Gay Rights
Gay Rights
Gay rights is a hot topic all over the world and gay rights in America is a huge political and religious issue. The gay rights movement has spanned through centuries and gay rights in America is evolved dramatically over the years and is sure to evolve even more through the next several decades. In 1779, a law that would mandate castration for gay men and mutilation of nose cartilage for gay women was considered by Jefferson. In 2003, over two centuries later the Supreme Court put an end to laws criminalizing same sex intercourse in Lawrence v. Texas. However, though the act has been decriminalized the gay rights movement is far from complete as there are still many more hurdles to cross in terms of gay rights in America.
National Gay Rights Organization
The gay rights movement in America officially began in 1951 when the first National Gay Rights Organization was started. At a time where it would have been dangerous and illegal to have a pro-gay organization, a small group of gay men started the Mattachine Society. Concurrently a small group of lesbian couples created the Daughters of Bilitis; both organizations were more of a social function as they could not do much activism. 1n 1961 the gay rights movement crosses a huge hurdle and gay rights in America has become a topic contested in court. Illinois agreed that in 1961 victimless crime laws such as banning sexual intercourse between consenting adults should be abolished, Connecticut followed suit in 1969. However gay rights in America still had a long way to go as most states ignored this recommendation and there were severe punishments for consensual gay sex. In 1969, the gay rights movement really took off and gay rights in America took a huge turn. The Stonewall Riots, in 1969, ensued when NYPD police raided a gay bar in Greenwich Village. Employees and Drag performers were arrested. As a result, 2000 members of the LGBT supporters of the bar took on the police, forcing them into the club; there were three days of riots. The Stonewall Riots mark a significant event in the gay rights movement, and LGBT activists in major cities held a parade one year later to commemorate the riot. This was one step closer in the struggle for gay rights in America, as pride parades have been held in June ever since. Gay rights in America took a huge turn for the better in 1973 when the American Psychiatric Association defended homosexuality and spoke out in favor of antidiscrimination laws. It was also stated that homosexuality would be take out of the next printed issue of the DSM-II. By the time, the gay rights movement was well underway. A decade later, Berkley adopts the first same sex domestic partnerships ordinance. This was a huge step in the gay rights movement because a large aspect of equal rights is the recognition of households and relationships. In gay rights in America, this was a big issue because the lack of acknowledgment tends to
affect same sex couples most during the times when they already face the greatest levels of stress. Such as illness, hospital visitation, and death where most cases inheritance between partners if often unrecognized. In 1993, the gay rights movement crossed yet another huge obstacle when the Hawaii Supreme Court Issues Ruling in Support of Same-Sex Marriage. In 1999 California established a statewide domestic partnerships ordinance which initially was just for hospital visitation rights but has immensely evolved, and yet another milestone in gay rights in America. The gay rights movement went one step further when Vermont adopts the first civil union policy in 2000. One of the greatest achievements as far as gay rights is concerned was when Massachusetts decided to legalize same sex marriage in 2004.
There are still other issues being contested however, if the past 60 years were a sign, then in the future gay rights will become much more prevalent of an issue and they will soon be guaranteed all the same rights as heterosexuals.