History of the Gay Movement Rights Essay Example

Thus, this became the earliest and the first lesbian rights movement organization in the United States. For years, the lesbian group put forth many social events and also provided many alternatives to the lesbian clubs. But still they were not at peace as the police forces frequently conducted raids which were to threaten and scare the homosexuals against their lifestyle. Furthermore, the gay lifestyle prompted researchers, for instance, Evelyn Hooker, an American Psychologist, who wrote and shared the findings of her study namely “The Adjustment of the Male Overt Homosexual.” In Chicago Psychologist Association Convention of America and Alfred Kinsey, a sex researcher as well as a biologist who in 1948 published “Sexual Behaviors in the Human Male.”

Also, gay plays, as well as movies, produced in light of the gay, for instance, Joe Cino, who is an Italian-American film and theatre producer, produced the first two gay play which was known as “The Haunted Host” as well as “The Madness of Lady Bright” which were authored by different men in the quest for giving space for creativity. Additionally, in the year 1965, picketers began to set a “Reminder Day” which was aimed at capturing the public’s attention to the fact that the lesbians, transgender, as well as the gay movement members, were lacking the civil right that people enjoyed. For the next half a decade, the gay people went on their picketing which took place at the Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

On the other hand, the government publicly discriminated the gay people. In 1950, a United States senator, distributed a report known as "Employment of Homosexuals as well as Other Sex Perverts in the Government" that

stated that the citizens practicing homosexuality are a risk to the security in their workplaces and therefore unsuitable for work and especially to work for the federal government. This led to the president issuing a ban in1953 to hinder and dismissed any homosexual, be it a contractor or an official in the government off their duties. This was no different in the churches, as the religious leaders now condemned the gay members stating that God does not approve homosexuality and they should burn in eternal fire.

Even though the United States has for a long time considered itself a hero and superior nation which is united, it has many of the times in history engaged in discrimination as well as bias against members of the society who belief does not match the beliefs of the general public. For instance, the arrival of the African slaves to the United States spurred up discrimination even though they were coming to build the nation, rather than being granted freedom of common citizens’ rights they were denied. This resulted to the slaves to result in seeking freedom in ways such as literature and music arts. It is also evident that another American discrimination falls to the homosexuals. The homosexual group has been prejudiced as they have sexual relations with people of the same sex. Consequently, the Gay people have for long been humiliated, slandered, suffered shamed, killed as well as considered outcast in the community. Moreover, the public views about the gay movement have silenced many of the gays about coming clear of their lifestyle that has, as a result, triggered the genesis of the gay movement.

The society views have

considered the gay people as evil and have many times openly condemned them even in the eyes of religion. It is no secret that some of the gay people have even been murdered, the price for having a gay lifestyle. There are many debates in today’s era that exists on the logics of having a gay lifestyle as well as a lesbian one. One principal debate on homosexuality is whether a person is conceived having this “defect” or is it a person’s lifestyle choice. Due to lack of support from close friends, family members as well as professionals to take part in living a gay lifestyle, the gay people have suffered a significant mental stress and emotional breakdown.

There is a great need for the establishment of a gay rights organizations, individual supporters as well as having political involvement so that the gay rights movement can be successful. A psychologist who has supported the gay movement argue that the gay perception in a person’s mind began even before he was born. Henry Gerber, a staunch supporter of the gay movement, made a decision in 1924, to establish the first gay rights organization. Homosexuals did not retaliate due do this ban, and they started to fight back against the people who harmed as well as discriminated them. In a raid that was conducted by the police to a gay bar in Greenwich Village, there was an unexpected chaos which erupted and was spearheaded by the patron’s hotel. This was a typical scenario since its creation in 1968 by the police officers to try to eliminate the gays in the society.

Later in 1998, a university student, Matthew Shepard

who was publicly a gay was brutally inhumanly beaten as well as tied to a fence all because he had a gay lifestyle. His death sparked up a trend for music as well as  “individual experiences of the Shepard murder and its immediate aftermath varied. Some singers were part of San Francisco Gay Music Chorus (SFGMC) at that time, and discussions about Shepard and the implications of his murder were prevalent among chorus members.”

As with any movement, there are always ups and downs, and that is no different in this movement. It is important to look at all aspects of the plight for equal rights, dignity, and acceptance through several sources of contributors resulting in progressive events to transform society to be more tolerant, productive, and interactive community. The magazine “One: The Homosexual Magazine” was declared as obscene material by the U. S. Postal Service and the FBI. According to One, Inc., who in 1958 reported a landmark case One, Inc. v. Olesen) as well as the United States Supreme Court were in favor of the First Amendment the freedom for homosexuals and transgender " making this the first time the Supreme Court has found in favor of the homosexual population. Other success would follow as in Illinois the first U.S citizen to discriminate against the gays lays. Consequently he opened for the gay rights movement and in 1974, the first openly gay American was publicly elected to serve the government, Kathy Kozachenko, who also won a seat on the Ann Arborl. Despite this there was also discrimination in the department of defense on the grounds that the homosexual lifestyle was banned in the United

States. The famous “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, however, this did not prevent discrimination or attacks in the armed forces.

Over the course of 90 years, the Gay Rights Movement has made excellent strides in with laws resulting in New Rights and New Views. Several protective laws have been incorporated into the American Justice System. Moreover between 1982 and 1984, the Wisconsin state was the first state in the United States pass the law against sexual orientation discrimination; also there was employment offered to the gay people by the CA city, which made it the very first city in the history of Gay movement to offer employment. This allows gay men and other individuals who can’t or don’t want to be married to be recognized in this city as legal partners. It would take almost a decade for other states to make significant legal advances. Same –sex marriages became legal in Massachusetts in 2004, Connecticut and New Jersey have civil union laws, and in 2007 the House of Representatives approves a bill ensuring rights in the workplace for gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals called the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, unfortunately, it did not pass in the Senate, but the fight would keep on.

The continued persistence of the gay communities and those who outwardly support their loved ones and friends, along with celebrities making personal sacrifices and coming out of the closet, and Hollywood started making films and TV shows with gay characters and situations highlighting the fact that homosexuals are not offensive, and they should be respected and loved just like everyone else. Several anti-gay messages were available in commercial form as well as teachings in the

public school system against anti-bullying young gay people. The government in of Utah for example, did not consider over 1,300 homosexual marriages, nonetheless, president Obama declared that the homosexuals marriages will be acknowledge in 2014. Moreover Eric Holder, the Attorney General also announced the gay marriages and in accordance to the federal law would henceforth be acknowledged as lawful as well as become beneficiaries of the federal benefits.

The decisions put forth by the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, was enormously important to society and the progression of gay rights. In 1996, The Supreme Court dismissed the second Colorado Amendment which did not give the homosexuals protection from discrimination. On the other hand, the Supreme Court In 2003, ruled against the sodomy laws in the United States, in a case of Lawrence v. Texas stating that they were not according to the constitution. Additionally the Supreme Court in similar case the same year ruled against the homosexuals barring them from marrying as it violated the U.S state constitution. According to One Chief Justice, who that concluded denying of the gay the protections, duties as well as the benefits, conferred by civil marriage to the homosexual couples was not in accordance to the constitution because it did not allow “the dignity as well as the equality of all citizens.” The United States Supreme Court continued to deny many state requests to block same-sex marriages calling the laws unconstitutional.

In a melting pot, there has to be acceptance of differences. The laws are clear, but far too often the interpretations of the laws cause unique or different community members to fall between the cracks. Therefore, causing

unrest against the discriminated groups, the backlash against societal views, and inciting a civil movement for equality among all cultures. Fortunately, the success of the gay movement is apparent in neighborhoods across the states, on television, and more recently in the music industry. While these groups have new supportive laws, there are still obstacles to climb.