community problem report
Ian Grafvonluxburg
Mrs. Massey
ENC1101
November 7, 2013
Gay Rights: The Story
Homosexuality is defined as romantic attraction, sexual attraction or sexual behavior between members of the same sex or gender. It has been present in the history of the Earth as long as Heterosexuality. So why is Homosexuality considered lesser, disease, and shameful? Homosexuality has as much history as any other movement and cause in the world. Through ups and downs the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) community has a lot of history.
By 1935, the United States had become conservative. During this period life was harsh for homosexuals as they were forced to hide their behavior and identity in order to escape ridicule and even imprisonment. Many laws were passed against homosexuals during this period and it was declared to be a mental illness. Homosexuality came to be considered a disease causing the uprise of Mental Institutions that claimed to cure Gays, just like hospitals cured other diseases and mental disorders. The Gay community was subject to painful procedures, agaisnt their will at many points, all in favor of curing them. They were victim to electro shock therapy where they would show pictures of the same and opposite sex. When a picture of the same sex was showed they would be shocked to be negatively stimulated, and associate pain with their same sex. Other harsh procedures were also used such as lobotomies which would leave the patients in vegetative states. In the 1960’s homosexuality was illegal in every state except Illinois. Gays would be beaten and arrested in public places for holding hands with their loved ones. Many police forces conducted operations to arrest homosexuals by using young undercover cops to get them to make propositions to them.
The LGBT movement towards Gay rights started in the the 1960’s with the Stonewall Riots. New York became a safe heaven for the LGBT community. Even though homosexuality was still considered illegal New York was more lenient on it. One part of New York became very well know for its Gay Community: Christopher Street. Down this street Gays and Lesbians could be open with their partners, Queens could dress in Drag, and basically anyone could do whatever they wanted. Of course it was limited. The Stonewall Inn became the center of Gay New York. It was a place where the Gay community could “escape” even if it was for a short moment. The Gay clubs were mob owned so the conditions weren’t that great but it was the only place they could do as they wished. Besides the Stonewall the only place the Gays could gather were used meat transportation trucks that would not be cleaned or kept to hospitable conditions because they were not meant to be occupied by people. They were covered in animal blood and the stench was unbearable, but it was their only shelter. On June 28, 1969 Police tried to raid the the Stonewall like they had done numerous times but this night would change everything. On this night when the police arrived the people refused to leave; and they fought back. The people that had gotten kicked out stayed outside the Stonewall to protest. In a matter of minutes 1000’s of Gays had gathered around the outside of the Stonewall, while the Police gathered inside panicking being outnumbered 6 to 1000’s. The revolt outside lasted all through the night leading to the overtake of the Stonewall by the Gays the the overpowering of the police in there and taking back their club. This was the the first step ever taken towards LGBT rights movements.
Many who were moved by the rebellion attended organizational meetings, sensing an opportunity to take action. On July 4, 1969, the Mattachine Society performed its annual picketing in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, called the Annual Reminder. Organizers Craig Rodwell, Frank Kameny, Randy Wicker, Barbara Gittings, and Kay Lahusen, who had all participated for several years, took a bus along with other picketers from New York City to Philadelphia. Since 1965, the pickets had been very controlled: women wore skirts and men wore suits and ties, and all marched quietly in organized lines. This year Rodwell remembered feeling restricted by the rules Kameny had set. The hand-holding couples made Kameny furious, but they earned more press attention than all of the previous marches. One of his first priorities was planning Christopher Street Liberation Day.
Christopher Street Liberation Day on June 28, 1970 marked the first anniversary of the Stonewall riots with an assembly on Christopher Street and the first Gay Pride marchin U.S. history, covering the 51 blocks to Central Park. The march took less than half the scheduled time due to excitement, but also due to wariness about walking through the city with gay banners and signs. Although the parade permit was delivered only two hours before the start of the march, the marchers encountered little resistance from regular residents of NY. The New York Times reported that the marchers took up the entire street for about 15 city blocks. Reporting by The Village Voice was positive, describing "the out-front resistance that grew out of the police raid on the Stonewall Inn one year ago"
From the time of the first Gay Rights movement, there have been many advances in the field. Now days there are hundreds of organizations and companies that have the purpose of helping out the LGBT community. Much more jobs are available for open Gays and Lesbians in all communities. The idea of being openly homosexual is something that is slowly becoming more and more acceptable in today’s society. Currently the LGBT community is working on legalizing gay marriage in all of America, with only 16 states allowing legal gay marriage.
One organization that works to bring civil liberty to the LGBT is the ACLU. The ACLU works to ensure that LGBT people have equal opportunity to participate fully in civil society. No LGBT person should experience discrimination in employment, housing, or in businesses and public places, or the suppression of their free expression or privacy rights. The ACLU seeks new laws against discrimination in states and at the federal level, and resists all attempts to weaken the impact of existing nondiscrimination laws. With the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” current federal priority is passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Fighting restrictions on parenting by LGBT people is critical because this discrimination causes serious, enduring harm to the lives of LGBT people and their children. The ACLU challenges policies and laws that prevent qualified and caring LGBT people from foster parenting or adopting kids. They also strive to change laws or practices that interfere in custody and visitation relationships between LGBT parents and their children.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center is at the heart of the LGBT community in New York City, providing quality health and wellness programs in a welcoming space that fosters connections and celebrates cultural contributions. The Center provides a secure place to come together and plan, share knowledge and expertise, and to shape our future as a vibrant community in New York and around the world. The Center was founded in 1983, and as they celebrate their 30th anniversary they announce the unveiling of our new brand identity and the commencement of a transformational building enhancement project.
Even though there have been a lot of movements towards the LGBT, the fight against discrimination is not over. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender persons in Russia face legal and social challenges, as well as discrimination not experienced by non-LGBT citizens. Although same-sex sexual activity between consenting adults in private was decriminalized in 1993, there are currently no laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, and households headed by same-sex couples are ineligible for the legal protections available to opposite-sex couples. The age of consent has been the same for same-sex relations as for heterosexual relations since 2003, and homosexuality was declassified as a mental illness in 1999. Transsexuals have been able to change their legal gender since 1997. Neither same-sex marriages nor civil unions of same-sex couples are allowed in Russia. In July 2013, Patriarch Kirill, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, of which approximately 80% of Russians are members, said that the idea of same-sex marriage was "a very dangerous sign of the Apocalypse". At a 2011 press conference, the head of the Moscow Registry Office, Irina Muravyova, declared: "Attempts by same-sex couples to marry both in Moscow and elsewhere in Russia are doomed to fail. We live in a civil society, we are guided by the federal law, by the Constitution that clearly says: marriage in Russia is between a man and a woman. Such a marriage cannot be contracted in Russia." The vast majority of the Russian public are also against same-sex marriage. In June 2013 the national parliament unanimously adopted, and President Vladimir Putin signed, a nationwide law banning distribution of "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" among minors. The law does not explicitly mention the word "homosexuality", but instead uses "non-traditional sexual relations". Under the statute it is effectively illegal to hold any gay pride events, speak in defense of gay rights, or say that gay relationships are equal to heterosexual relationships.
Even in troubling times there is always hope. ‘It Gets Better’ is an Internet-based project founded by Dan Savage and his husband Terry Miller on September 21, 2010, in response to the suicides of teenagers who were bullied because they were gay or because their peers suspected that they were gay. Its goal is to prevent suicide among LGBT youth by having gay adults convey the message that these teens' lives will improve. The project has grown rapidly: over 200 videos were uploaded in the first week, and the project's YouTube channel reached the 650 video limit in the next week. The project is now organized on its own website, the It Gets Better Project, and includes more than 50,000 entries from people of all sexual orientations, including many celebrities, Like Lady Gaga. The videos have received over 50 million views. U.S. President Barack Obama lent his voice to the movement against bullying and contributed a video on October 21, 2010, saying "We've got to dispel this myth that bullying is just a normal rite of passage; that it's just some inevitable part of growing up. It's not. We have an obligation to ensure that our schools are safe for all of our kids. And for every young person out there you need to know that if you're in trouble, there are caring adults who can help." In March 2011, Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted an anti-bullying conference.
LGBT movements and rights have come a long way. From the night in the 1960’s at the Stonewall to current day movements, the LGBT has gone through a lot. Discrimination, segregation, pain, and many more words can be associated with the history of the LGBT. But recently different words can be used to describe it; hope, strength, love. Like any other movement around the world, it has had its ups and downs. But through all of it the LGBT community has stayed united and strong, and there is much more to come in the history of their rights.
Resources
ACLU, American Civil Liberties, 2013, Web 30 October 2013
Bonica, Patricia, and Jaime M. Grant. "Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Organizations." The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 1998. Academic OneFile. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
Bram, Christopher. Eminent Outlaws: The Gay Writers that changed America. 12 New York Boston. 2012. Print.
Morris, Bonnie J. "History of Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Social Movements."Http://www.apa.org. George Washington University, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2013.
Stonewall Uprising. Dir. Kate Davis, David Heilbroner. American Experience. 2011.
The Center, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, 2013, Web October 30 2013
Vogel, Lauren. "LGBT health." CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal 17 Sept. 2013: E626. Academic OneFile. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
"WATCH POINT'S ." The National LGBTQ Scholarship Fund. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2013.
Mrs. Massey
ENC1101
November 7, 2013
Gay Rights: The Story
Homosexuality is defined as romantic attraction, sexual attraction or sexual behavior between members of the same sex or gender. It has been present in the history of the Earth as long as Heterosexuality. So why is Homosexuality considered lesser, disease, and shameful? Homosexuality has as much history as any other movement and cause in the world. Through ups and downs the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) community has a lot of history.
By 1935, the United States had become conservative. During this period life was harsh for homosexuals as they were forced to hide their behavior and identity in order to escape ridicule and even imprisonment. Many laws were passed against homosexuals during this period and it was declared to be a mental illness. Homosexuality came to be considered a disease causing the uprise of Mental Institutions that claimed to cure Gays, just like hospitals cured other diseases and mental disorders. The Gay community was subject to painful procedures, agaisnt their will at many points, all in favor of curing them. They were victim to electro shock therapy where they would show pictures of the same and opposite sex. When a picture of the same sex was showed they would be shocked to be negatively stimulated, and associate pain with their same sex. Other harsh procedures were also used such as lobotomies which would leave the patients in vegetative states. In the 1960’s homosexuality was illegal in every state except Illinois. Gays would be beaten and arrested in public places for holding hands with their loved ones. Many police forces conducted operations to arrest homosexuals by using young undercover cops to get them to make propositions to them.
The LGBT movement towards Gay rights started in the the 1960’s with the Stonewall Riots. New York became a safe heaven for the LGBT community. Even though homosexuality was still considered illegal New York was more lenient on it. One part of New York became very well know for its Gay Community: Christopher Street. Down this street Gays and Lesbians could be open with their partners, Queens could dress in Drag, and basically anyone could do whatever they wanted. Of course it was limited. The Stonewall Inn became the center of Gay New York. It was a place where the Gay community could “escape” even if it was for a short moment. The Gay clubs were mob owned so the conditions weren’t that great but it was the only place they could do as they wished. Besides the Stonewall the only place the Gays could gather were used meat transportation trucks that would not be cleaned or kept to hospitable conditions because they were not meant to be occupied by people. They were covered in animal blood and the stench was unbearable, but it was their only shelter. On June 28, 1969 Police tried to raid the the Stonewall like they had done numerous times but this night would change everything. On this night when the police arrived the people refused to leave; and they fought back. The people that had gotten kicked out stayed outside the Stonewall to protest. In a matter of minutes 1000’s of Gays had gathered around the outside of the Stonewall, while the Police gathered inside panicking being outnumbered 6 to 1000’s. The revolt outside lasted all through the night leading to the overtake of the Stonewall by the Gays the the overpowering of the police in there and taking back their club. This was the the first step ever taken towards LGBT rights movements.
Many who were moved by the rebellion attended organizational meetings, sensing an opportunity to take action. On July 4, 1969, the Mattachine Society performed its annual picketing in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, called the Annual Reminder. Organizers Craig Rodwell, Frank Kameny, Randy Wicker, Barbara Gittings, and Kay Lahusen, who had all participated for several years, took a bus along with other picketers from New York City to Philadelphia. Since 1965, the pickets had been very controlled: women wore skirts and men wore suits and ties, and all marched quietly in organized lines. This year Rodwell remembered feeling restricted by the rules Kameny had set. The hand-holding couples made Kameny furious, but they earned more press attention than all of the previous marches. One of his first priorities was planning Christopher Street Liberation Day.
Christopher Street Liberation Day on June 28, 1970 marked the first anniversary of the Stonewall riots with an assembly on Christopher Street and the first Gay Pride marchin U.S. history, covering the 51 blocks to Central Park. The march took less than half the scheduled time due to excitement, but also due to wariness about walking through the city with gay banners and signs. Although the parade permit was delivered only two hours before the start of the march, the marchers encountered little resistance from regular residents of NY. The New York Times reported that the marchers took up the entire street for about 15 city blocks. Reporting by The Village Voice was positive, describing "the out-front resistance that grew out of the police raid on the Stonewall Inn one year ago"
From the time of the first Gay Rights movement, there have been many advances in the field. Now days there are hundreds of organizations and companies that have the purpose of helping out the LGBT community. Much more jobs are available for open Gays and Lesbians in all communities. The idea of being openly homosexual is something that is slowly becoming more and more acceptable in today’s society. Currently the LGBT community is working on legalizing gay marriage in all of America, with only 16 states allowing legal gay marriage.
One organization that works to bring civil liberty to the LGBT is the ACLU. The ACLU works to ensure that LGBT people have equal opportunity to participate fully in civil society. No LGBT person should experience discrimination in employment, housing, or in businesses and public places, or the suppression of their free expression or privacy rights. The ACLU seeks new laws against discrimination in states and at the federal level, and resists all attempts to weaken the impact of existing nondiscrimination laws. With the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” current federal priority is passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Fighting restrictions on parenting by LGBT people is critical because this discrimination causes serious, enduring harm to the lives of LGBT people and their children. The ACLU challenges policies and laws that prevent qualified and caring LGBT people from foster parenting or adopting kids. They also strive to change laws or practices that interfere in custody and visitation relationships between LGBT parents and their children.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center is at the heart of the LGBT community in New York City, providing quality health and wellness programs in a welcoming space that fosters connections and celebrates cultural contributions. The Center provides a secure place to come together and plan, share knowledge and expertise, and to shape our future as a vibrant community in New York and around the world. The Center was founded in 1983, and as they celebrate their 30th anniversary they announce the unveiling of our new brand identity and the commencement of a transformational building enhancement project.
Even though there have been a lot of movements towards the LGBT, the fight against discrimination is not over. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender persons in Russia face legal and social challenges, as well as discrimination not experienced by non-LGBT citizens. Although same-sex sexual activity between consenting adults in private was decriminalized in 1993, there are currently no laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, and households headed by same-sex couples are ineligible for the legal protections available to opposite-sex couples. The age of consent has been the same for same-sex relations as for heterosexual relations since 2003, and homosexuality was declassified as a mental illness in 1999. Transsexuals have been able to change their legal gender since 1997. Neither same-sex marriages nor civil unions of same-sex couples are allowed in Russia. In July 2013, Patriarch Kirill, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, of which approximately 80% of Russians are members, said that the idea of same-sex marriage was "a very dangerous sign of the Apocalypse". At a 2011 press conference, the head of the Moscow Registry Office, Irina Muravyova, declared: "Attempts by same-sex couples to marry both in Moscow and elsewhere in Russia are doomed to fail. We live in a civil society, we are guided by the federal law, by the Constitution that clearly says: marriage in Russia is between a man and a woman. Such a marriage cannot be contracted in Russia." The vast majority of the Russian public are also against same-sex marriage. In June 2013 the national parliament unanimously adopted, and President Vladimir Putin signed, a nationwide law banning distribution of "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations" among minors. The law does not explicitly mention the word "homosexuality", but instead uses "non-traditional sexual relations". Under the statute it is effectively illegal to hold any gay pride events, speak in defense of gay rights, or say that gay relationships are equal to heterosexual relationships.
Even in troubling times there is always hope. ‘It Gets Better’ is an Internet-based project founded by Dan Savage and his husband Terry Miller on September 21, 2010, in response to the suicides of teenagers who were bullied because they were gay or because their peers suspected that they were gay. Its goal is to prevent suicide among LGBT youth by having gay adults convey the message that these teens' lives will improve. The project has grown rapidly: over 200 videos were uploaded in the first week, and the project's YouTube channel reached the 650 video limit in the next week. The project is now organized on its own website, the It Gets Better Project, and includes more than 50,000 entries from people of all sexual orientations, including many celebrities, Like Lady Gaga. The videos have received over 50 million views. U.S. President Barack Obama lent his voice to the movement against bullying and contributed a video on October 21, 2010, saying "We've got to dispel this myth that bullying is just a normal rite of passage; that it's just some inevitable part of growing up. It's not. We have an obligation to ensure that our schools are safe for all of our kids. And for every young person out there you need to know that if you're in trouble, there are caring adults who can help." In March 2011, Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted an anti-bullying conference.
LGBT movements and rights have come a long way. From the night in the 1960’s at the Stonewall to current day movements, the LGBT has gone through a lot. Discrimination, segregation, pain, and many more words can be associated with the history of the LGBT. But recently different words can be used to describe it; hope, strength, love. Like any other movement around the world, it has had its ups and downs. But through all of it the LGBT community has stayed united and strong, and there is much more to come in the history of their rights.
Resources
ACLU, American Civil Liberties, 2013, Web 30 October 2013
Bonica, Patricia, and Jaime M. Grant. "Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Organizations." The Reader's Companion to U.S. Women's History. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 1998. Academic OneFile. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
Bram, Christopher. Eminent Outlaws: The Gay Writers that changed America. 12 New York Boston. 2012. Print.
Morris, Bonnie J. "History of Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Social Movements."Http://www.apa.org. George Washington University, n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2013.
Stonewall Uprising. Dir. Kate Davis, David Heilbroner. American Experience. 2011.
The Center, The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, 2013, Web October 30 2013
Vogel, Lauren. "LGBT health." CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal 17 Sept. 2013: E626. Academic OneFile. Web. 21 Oct. 2013.
"WATCH POINT'S ." The National LGBTQ Scholarship Fund. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2013.