himself feel
better by living in his world of delusion, by lying to himself and his family; the fact of the matter
was that he could no longer

Montgomery To Stonewall Essay
Roberson, Kayla Written Task 1– Part 1 Language in a Cultural Context I chose to use Bayard
Rustin's "Montgomery to Stonewall" essay as my text source, due to its metaphors that help
compare the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and other notable social movements to the Gay
Liberation Movement of the 1970s. I will be writing in a speech text type using my text source as
inspiration. The speaker in my poem is a young African American female who is inspired by
Rustin's message to continue fighting for racial equality and equality for the LGBTQ+ community
in the modern age. My speaker is talking to a diverse global audience, who are people willing to
stand up to injustice in the world. My speaker's purpose in the poem is to inspire people to ... Show
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The true Americans whose ancestors built this country. The true Americans whose families founded
this great nation. It is as if they don't realize that this country was built on the pain and suffering of
minorities whose lives and ancestral lines have been destroyed due to these so called 'true
Americans'. This country was founded on the blood and land of the slain native tribes whose culture
and land was taken from them without shame or guilt. This country was founded on the backs of the
beaten African slaves who were stolen of their pride and dignity and were thrown into a centuries
long battle for freedom.This great country has people who say that we should look back into our
past and create a new and great America based on it. While they might look to the past and might
see simpler times and interesting cultural trends they don't realize the difficult lives of the people
unlike themselves who were fighting for their civil rights. But those of us who know the real past of
this country: the past of the destruction of cultures, past of the internment of the Japanese
Americans, the past of slavery and Jim Crow Laws, and the past of immense gender inequality and
sexism.Those of us who know this past must speak up and let our voices be heard . We can not sit
down and let the truth about this country's history be forgotten and whitewashed by the people who
believe their biased information and try to invalidate the struggles that have faced minority groups
throughout

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

Essay about The Changing of American Families
The Changing of American Families
Television reflects how American families are viewed. Leave it to Beaver and
The Brady Bunch were the ideal families in the 1960's and 1970's, and in the 80's, it was Family
Ties. When the 1990's approached us, television shows took on a whole new outlook on American
Families. There were shows such as Full House, which was about a single father raising three
daughters with the help of his brother–in–law and his best friend. Roseanne was also another show
that showed the "dysfunctional" side of families. American Families keep changing, and they will
continue to change in our future.
Topics such as the changes in family logistics are important to be informed about in this day and
age. Therefore, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
More and more women were pushed into the work force. "The 1960's and 1970's became an era of
diversity and identity politics as a host of "others" sought recognition and liberation from the
constraints of discriminatory laws, social policies, and negative stereotypes" (Erera 354). As more
women were entering the work force, they were becoming financially independent and were able to
live on their own. This led to many women who were unhappy in their marriage to divorce their
husbands and raise their children on their own. As more and more women became financially
independent, the more appealing single life became to them. Soon women all over were adopting
and fostering children, and many also decided to give birth while still remaining single. "With the
increasing numbers and visibility of single–parent, step, and adoptive families, the gay liberation
movement opened the way for the emergence of gay and lesbian families" (Erera 355). Gay and
lesbian families were starting to become more common as the seventies had passed.
The eighties and nineties were a time when everyone was arguing over what a family really was.
Erera states "Voices on the right blames changes in the family for a wide range of social problems,
while voices on the left look to the family to provide the basis for a more communitarian society"
(Erera 356). People were starting to blame the increase of family diversity to almost anything they
could. From

Communication Techniques Of Harvey Milk
An Assessment of the Various Communication Techniques of Harvey Milk. By Christian Samson
Harvey Milk was the first openly gay politician to be publically elected to office in California with
his entry to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. It was in November 1978 that a fellow
conservative politician who strongly opposed Milk's views on anti–discrimination and gay rights
assassinated Milk whilst he sat in his office. Milk had only been in office for 11 months and his
death sent shockwaves through the community. Milk's message as a public figure during the 1970s
around greater rights and freedoms for gay people was powerful and arguably, in many ways,
remains relevant today. Pearson (2005) maintains that Milk was pivotal in the gay rights movement
and that gay rights are still an issue in the United States and many other places around the world.
Two texts that perhaps best captured Milk's messages and the powerful ways through which he
communicated them are an interview from the free gay San Francisco Kalendar magazine from
1973, and You've Got to have Hope, or The Hope Speech', a public address from Milk intended to
"embolden a strong GLBTQ nationalism within the Castro, while also appealing for an alliance with
other disenfranchised groups and straight folk" (Milk et al. 2013 p.147). First impressions count. In
1973, whilst standing on a box with the word 'Soap' written on it, in the heart of San Francisco's
Castro district, Milk announced he was running for

The Gay Liberation Movement In The Civil Rights Movement
In 1965 during the Civil Rights Movement, was the first gay rights demonstration which led to the
gay liberation movement in the 70's. Being such an impactful commemoration it inspired more
liberating groups in the growing gay and lesbian world such as: feminist movements, record labels,
music festivals and the National Organization for Women. This quickly evolved into acceptance in a
place of worship when the first gay minister was ordained in '72. Soon after, several large political
groups formed in support of the growing "outing" of a gay society in a stand for gay rights. (Morris,
2017) The quickly increasing movement took a detrimental hit in the '80s "... as the gay male
community was decimated by the AIDS epidemic, (they) demand for compassion and medical
funding leading to renewed coalitions between men and women as well as angry street theatre by
groups like AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) and Queer Nation" (Morriss, 2017, par 14).
Political lobby groups started campaigning against LGB, Churches started believing that AIDS were
a damnation from God and the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy emerged in '94. Not to
mention the appalling hate crimes and backlash from society itself.
This paper will continue on, researching the societal change/acceptance in the gay and lesbian
community as no longer being unorthodox and with the stigma coming from the gay community
itself.
Hypothesis
Majority of LGBQ community uses sexual orientation to victimize

The Issue Of The Gay Liberation Movement
Although the gay liberation movement had very little impact at that time, it set the stage for bigger
and better changes in the future. Since the 1960's America has added, removed, and adjusted laws
against homosexuals. On May 17, 2004, Massachusetts becomes the first state in the United State to
legalize same–sex marriage. The Massachusetts Chief Justice concluded, "to deny the protections,
benefits, and obligations conferred by civil marriage to gay couples was unconstitutional because it
denied the dignity and equality of all individuals and made them second–class citizens." Now 37
states have legalized same–sex marriage and 13 states have laws that still prohibit it. A year before
the state of Massachusetts decided to legalize same–sex ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Panetta and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, signed the certification.
The certification was given after a long period of preparation but according to Elizabeth Bumiller,
"Pentagon officials said that more than 1.9 million of 2.2 million active–duty and reserve service
men and women had been trained in preparation for the end of the policy." These training sessions
lasted about 45–75 minutes and included group work and PowerPoint presentations on "the
ubiquitous communication tool of the military as well as discussions of hypothetical situations."
Military leaders and Pentagon officials seek these training sessions. The hypothetical situations help
them become familiar and with homosexual service members showing public affection as well as
helping them with eliminating any negative attitudes they may have towards homosexuals. Along
with some of the positive changes that are occurring in the United States, such as the Don't Ask,
Don't Tell policy repeal and the military leader training sessions, Pentagon officials are considering
extending some benefits to same–sex married couples in the military. These benefits include health
insurance; base housing, certain death benefits etc. These are ideas that are still being formulated
because under certain laws, primary the Defense of Marriage Act, the Pentagon can not give

The acceptance of “abnormal” sexualities Essay
The acceptance of "abnormal" sexualities has been a prolonged, controversial battle. The
segregation is excruciating and the prejudice remarks are so spiteful that some people never truly
recover. Homosexuals have been left suffering for ages. Life, for most homosexuals during the first
half of the twentieth century, was mostly one of hiding: having to constantly hide their true feelings
and tastes. Instead of restaurants and movies, they had to sit quiet in the dark and meet each other in
concealed places such as bars. Homosexuals were those with "mental and psychic abnormalities"
and were the victim of medical prejudice, police harassment, and church condemnation (Jagose 24).
The minuscule mention or assumption of one's homosexuality ... Show more content on
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The Mattachine Society was with time viewed as traditional, conservative, and reluctant to literally
fight for the rights of their people. Many were appalled that the society dissociated themselves from
those who received notions of gender propriety, such as drag queens. They also still thought of
homosexuals as abnormal, but they felt they deserved pity rather then persecution (Jagose 27).
While denying any social dimension to the group, the Mattachine Society attempted to transform
public attitudes towards homosexuals through circulating information in magazines, newsletters, and
broadsheets (Jagose 27). This group was generally considered politically cautious, more so after
comparing them with LGBT movements that both preceded and followed them. Though the
Mattachine society and their conservative ways seemed to have limited achievements, in reality their
political strategies paved the way for recent groups. While "homosexual" politics were thought to be
outrageous and full of public hostility, the societies "homophile" politics were thought to be more
dignified, honorable, and respectable. They petitioned governments, published and distributed
political newsletters and pamphlets, and were the first to conduct large–scale statistical inquiries into
homosexual behavior (Jagose 29). Many believe now that the Mattachine Society, along with other
small organizations, led the way to the gay rights movement.

Lorraine Hansberry Essay
Her first play, A Raisin In the Sun, is based on her childhood experiences of desegregating a white
neighborhood. It won the New York Drama Critic's Circle Award as Best Play of the Year. She was
the youngest American, the fifth woman and the first black to win the award. Her success opened
the floodgates for a generation of modern black actors and writers who were influenced and
encouraged by her writing.
Hansberry was born in 1930, the youngest of four children of Carl and Nannie Hansberry, a
respected and successful black family in Chicago, Illinois. Nannie was the college educated
daughter of an African Methodist Episcopal minister, and Carl was a successful real estate
businessman, an inventor and a politician who ran for congress ... Show more content on
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––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Cover of A Raisin in the Sun
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Hansberry used the success of A Raisin In the Sun as a platform to speak out for the American Civil
Rights Movement and for the African struggle to free itself from white rule. She helped raise money,
gave impassioned speeches and took part in panels and interviews to further these causes.
After her initial success she lived only six years and was able to complete only one more play, a
movie and a television script which was too racially controversial to be aired. Her second play, The
Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window, was received with mixed reviews and kept open for 101
performances only by the contributions and support of the theatre community. It closed the night she
died at 34 from cancer. After her death Nemiroff finished and produced her final work, Les Blancs, a
play about African liberation.
Hansberry had begun to claim her identity as a lesbian in a 1957 letter to a lesbian periodical, The
Ladder. This information and her 1964 divorce from Nemiroff was not widely known at the time of
her death. In 1965 the Gay Liberation Movement did not exist and a woman could not claim such an
identity without major reprisals. It was not until the 1980s that feminist scholars began connecting

Bureaucracy Has Been Twisted Over The United States...
Like many words in the English language, bureaucracy has been twisted over the years to mean
something different; much like how awful went from meaning "full of awe" to "very bad or
unpleasant". In And the Band Played On, we see organizational practices that obstruct progress
referred to as "bureaucratic", when the official definition refers to a system of governance where
state officials make important decisions instead of representatives. A complete switch in how we see
our administration and governmental organizations occurs because people do not trust their leaders.
This fear of the unknown is the central theme of the movie and relates back to the United States
governance: of the people, by the people, for the people. When the public deems that they are not
making the important decisions, then bureaucracy has turned on its head and the ironic use becomes
the true pronouncement. Irony is rampant in the movie, especially in use by the gay movement to
cover the underlying horror of the disease. An unknown disease that is not like anything anyone has
seen before, but that multiple providers are reporting. When providers report it to higher officials, or
"escalate" the issues, there are multiple roadblocks to their forward movement, but these roadblocks
all stem from fear. For example, the French doctor who fights public fears and opinions, saying:
"That hospital where those people go". The fear of the disease spreads, along with the disease,
everywhere.

Essay on The Sixties, by Terry H. Anderson
The Sixties, by Terry H. Anderson, takes the reader on a journey through one of the most turbulent
decades in American life. Beginning with the crew–cut conformity of 1950s Cold War culture and
ending with the transition into the uneasy '70s, Anderson notes the rise of an idealistic generation of
baby boomers, widespread social activism, and revolutionary counterculture. Anderson explores the
rapidly shifting mood of the country with the optimism during the Kennedy years, the liberal
advances of Johnson's "Great Society," and the growing conflict over Vietnam that nearly tore
America apart. The book also navigates through different themes regarding the decade's different
currents of social change; including the anti–war movement, the civil ... Show more content on
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This thematic standpoint in return provides ground for a second major theme; the 1960s was home
to the birth of civil rights movements and forever changed the American idea of the status quo. To a
large extent, it is agreeable that that the 1960s serves as the era that led to activism in the US.
Anderson is able to confirm and strengthen his standpoint by the fact that it was during one of the
greatest milestones of the 1960s, the Vietnam War, that for the first time in the history of the US, the
government was subjected to criticism and attacks against their "ways". This can be evidenced by
the fact that Americans, which were majority college students, took to the streets to protest
government action. At the time, the policies and actions put forth by the government were seen to be
very secretive and wrong. Citizens were hastily informed about the need to stop the spread of
communism at the expense of capitalism. Not only were government policies seen as corrupt, the
government had kept the American society in the dark concerning the actual situation in Vietnam.
There seemed to be no cost that was worth retreating from Vietnam. Draft calls were constantly
increasing and the war itself began to result in federal expenditures, deficits, and inflationary
pressures ( Anderson 90). For some Americans, the war not only damaging, but unfair. Mexican
Americans were the poorest and

Collective Identity Within The Gay Community And Women 's...
Collective Identity within the Gay Community and Women's Liberation Movement
The gay community and women's liberation movement were both formed through collective
identities and political/oppositional consciousness. Moreover, both groups were discriminated
against by external social structures and yet, succeeded due to internal factors. Whittier and Taylor
describe collective identity as "the shared definition of a group that derives from member's common
interests, experiences, and solidarity" (Whittier 105). The gay community was being oppressed for
their sexuality while women were being suppressed based on their gender. Although both
communities formed collective identities, they experienced numerous obstacles in unifying their
movements, the most notable being race and ethnicity. Since both groups were being discriminated
against due to factors out of their control, they formed collective identities and created communities,
which propelled their movements forward.
The shift from agricultural economy to capitalism changed family dynamics, and was "directly
linked to the appearance of a collective gay life" (D'emilio 102). In an agricultural society, families
used to work together to produce food, clothing and other goods (D'emilio 103). "There was, quite
simply no "social space" in colonial systems of production that allowed men and women to be gay"
(D'emilio 104). In essence, survival was structured around a nuclear family until the emergence of
the free labor

1960s Gay Rights
Imagine this, you are just walking down the street holding hands with your significant other and all
of a sudden a police car shows up and and an officer jumps out. The officer starts beating and
abusing you because you are in love with someone of your same gender.
In the 60s being LGBT was not excepted by society, which includes the police. Many people were
harassed and abused by police. The people who were suposed to keep them safe were harming them
for being themselves.
The gay rights movement in the 60s helped lay a foundation for future generations to fight for
equality.
t
Body Paragraph #1
There were many activists for LGBT rights in the 1960s
Huffingtonpost.com stated, "Rustin was an amazing civil rights activist who was gay at a very
homophobic time. He was arrested several times for "open homosexuality" and civil disobedience"
Rustin was an civil rights activist and was a part in the LGBT movement of the 60s.
Also, Hal Call was a huge part in the Mattachine society and the gay rights movement in the 60s.
This quote represents this, "While it is true that there was ongoing organized political activity on
behalf of American homosexuals starting in 1951 with the founding of the Mattachine Society, that
organization."
Lastly, The 60s started off with Illinois making laws against homosexuality and activists from the
50s were quite frustrated with this. "Illinois becomes the first state in the U.S. to decriminalize
homosexual acts between

Stonewall Lesbians In The Stonewall
No discussion of homosexual rights is complete without addressing the looming specter that is
Stonewall. According to Carter's (2005) account, on the night of June 28th, 1969, four plainclothes
police officers, two uniformed officers, a detective of the NYPD, and a deputy inspector approached
the doors of the Stonewall Inn and announced their arrival by shouting "Police! We're taking the
place!" Following this, they began arresting patrons of the Inn. The scene that night was one of
unrest; even before the riots, there was a general sense of unease and discontent. According to some
accounts, the police attempted to arrest a butch lesbian–a "stone–dyke butch"–and cracked her over
the head with a baton. After several attempts to escape, as she was being forced into the squad car
for the final time, she shouted: "Why don't you guys do something!" At this point, the scene had
gone from uneasy to riotous. Although Carter questions whether the Stonewall Lesbian in fact
existed, others, have claimed that the mysterious figure was Stormé DeLarverie (DeLarverie and
Chu, 2010). Regardless, what is clear is the crowd began to throw coins, then followed it up by
larger objects such as stones, bricks, and trash cans. The officers remaining on the scene and a
nearby reporter who would publish his account in The Village Voice took shelter inside the bar, and
the former patrons began a siege. At some point, a nearby parking meter was ripped from the
concrete and used as a battering ram. The

Gay Liberation Movement Research Paper
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "All our progress is unfolding, like a vegetable bud. You have first
an instinct, then an opinion, then a knowledge as the plant has root, bud, and fruit. Trust the instinct
to the end, though you can render no reason"(). This quote is a great representation of how the Gay
Liberation Movement swept across the nation spreading change everywhere it went. This movement
was a major milestone for the United States, this was the first step towards acceptance. The
movement did not pick up speed until the 1960's but many years before that in 1920's individuals
started to speak up about their rights in the gay and lesbian community. December 10, 1924 the first
Society for Human Rights started up in Chicago (American Experience). The Society for Human
Rights published the first ever book in America that retained to gay and lesbian relationships,
Friendship and Freedom (American Experience). Even though their success was short lived, they
shut down due to pressures ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
People do not understand things that are different from the way he or she were raised. A lot of
individuals during this time period had a certain belief about the definition of relationships. In the
1960's at the start of the revolution homosexual acts were illegal in many states and same sex
couples were not allowed the right to marry or adopt and were discriminated greatly in the work
force. The Gay Liberation Movement was nicknamed the "come out!" movement (Dansky, S.F
2009). It encouraged individuals to come out to their friends, family, and coworkers and tell them
about their homosexuality. This step of coming out to family, friends, and coworker was more than a
random process along the way. Coming out symbolized that the LGBT community was tired of the
discrimination that they faced on a daily basis. This was their first step in standing up for their

A Vindication Of The Rights Of Woman By Mary Wollstonecraft
All throughout history, society tends to constantly oppress certain minorities groups. The top three
minorities in my opinion that seemed to have it rough with society's never–ending social norms
would have to be Women, African Americans and the LGBT community. Each of these groups of
people were all shunned and shamed by the citizens of their society and seen as outcasts and treated
as such, having little to no equal rights. Historically, women weren't seen as equal partners when it
came to their male counter parts. In fact, they weren't seen as an actual person at all. Only as an
object that was to be possessed by the men of society. In chapter twelve of A Vindication of The
Rights of Woman, by Mary Wollstonecraft, she speaks a great deal on national education and how
important it is in shaping one's views of the world. She begins this concept by starting with the
differences between a private school education and that of a home school education. She then goes
on to explain how boys are taught in a private school setting, they tend to become "gluttons and
slovens" whereas in a home schooling environment, boys tend to become " vain and effeminate" and
in return develop an overbearing, cocky and aggressive attitude and way of thinking towards other
peers and members of society. Wollstonecraft proposes a simple solution to this issue, allowing
everybody, boys and girls of every social class to be placed in a public school environment and all
taught the same exact lessons.

Why Should We Make Decisions On Experiences That They...
able to make decisions on experiences that they themselves could not understand. This really raised
a lot of questions to me about who is in power and how big of a problem it is the those in power are
not more diverse. We have struggled in society and have "imprisoned so many behind stone walls of
racism, sexism, and homophobia" (Rudacille 140).
It also raised awareness that the very same acts done by heterosexual couples were acceptable, and
not punishable in the confines of the home, but that gays were not even safe in private. After the
decision in Lawrence v Texas made by the U.S. Supreme Court, it was understood that the gay
community had a chance to move forward into the light even more, and that their fight for freedom
would not disappear. By declaring that it is unconstitutional to make arrests against gays in the
home, it also declared that homosexuals should have the same rights as everyone else. It made it
more acceptable and brought homosexuality into the light to where it was okay to talk about and
dispute. Not only was it just "an invasion of liberty, as the Court thought", but also the case enforced
a bad law, a Homosexual Status Law, which made being gay a crime.
In writing this paper, I went back to the very beginning of our discussions, and looked at my very
first discussion post on the Stonewall Uprising. I realized, that while we did do a lot of court case
focused work, that I still learned a lot even outside of these cases. I wanted to post both my

Religion And The Civil Rights Movement
The struggle to obtain gay and civil rights has been directly influenced by religion, either in a
positive or negative way. More specifically, religion has served as a disadvantage to achieving gay
rights and an advantage to those that participated in the civil rights movement. Contrary to the
recent successes of the gay rights movement, there have been a lot of obstacles along the way and
most of them have been due to religious beliefs and practices. Religion opposes gay rights,
especially gay marriage on the basis that it immoral and unnatural, it is against the word of God and
it is incompatible with religious beliefs, sacred texts, and traditions of many religious
groups(Eskridge,15). On the other hand, religion more directly influences the outcome of the civil
rights movement by providing a basis for unity among African Americans. The concepts and
strategies of the civil rights movement alluded to Biblical stories and admonitions. The church
provided a physical shelter for African Americans to congregate and organize marches, sit–ins and
protests, but also a spiritual overlook that guided them to the freedom that they always deserved. 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

Women's Rights In The 20th Century
Throughout history, political and social life were all controlled and regulated by men. As a result
women often lived their life in silence and were banned from participating in their society. However,
from the start of the 20th century, this cycle of white male dominance was quickly challenged by
various minority groups. The Women's Rights Movement, Gay Liberation Movement, and the
African–American Civil Rights Movement to name a few all demanded basic human rights and to
be treated equally as their straight white male counterpart. In 1977, Harvey Milk, a gay rights
activist, became the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California (he won a seat
on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors). About year later, on June 25, 1978, he gave a powerful
speech on the steps of the San Francisco City Hall demanding equality not only for the LGBTQ
community but for everyone. Similarly, on September 5, 1995, Hillary Clinton, the First Lady at the
time, transformed the world as she delivered a moving speech on women's rights. It was at the U.N
4th World Conference On Women, where she uttered the famous line, "Let it be that human rights
are women's rights and women's rights are ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
By having the world just stop judging people because you are a women or because you are gay, then
we can come together and fight for something we all have in common, a better future where
everyone is equal. In Hillary Clinton's speech, she says, "We must move beyond recognition of
problems to working together, to have the common effort to build that common ground we hope to
see. She appeals to our logos by stating that nothing can be solved if we just acknowledge our
problems. Furthermore, she declares that we must appreciate and make use of our differences to
unite as one to build a future where everyone has an equal opportunity to make a

The Rise Of The Civil Rights Movement
In 1960, there were tremendous of social ferment that was responsible for agitation and protest.
Through direct protest, many African Americans, women, and homosexuals were able to gain
recognition and break down the walls of discrimination and segregations. Out of the numerous
elements that arose in the 1960s, there are three movements that truly affected the American society.
Firstly, the rise of the civil rights movement was greatly influenced by racial discrimination of
colored people in the South. Secondly, the women's movement aimed to convince the society that
women are capable of achieving and maintaining higher waged job like males. Lastly, the gay rights
movement aimed to gain acceptance and stop discrimination of homosexuality. The most significant
effect on the development of American society was the women's movement and how they expanded
their economic and political opportunities. The common goal among African Americans, women's,
and homosexuals was to obtain their equal rights as citizens of America and to desegregate all the
boundaries between white and black population.
The civil rights movement was one of the main elements that were responsible for agitation and
protest that greatly expanded in the 1960s. This social movement "originated among black
Americans in the South who faced racial discrimination and segregation, or the separation of whites
and blacks, in almost every aspect of their lives" ("Protests in the 1960s," 3). There was constant
racial

Analysis Of Billy Joel 's Hit Song ' We Didn 't Start The...
In Billy Joel's hit song, "We Didn't Start The Fire", he sings about the major headlines and
influences on his generation. If you compare these allusions to the headlines today, you'll see that
our society's issues and interests haven't changed much. Political scandals, the race to space, pop
culture, and best–selling novels; all crucial to the shaping of our society. Even though the 60's and
today's world are decades apart, there are many similarities between society then and society now
that suggest the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Since the first person rose to fame, the public has been obsessed with celebrity scandals. That's why
when a politician is surrounded amongst accusations and embarrassment, it hits the ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
While this is not illegal, it 's an issue because she has put classified information at a greater risk than
it needed to be, due to the fact it is much easier to hack into her private server than it is to hack into
the government server, and we don't know who else was receiving the information she was sent.
Given this information, Americans have to decide for themselves whether or not she actually did
something wrong, and whether or not we can trust her as the next president of the United States. No
mater who you have in a government position, and no matter what country you 're in, there will
always be a scandal to talk about because even if you are someone held to the highest of standards,
you are still prone to making poor decisions.
One of the most important steps mankind has ever made is space exploration. On February 20th,
1962, John Glenn became the first person to orbit the earth. This was a major redemption for the
U.S, since just a year before Yuri Gagarin from Russia became the first man to go to space. Glenn's
accomplishment threw America ahead in the famous Space Race with the U.S.S.R. Recently, NASA
announced that they plan on having a manned mission to Mars by 2035. However, there 's a lot of
competition. Quite a few nonprofit and for–profit organizations believe they can get people to Mars
sooner and cheaper than NASA. If NASA is the first organization to have a successful manned

Lesbian Identity Politics and Associated Organizations Essay
Identity politics were a major part of social reform in the Sixties and Seventies. Yet, the advent of
identity politic reform originates in the Fifties, a decade that saw the African–American Civil Rights
Movement start to gain momentum. On the heels of the Civil Rights movement, we also see the
Women's Liberation Movement begin to gain steam, shortly thereafter followed by the Gay
Liberation Movement. And as an offshoot of these reform movements, we observe the dawn of
lesbian identity politics – a movement very much its own amongst its predecessors. One sect would
come to be coined the "lavender menace" of feminism – a group of mostly Caucasian lesbians –
followed later by the black lesbian feminist group, The Combahee River Collective. ... Show more
After delivering the food, and being understandably annoyed with the task, she was belittled by a
male protestor who would have her as a sexual reward for sitting–in. Black feminists, such as those
in the Combahee River Collective, experienced very similar discrimination in Civil Rights
campaigns, especially groups like the Black Panthers. Just like Jay, many African–American women
were used as sexual remuneration to men who did good work within their organizations. This
patriarchy, antithetic to the goals of feminism, was the undoubted enemy of both these lesbian
organizations – usurping it became one clear goal. The Combahee River Collective, though, did not
feel separate from African–American men concerning race, yet, felt doubly oppressed by white
patriarchy. Understanding that they connected with black men racially, yet struggled with them
sexually, almost supplements the idea that white men – who controlled government and economy –
were the ultimate oppressor. They did not feel they were separate, but rather, just opposed to black
men along patriarchal lines. Inversely, the Collective connected with white lesbians against
patriarchy, but were subjected to hierarchy within feminism as well as lesbianism. Secondly, we see
that if well known reformists were not male, they were heterosexual, the epitome being Betty
Friedan. This was the reason for the more specific goal of the two groups: battling hierarchy in
addition to

The Stonewall Riots Essay examples
Life for most homosexuals during the first half of the Twentieth century was one of hiding, being
ever so careful to not give away their true feelings and predilections. Although the 1920s saw a brief
moment of openness in American society, that was quickly destroyed with the progress of the Cold
War, and by default, that of McCarthyism. The homosexuals of the 50s "felt the heavy weight of
medical prejudice, police harassment and church condemnation ... [and] were not able to challenge
these authorities." They were constantly battered, both physically and emotionally, by the society
that surrounded them. The very mention or rumor of one's homosexuality could lead to the loss of
their family, their livelihood and, in some cases, their ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The founders "greatly admired Martin Luther King's nonviolent methods in forcing integration" and
attempted to emulate those principles in their struggle. The problem was not in their efforts, or
intentions, but the fact that their society was politically weak, garnering little support among the
homosexuals of that era. As the civil unrest of the 1960s continued to grow, with more radical and
leftist movements emerging, the Mattachine Society was viewed as traditional, conservative, and
unwilling to literally fight for the rights of their people. It was not uncommon for the New York
Police Department Morals Task Force to raid gay bars. In fact, during the two decades leading up to
the Stonewall Riots, the raids were more commonplace than naught. Many have speculated as to
why the raids were common – some saying it was because of the Italian Mafia's involvement in
owning those establishments, and consequently forgetting to bribe the local police; others believe it
to be based in bias, hatred, and ignorance of people different from oneself. In the Stonewall Inn's
specific case, it could have been a combination of both. The Inn, which was owned by the Mafia,
was actually a bottle club, meaning they did not own a liquor license. You had to be a member to
drink there. While these various theories are most likely true, as far as ancillary causes, the fact
remains that there was an

On January 20th, 2013, Barack Obama was inaugurated to his...
On January 20th, 2013, Barack Obama was inaugurated to his second term as president of the
United States. In his speech, he made history when he made a reference to gay rights, he said:
We the people, declare today that the most evident of truths –– that all of us are created equal –– is
the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and
Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along
this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our
individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on earth (Obama).
Seneca Falls, Selma, and Stonewall were all historical movements regarding ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
This was led by Elizabeth Stanton and Lucretia Mott. These conventions also were held in places
like Worcester, Massachusetts and thousands of women and men came to support the women's
suffrage movement (Imbornoni).
There were other ways women were advancing their political status. Due to the fact that women did
not have equal rights as men, until earlier in the 20th century, some would dress as men to achieve
higher political status or to get a better job. Gay women would cross–dress just because it made
them feel more comfortable. Homosexuality was not an uncommon thing in the 19th century. It was
normal for members of the same sex to show affection to each other, and even sleep in the same bed.
When people would come out as homosexual; doctors automatically presumed they were mentally
unstable and they were put in an asylum. Doctors continued to say homosexuality was an illness
until the 1970s. For about twenty years after the end of the 19th century, women, homosexuals, and
African Americans all struggled for their rights. Everything changed when the roaring twenties
emerged.
In 1920, women finally were granted the right to vote with the passing of the nineteenth amendment.
This caused women to start rebelling against ladylike things that were considered "normal
behavior," and the group known as the Flappers emerged. These young women drank and smoked
excessively in public, cut their hair, and wore short dresses. Some of these Flappers

The Women's Liberation Movement
Beginning in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century women began to vocalize their opinions
and desires for the right to vote. The Women's Suffrage movement paved the way to the nineteenth
Amendment in the United States Constitution that allowed women that right. The Women's Suffrage
movement started a movement for equal rights for women that has continued to propel equal
opportunities for women throughout the country. The Women's Liberation Movement has sparked
better opportunities, demanded respect and pioneered the path for women entering in the workforce
that was started by the right to vote and given momentum in the late 1950s. The focus of The
Women's Liberation Movement was idealized off The Civil Rights Movement; it ... Show more
In America the Women's Liberation movement has been embraced by how women are valued for
more than baring children, but we often do not consider the ramifications the transition has had on
our society. Feminist Marlene Dixon has said that although women have done wonderful work in
ending oppression for themselves, oppression still exist, only in psychological sense of the word.
Dixon writes, "Individualized struggles between men and women around the oppressive attitudes
and objective sexual and social privileges" is the consequence of the psychological oppression that
is taking place in the minds of women, and men, who are being hyper sexualized in the need for
attention. Taking into consideration the amount of emphasis is placed on a woman's sex appeal
Dixons ideas cannot be disregarded. With women increasing their assets in the work force and
decreasing a mans need in relationships, women are marketing their bodies to prove that they are
still can be desirable and relying on the opposite sex. By allowing ourselves to be used as sexual
properties in advertising it is giving men and other women the notion that women are only desirable
if they can be physically attracted to the masses. As feminist, and women these sexual barriers need
to be brought down to emphasize that

Hot Stuff Analysis
Many historians regard the 60's as the decade of positive change, particularly for minority groups.
As a result the 1970s, which followed the socially impactful 60's, are often seen as "the decade
where nothing happened" or, more specifically, "nothing good happened". Edward Berkowitz
attempts to break this "nothing happened" stigma through his novel, appropriately named Something
Happened. The decade of the oil crisis, the Watergate scandal, and the Iranian hostage crisis, also
provided legislative progress for many minority groups. Thomas Borstelmann acknowledges the
decade's "formal equality" but is wary to accept that society was as progressive. Alice Echols'
however, asserts that the decade's dance phenomenon expanded social equality, in her novel Hot
Stuff. Echols and Berkowitz unanimously feel the 70's made way for increased acceptance of
minority groups; despite disagreeing on which minority groups benefitted. Borstelmann provides a
much more skeptical analysis stating the 70s provided "formal equality" while "...private prejudice
and its very real negative impacts still endured" Alice Echols applauds the influence the 70s had on
inclusion of previously underrepresented groups; women, homosexuals and African Americans.
"The 1970s are associated with identity politics, but they were also a time when numbers of gay
men, African Americans, and women ditched predictable social script." Echols' analysis of the
decade is presented through the lens of her own

The Poetry Of Audre Lorde
Poetry is a very creative way of writing and reading literature. It is used to express feelings,
thoughts, or emotions on a certain topic. Poetry writing goes back to ancient times and is still used
today. Famous poets include Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Edgar Allen Poe and many others.
There was one poet, in particular, that was more modern and different than the rest, Audre Lorde.
She was known as a feminist, civil rights activist, mother, and a visionary. Audre Lorde was creative
in a way that she used her poetry to support and spread awareness for many social movements in
America. Her poetry often expressed her thoughts and feelings on major issues such as Civil Rights,
Gay rights, Women's rights and racial equality. Mrs. Lorde uses unique literacy languages, such as
similes, symbols, imagery, and tone throughout her works entitled "A Litany for Survival" and
"Outline"; to voice her struggles through her childhood and life.
Audrey Geraldine Lorde was born on February 18, 1934, in Harlem, New York. Harlem was " a
place that represented negro success and was a home to many writers" (Veaux 5). She was legally
blind and labeled as a special child which made her two older sisters despise her and parents tolerate
her. Growing up in a Caribbean household was very strict. She was expected to "act appropriately,
continue her educational career, and pursue strong work ethics" (Veaux 18), if not she was punished
by scolding or beatings. Lorde lacked the love and attention

Countercultures Of The 1960s
some being Dr. King, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson. There were also significant events,
such as the Civil Rights Movement, the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the entry and war of
Vietnam. The sixties are known for being a controversial and politically challenge era, but there
were also many other activists that were important but lesser known. The sixties also represented the
movement of countercultures, identity politics and liberation movements. These challenges and
movements all summarized what is known as the era of the 60s.
There were many groups that opposed authority in a peaceful way such as marches and gatherings,
however, these groups certainly did not get along with authorities. The 1960's was heavily
influenced ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The Black Panthers represented the ideologies of black power and that political and economic gains
can mainly be obtained through self–empowerment and growth. The group was somewhat militant
and tended to cause tensions, sometimes resulting in jail time, however, the group did a lot their own
communities, such as free breakfast for children and educational programs for all.
Similar to the ideas of Black Power, the lesbian, gay, and the second wave feminist movements of
the 1960's were not ashamed instead they felt proud and empowered. The LGBT groups were urged
to engage with protests for radical changes while embracing and reducing criticism of who their
sexual preferences. The feminist ideologies of approaching these issues were to come out to family
members, friends, and colleagues, with no regret and living life openly as gay or lesbian. The Gay
Liberation movement had formed and radicalized in the late 60's in response to the Stonewall riots
of the 1960s, in which a group of trans, lesbian, drag, and gay patrons resisted arrest during a raid in
New York City. After the Raid, many groups were formed such as the Gay Liberation Front and the
Gay Activist Alliance. These were just some other examples of how identity policies were relevant
in shaping the culture of the 1960s.
The feminist movement was also a common factor in shaping the 1960s and an ongoing process.
Starting from the "We Can Do It!" poster starring Rosie the Riveter in 1943 to merging

Oppression Essay
Oppression signifies an authority over another group, disengaging that particular group from the rest
of society. "The term oppression encapsulates the fusion of institutional and systemic
discrimination, personal bias, bigotry, and social prejudice in a complex web of relationships and
structures that shade most aspects of life in our society" (Bell, 1997). In one way or another every
individual experiences some form of oppression, whether it be through race, sex, gender, religion,
age, wealth and/or sexual orientation. These cultural minorities experience inequality where a
dominant culture casts its authority and power through exercises of unjust and cruel methods; these
methods have been experienced through the Women's Movement, the ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
"A great achievement of women's movements worldwide has been their success in 'breaking the
silence' about male violence against women in intimate relationships" (Vickers, 2002). Having
broken the silence of violence it has also broken the silence of oppression. The ongoing battle(s) of
women's rights suggests that the silence of oppression is of the past and the future holds equality for
all alike. "...power is the capacity to terrorize, to use self and strength to inculcate fear, fear in a
whole class of persons" (Dworkin, 1981). Male dominance exhibits and practices fear toward those
of different classes, its use is to gain power to which control is given. "In the male system, sex is the
penis, the penis is sexual power, its use in fucking is manhood" (Dworkin, 1981). The male mind
indicates that without a penis an authority of power is dismissed and overlooked. Unfortunate for
society today male hierarchy continues to be the dominant practice and the penis is a visual and vital
form of power. "Male sexual power is the substance of culture" (Dworkin, 1981). Although women
have come a long way their oppression and limited amount of power in society has yet to be broken
and adjusted because of this visual of the male penis extracting power in society. With the Women's
Movement challenging women's rights it did however omit African American women from the
process. The Civil Rights

The Gay Liberation Movement Of Manhattan, New York City
On June 28, 1969, the Gay Liberation Movement was sparked due to the Stonewall Riot in
Manhattan, New York City, (History.com Staff). The Stonewall was a gay club located in New York
City. It was often regulated and harassed by police officers but one day the LGBT decided to stand
up for themselves and fight back. Although the police were legally justified in raiding the club,
which was serving liquor without a license among other violations, 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. The officers were forced to take shelter inside the establishment, and two policemen
were slightly injured before reinforcements arrived to disperse the mob. The protest, however,
spilled over into the neighboring streets, and order was not restored until the deployment of New
York's riot police. The raid on the Stonewall Inn lead to many riots and created an uproar from the
LGBT community, (Teal).The Stonewall Riot was followed by several days of demonstrations in
New York and was the impetus for the formation of the Gay Liberation Front as well as other gay,
lesbian, and bisexual civil rights organizations. It is also regarded by many as history's first major
protest on behalf of equal rights for

The Civil Rights and the LGBT Movements Essay example
Although the conclusion of the Civil War during the mid–1860s demolished the official practice of
slavery, the oppression and exploitation of African Americans has continued. Although the rights
and opportunities of African Americans were greatly improved during Reconstruction, cases such a
1896's Plessy v. Ferguson, which served as the legal basis for segregation, continue to diminish the
recognized humanity of African Americans as equal people. Furthermore, the practice of the
sharecropping system impoverished unemployed African Americans, recreating slavery. As
economic and social conditions worsened, the civil rights movement began to emerge as the
oppressed responded to their conditions, searching for equality and protected ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
The movement, using the slogan "Black Power," followed the teachings of Malcolm X, an African
American leader who died the same year and who promoted that African Americans separate from
white society in favor of forming their own community. The Black Panther Party, a militant
organization that viewed themselves as soldiers warring against the white hierarchy, arose from such
ideals. Despite the challenge that "Black Power" proposed to the nonviolent movement, civil rights
activists continued persevered in finding the end of black discrimination legally. They found success
in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which both contributed to legally
naming minorities as equal citizens, as well as protecting the same from discrimination. Although
the strength of the civil rights movement dissipated after the 1960s, activists continue to make
efforts to end entirely the racial discrimination within America's economic and social policies. As
the civil rights movement progressed, members of the movement who belonged to other minority
groups, such as the homosexuals of all ethnicities and classes , were inspired and began
organizations of their own; thus, the beginning of the gay liberation movement arose, promoting the
rights and equality of those discriminated because of their sexuality, including but not limited to:
lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender people (LGBT). To be part of the LGBT community was
legally a crime; homosexuals

The Stonewall Riots And The Gay Rights Movement
The 1960s were an age of change in American history, especially in regards to sexual liberation. The
beginning of the gay rights movement begins in 1969 with the Stonewall Riots and women's
liberation movements reach newer heights than before. Without these movements, society today
would be vastly different than the one we live in. Through exploring the challenges as limitations of
these movements and the struggles they overcame, one can learn about how societal views of
sexuality have come to be what they are today and can envision what they might look like
tomorrow. The Stonewall Riots began on June 28, 1969, in the Greenwich Village of Manhattan,
New York outside of the Stonewall Inn. The original riot was in response to the police raiding of a
popular, mafia–owned gay bar and was incited by the throwing of a brick by Marsha P. Johnson.
This is often heralded as the most important starting point in the gay liberation movement. Gay
individuals prior to Stonewall experienced plenty of horrible injustices due to the police. Drag
queens or trans individuals could be thrown into jail for presenting themselves as any gender other
than the one stated on their ID. Police officers would storm gay bars and force individuals to show
identification. If one was wearing so many articles of clothing of the opposite gender on their ID,
they could be seized and thrown into jail. Stonewall was the first instance where members of the
LGBT community realized the strength they had when

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 on
Helpwriting.net ...
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 for same–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 Stonewall Riots Of 1969
This investigation assesses the New York City Stonewall Riots of 1969, concerning their influence
on the rise of the modern gay rights movement, specifically regarding political emergence, social
unity, and demographic shifts. The investigation will attempt to answer the following question: To
what extent were the Stonewall Riots of 1969 a catalyst for the LGBT social movement in America?
Two sources, "Movements and Memory: The Making of the Stonewall Myth" by Elizabeth A.
Armstrong and Suzanna M. Crage, and Stonewall: the Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution by
David Carter, are used to form a proper analysis. Carter effectively reflects on the monumental spirit
of the riots, while Armstrong and Crage focused on the lack of lasting significance of the riots,
which directly refutes the beliefs of Carter. Stonewall: the Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution,
was written by David Carter in New York, and published in 2004. This book serves the purpose of
identifying Stonewall as the starting point for the modern gay revolution as a whole. It argues that
the riots set a spark that ignited America in favor of homosexual rights as well as political and social
opportunity. This book is valuable because it not only acknowledges the riots at Stonewall as
important, but shows how they transformed homosexual life and the movement entirely. Carter
persuades readers to see New York as a venue for revolution, and acknowledges the challenges
faced throughout the beginning of the movement,

Feminist Movements By Dorothy Sue Cobble, Linda Gordon,...

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