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The Changing Gay Rights in the USA

The Changing Gay Rights in the US


The issue of homosexuality was always surrounded by aversion and hostility in Western society. Since the rise of Christianity and wide dissemination of Christian ideology throughout Europe homosexuality was considered a disgusting sin and was strictly punishable by the governments and societies. In recent decades however the homosexual minorities strived for achieving equal rights and proper treatment by the outside society, the process in which they reached great progress and recognition.

This essay will take a look into the history of changing homosexual rights and attitudes throughout the recent history and describe the achievements which the gay lobby attained in the struggle for equal treatment. While just several decades ago
merely the mention of homosexuality could make people indignant this day actuality provides gays and lesbians with all necessary rights an freedoms of minorities. Like it or not, the strife of gays for their equality with general population is the example of equal rights struggle not distinct from that of, for example, the black population. Being widely opposed by various anti-gay groups the homosexual movement is not the subject for any legal sanctions or bans, but the entire homosexuality is the issue of free choice and sexual preference, the aspects which are respected and safeguarded in our society.

In the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome homosexuality was considered normal part of human relations. In ancient Greece, for example, homosexuality was considered the factor to boost bravery and morals in troops. Homosexual bonds were poeticized and perceived as important factor in becoming adult, like the pederastic relations between the adolescent males under 20 and adult men. (Homosexuality in the militaries of ancient Greece 2006).

With time the values have changed and the perception of homosexuality moved from wide acceptance in antiquity to absolute prohibition in Christian period of European history. Through 18th and 19th centuries the same-sex relations and cross-dressing were unacceptable serious crimes punished under sodomy laws. At the same time, underground homosexual organizations existed, which counted even some famous figures in their ranks. For instance, the secret British organization, the "Order of Chaeronea" welcomed Oscar Wilde among its members in late 19th century.

While generally considered negative and abominable the homosexuality was not active as the distinct trend in society until the end of WWII. Since 1945 the groups defending homosexual rights revived and their activity spread throughout the post-war Britain, France, Germany, Holland, the Scandinavian Countries and the United States. These organizations were largely ignored by the society and the media, which did not prevent them from development. Tens of US homophile publications and organizations existed by 1965 when the gay march was held in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Being one of most daring actions since the inception of homosexual movement the march is considered by many to signify the beginning of modern homosexual rights era. The subsequent homosexual struggle was given more militant character inspired by the emergence of various aggressive groups like the Black Power, anti-Vietnam war movements etc. After the Stonewall incident in which the group of homosexuals opposed police raid in one of the New York bars the movements such as Gay Liberation Front started to emerge and the word "gay" was introduced as the opposite to "straight". The key mood of these years among homosexuals is called the "gay pride", which became one of key values of the movements.

Since the middle 1970s to middle 1980s the gay activity changed in its character turning from anarchistic gay liberation to Gay Rights Movement which operated with legal terms and presented homosexuals and lesbians as minorities with their civil rights. It was also the time of lesbian movement development which was encouraged by the growing feminism. Many women in the ranks of Gay Liberation movement were dissatisfied with the domination of male homosexuals and eventually separated to form own lesbian movements. The word "gay" thereafter became primarily associated with homosexual males. (LGBT Social Movements 2006).

Today, homosexuality is accepted and acknowledged in many countries. Several decades of equal rights struggle of the score of gay and lesbian rights movements resulted in growing recognition for homosexuals as equal members of the society. This day gay and lesbian lobby strives to join mainstream political ranks on account of their minority status. Provided that the choice of sexual orientation is innate and cannot be changed consciously the same-sex activists strive to achieve power to have an influence on public opinion and policies treating gay rights. There is also another, more aggressive wing in homosexual rights movement which assumes that everyone have the potential for homosexuality. The proponents of this point of view pretend that the entire same-sex orientation is not inferior, like the majority use to think, and thus should be given absolute equality and recognition while the categories of gay and lesbian should lose their restrictive character.

The entire homosexual community has reached significant goals during its last 50 years. While homosexuality is outlawed in about 80 countries with some of them even imposing capital punishment for the instances of sodomy the American and European homosexuals enjoy almost full freedom of their relations. One of most prominent achievements of homosexual movements in the United States was the removal of homosexuality from the list of psychological diseases by the American Psychiatric Association. The May 17, is recognized the International Day Against Homophobia, paying homage to the same date in 1990 when the United Nations' World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the list of diseases.

Also, the growing support for gay rights in recent decades results in gradual military indulgence in drafting homosexuals into the army. The only reservation here is to remain silent about own sexual orientation, the so-called "don't ask, don't tell" policy. This day army still remains the last outpost which officially rejects gays in its ranks. Nevertheless, the homosexual lobby and modern culture in which it is commonly used not to conceal one's liaisons seem to be effective in breaking the moral taboos, the process in which the army may be only the temporal adversary. (Hughes, Brian 2000).

Homosexual marriages is the most well-known problem attributed to homosexual rights protection in recent years. The movement for obtaining legal recognition of same-sex marriages was started in 1970s in the United States and became widely discussed in 1990s. While the federal law stands aloof of recognizing homosexual marriages the legal system of the United States enables each single state with the right to define the marriage the way it finds relevant. Today, the same-sex marriages are recognized in Massachusetts. Precise legal unions exist in Connecticut, Vermont, California, Maine, New Jersey, Hawaii and the District of Columbia which while not being called marriages nevertheless provide the series of rights and responsibilities for the same-sex couples under their jurisdictions. (Same-sex marriage in the United States 2006).

The year 2003 was an important point in homosexual rights extending in the United States. In a court case regarded by homosexual activists as the landmark ruling the Supreme Court overturned the laws under which the homosexual behavior was graded unlawful. In the Lawrence vs. Texas case the court ruled that the private life of gays is to be respected and the state cannot meddle in their personal destiny or control their behavior by making their private sexual life a crime. The objection to the Texas law was based on the violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. The law which was found unconstitutional is still active in 13 states. While it cannot primarily meddle into private life of homosexuals it still may deny gays to have precise jobs, adopt children, remove them from child custody. (Homosexuality 2006).

Hence, from absolute aversion homosexuals fought their way through societal opposition to wide acceptance and recognition of equal rights. Still, there are precise regulations and laws denying homosexuals of certain rights. However, with regard to recent decades of gay initiative any laws may soon be pressed to change providing gays with all the rights and freedoms of general population. While morality was the key concept to withstand homosexual equality through the years, this day mainly operates with civil rights, based on the equality of people. Since, the rights of homosexuals are expected to be equalized with those of heterosexuals in nearest future.





Works Cited
"Homosexuality." 19 Nov. 2006. <http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761562012_2/Homosexuality.html>.
“Homosexuality in the militaries of ancient Greece." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 14 Nov. 2006. 19 Nov. 2006. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_the_militaries_of_ancient_Greece>.
Hughes, Brian. "Should Homosexuals Serve Openly in the Military?" 26 Apr. 2000. 19 Nov. 2006. <http://www.speakout.com/activism/issue_briefs/1222b-1.html>.
"LGBT social movements." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 17 Nov. 2006. 19 Nov. 2006. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_social_movements>.
"Same-sex marriage in the United States." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. 16 Nov. 2006. 19 Nov. 2006. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_the_United_States.htm>.
"The American Gay Rights Movement: A Timeline." Infoplease. 19 Nov. 2006. <http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0761909.html>.
"The Gay Rights Controversy." Exploring Constitutional Conflicts. 19 Nov. 2006. <http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/conlaw/gayrights.htm>.
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Posted by: Anastasia T. Ray

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