Never before has the United States seen such a drastic change in public opinion than on the argument of gay rights. What was once the most taboo subject to appear in the public eye is now on frequent display in film, television, and news headlines. However, to say that the gay rights movement is more visible than ever, is not to say that the country is on the same page. Like all controversial issues, there are two sides to the argument, and both opponents are very much passionate about their opinions. However, there is no denying the fact that there has been a radical break in the history of homosexuality. Gay marriage has become legal in all 50 states, protections for LGBTQ people have been implemented in most areas, and it is rare to find a primetime drama without a featured gay character. To what do we owe such “seismic shifts in social attitudes”(Piontek 123)? The answer is simple and and right under America’s nose. More specifically, on the west coast: Hollywood. When carefully observed, film and …show more content…
To fully comprehend the recent shift in attitudes towards homosexuality, an understanding of the history of the gay rights movement is needed. At the beginning of the 20th century, homosexuals were regarded as deviants and were therefore shielded from the public eye. The gay communities that modern America has become accustomed to in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles were not developed until after WWII, when “thousands of gay and lesbian people were dishonorably discharged from the armed services, and many were simply dumped in port cities”(Ford). In 1950, the Mattachine Society, an “underground emancipation movement”(Ford), was founded. The Society was an organization that acknowledged “gay men as an oppressed cultural minority”(Morris), and demonstrated and educated the public for
The Laramie Project by Moises Kaufman depicts the story of Matthew Shepard's murder, and the struggle to overcome hatred versus homosexuals in a town where it was common practice, encouraged, and then eventually overcame. The people of Laramie had forever lived by the simple rule of “live and let live.” While common and seeming harmless, this simple rule led
“A group of people decided they’d had enough. They took a stand and in doing so began the New York Gay Activist movement. Which eventually spread to other parts of the country…. I very much doubt they know the impact of their decision to stand firm that day in 1969, but it’s because of those people that gay rights exist in this country today,” Lynley Wayne, LGBT Writer. Everyday people are trying to stand up for themselves.
The feminist movement and the gay rights movement are two communities that have been fighting for their rights for a long time and are similar in many ways, yet different in many others. While they are both social movements, the feminist movement’s main focus is on women’s rights, while the gay rights movement’s main focus is on gay rights. Similar to each other or not, the two movements could (and do) benefit from each other. Both women and gay people have faced discrimination due to being seen as lesser in the eyes of society. However, the reasons for this discrimination they face/have faced are very different.
To elaborate, on June 26, 2015, the US supreme court made gay marriage legal in all 50 states. As a state that is strongly fixed on both individualistic and more specifically, traditionalistic values, the platform of these political cultures in Texas were challenged through means of media. A culture that is based on traditional values strives away from changes and is resistant to accepting new laws, such as the legalization of same sex marriage. However, pop culture and widespread media shared amongst the citizens of the state of Texas, opened and shaped the debate over this issue. In fact, “scholars agree that the news media have become more attentive to and supportive of lesbian and gay rights over time.”
During the 70s, the great transformative motions for gay rights and activism were at a peak never seen before. One of the great figures of this transformative period was Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in the history of the U.S. While he faced much backlash for his sexuality, he actively participated in his community and fought to ensure they were represented. When tensions grew against the LGBTQ+ community in San Francisco Harvey Milk delivered a speech for his community to celebrate and platform California’s Gay Freedom Day. In his speech, Harvey Milk argues the importance of decent and equal LGBTQ+ representation in everyday life for progressiveness.
When debating the legalization of same sex marriage, religious reasoning and accusations of bigotry often provoke obstinance. Instead of reiterating those arguments, William J. Bennett, a prominent cultural conservative, former secretary of education, and author of The Book of Virtues, focuses on societal effects in his op-ed article, “Against Gay Marriage.” Though Bennett’s piece conveys partiality, it also attempts to discuss this issue scrupulously to ensure readers will consider his argument and perhaps accept his implications. While some of Bennett’s word choices convey tolerance of the gay community, his rhetoric incites readers to accept that preserving society requires marginalizing homosexuals.
A brochure for “Reminder Day” expressed that homosexuals were often not treated as equals and that the Federal, state and local governments have shown bias towards these individuals. Although some religions would perceive homosexuality as a sin, the individuals are still human and should be given the same opportunities as the rest of the population. In the past, the Declaration of Independence promised natural rights for all men, but some rights were not realized for minority groups. Over time, parts of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were revoked and amended so that in today’s world, all “men”, including women and minority groups, all have the same rights.
Our country is by no means perfect and, therefore, in no way devoid of fault. Occasionally the country regresses, and it seems that, for a time, we go against the overwhelming public opinion that unites us as citizens. Most recently, the relapse in our values against the preservation of LGBT+ rights has led me to question my hope for the future of this country. The call for a transgender military ban by President Trump and the United States’ refusal to denounce the death penalty against gay sex in the recent UN vote calling for its condemnation serve as decisions contrary to our country’s quest for equality. Despite these regressions, I know that, in the end, progress will prevail.
Pascoe’s main argument about the “fag discourse” is that the practice of predominately straight males to call other people, objects, or events fag or gay isn’t simply a matter of homophobia or a negative outlook on gay men and that instead it is part of a larger societal issue that promotes and encourages any male to be undeniably masculine. She expands on this by exploring and discussing some of the many ways that this mindset harms all those within its reach at any and every level. As the term would imply, the use of fag or gay as a negative term hurts those that are in fact gay males. Despite the fact that the term has slightly deviated from its specific use to put gay individuals down and has become a generalized insult, it still has and for the indefinite future will maintain that connection to gay men.
The Civil Rights Movement gained traction around the 1950s, paving the way for many other oppressed groups. These groups fought for different rights, but they still had a similar struggle to the original movement. One of these groups is the Gay Rights Movement. The comparison between the black civil rights movement and the gay civil rights movement is “typically a sensitive subject, even among liberals” (Williams). Some people believe that it is unfair to compare a fight for marriage to a fight to gain equality in every aspect.
Religion seems to play an important and controversial role between issues that involve the LGBTQ society. Before American Democracy can answer any of these questions, a line needs to be drawn between politics and
This theme of sexuality was an immense part of the late 20th/early 21st century as once taboo subjects became vocalized and everyone rushed to share their opinion. Heated debates over the matter took place from local communities to national press as Senators such as Jesse Helms and Trent Lott referred to homosexuals as “degenerates” and “in need of treatment” (Franke-Ruta, 2013). However, slander did not prevent women of this time from abandoning their movements for sexual liberation, but instead worked to find acceptance on social and political
LGBT Rights Worldwide Out of 196 countries in the world today, in 12 of those countries coming out as gay can be punished with the death penalty. Some countries feel that being gay is a 'sin' an 'abomination', 'immoral', or just unnatural. Some use the law to prevent people from coming out for fear of being punished or even killed for it. Although in 22 countries gay marriage is legal, that doesn't stop the other 172 from trying to prevent it. LGBT rights are a public issue being debated even in the farthest countries.
The last point of view is full acceptance. This stance asserts that all homosexuals deserve the same rights as heterosexuals. They are entitled to same-sex marriage and cannot be punished for their acts. The idea behind this belief is that homosexuality should not be considered a sin because all lives were created by God, therefore, he created them for who they are. A person should not be criminalized due to their way of living life.
Homosexuality was once considered sacred in ancient Rome, albeit being treated poorly since the middle ages. Like this, homosexuality has been suppressed for a long time and thenceforth, the public opinion towards it has been on a downward road until recent years when LGBT groups started stepping up front and coming out along with the increasing controversy towards their rights. The subject of homosexuality has always been polemical. Every once in a while a news article would come up saying something like "Manny Pacquiao provokes storm by calling gay people ‘worse than animals’" or "Sam Smith Talks Coming Out As Gay".