From its tumultuous beginnings to contemporary activism, the Long LGBT Rights Movement has certainly made progress. Current and ongoing activism have ushered in a new era of acceptance for LGBT persons in American society. The fight for inclusion is far from over, however, and dialogue and understanding are as important as ever.
Science sheds Light
In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders (American Psychological Association). This important change in scientific understanding has taken some time to sink in. Over the years, Americans have understood same-sex attraction with a deficit mindset, viewing homosexuality as something that needed to or could be "fixed". Social views of homosexuality as wrong were often implicated with scientific understanding of homosexuality as a mental disorder caused either by defect at birth or child-rearing gone awry.
New scientific understandings clearly establish homosexuality as pre-determined for individuals, rather than something chosen. Sexual orientation is an innate characteristic, not a choice. While the exact scientific understanding of what causes someone to be homosexual or heterosexual is not fully developed, we now know enough to clearly establish sexual orientation as innately unchosen, and neither a sign of mental disorder nor birth defect.
Just as the study of genetics played an important role in racial formation theory,scientific understanding of sexual orientation is shaping social ideas about homosexuality, bisexuality, and heterosexuality. Implications of new and evolving understandings and interpretations can be seen in society's acceptance and reactions to homosexuality.
New scientific understandings clearly establish homosexuality as pre-determined for individuals, rather than something chosen. Sexual orientation is an innate characteristic, not a choice. While the exact scientific understanding of what causes someone to be homosexual or heterosexual is not fully developed, we now know enough to clearly establish sexual orientation as innately unchosen, and neither a sign of mental disorder nor birth defect.
Just as the study of genetics played an important role in racial formation theory,scientific understanding of sexual orientation is shaping social ideas about homosexuality, bisexuality, and heterosexuality. Implications of new and evolving understandings and interpretations can be seen in society's acceptance and reactions to homosexuality.
PRIDE
The modern LGBT movement has adopted the common designation of Pride.
Pride is derived from the affirmation of LGBT identities as good, rather than their oft-times social stigmatization as wrong, bad, mental illness, or otherwise. The LGBT Pride movement borrows from its political predesecor of Black Pride. Frank Kameny originated the slogan "Gay is Good" in 1968 during a demonstration (Wikipedia). His inspiration came from Stokely Carmichael's "Black is Beautiful."
One of the most common features of the LGBT Rights movement today are Pride parades. These marches for LGBT solidarity and support owe lineage to the Stonewall Marches on Christopher Street in New York during the early 1970s. Today, Pride marches take place in cities and towns all across the country, often during LGBT Pride month, which is designated as the month of June in commemoration of the Stonewall Riots.
Common symbols of for the LGBT Pride movement are the rainbow, the Pride flag, and the Greek letter lambda (λ).
Pride is derived from the affirmation of LGBT identities as good, rather than their oft-times social stigmatization as wrong, bad, mental illness, or otherwise. The LGBT Pride movement borrows from its political predesecor of Black Pride. Frank Kameny originated the slogan "Gay is Good" in 1968 during a demonstration (Wikipedia). His inspiration came from Stokely Carmichael's "Black is Beautiful."
One of the most common features of the LGBT Rights movement today are Pride parades. These marches for LGBT solidarity and support owe lineage to the Stonewall Marches on Christopher Street in New York during the early 1970s. Today, Pride marches take place in cities and towns all across the country, often during LGBT Pride month, which is designated as the month of June in commemoration of the Stonewall Riots.
Common symbols of for the LGBT Pride movement are the rainbow, the Pride flag, and the Greek letter lambda (λ).
It Gets Better
In September 2010, an international campaign known as the It Gets Better Project was started. The project's mission is to "communicate to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth around the world that it gets better, and to create and inspire the changes needed to make it better for them" (It Gets Better Project). The need arose out of recognition of pervasive harassment and suicide of LGBT youth.
The campaign has become a worldwide movement, taking advantage of social media and personal connection between LGBT persons, supports, and allies, with both everyday indiviuals as well as celebrity and organizations joining in the message to LGBT youth that "it gets better." The slogan is both an encouragement and a call, helping to mobilize activism towards helping to create a safer, more tolerant environment accepting of the LGBT community.
The campaign has become a worldwide movement, taking advantage of social media and personal connection between LGBT persons, supports, and allies, with both everyday indiviuals as well as celebrity and organizations joining in the message to LGBT youth that "it gets better." The slogan is both an encouragement and a call, helping to mobilize activism towards helping to create a safer, more tolerant environment accepting of the LGBT community.
DOMA
Much of the recent legislative battles for the LGBT movement have surrounded the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Popularized by a campaign for marriage equality, the LGBT movement has pushed for federally-recognized marriage benefits to be granted to sam-sex couples. Restriction of federal benefits under DOMA, a law passed in 1996 under the Clinton administration, has led LGBT persons and their supportive allies to fight the legislation, taking the issue to Supreme Court hearing that began in March of 2013.
The case has led to a heated national dialogue between same-sex marriage advocates and traditional marriage proponents. Religious, social, constitutional, and civil reasons are all at play in the debate. A growing number of states already recognize same sex marriages, either under the terminology of civil union or marriage. The DOMA hearings, however, mark a federal ruling on the issue, which calls into question timeless battles about states' rights and the role of the federal government in America. There is no doubt that the issue of homosexual marriage has become a cornerstone for the LGBT movement, and results of such court cases will have severe implications for the social landscape of the country.
The case has led to a heated national dialogue between same-sex marriage advocates and traditional marriage proponents. Religious, social, constitutional, and civil reasons are all at play in the debate. A growing number of states already recognize same sex marriages, either under the terminology of civil union or marriage. The DOMA hearings, however, mark a federal ruling on the issue, which calls into question timeless battles about states' rights and the role of the federal government in America. There is no doubt that the issue of homosexual marriage has become a cornerstone for the LGBT movement, and results of such court cases will have severe implications for the social landscape of the country.
Breaking News
The media and popular culture is perhaps the greatest sphere of influence for social society. A forefront gay progress issue today is the emergence of gay persons in professional sports. On April 29, 2013, NBA player Jason Collins became the first active player in men's professional team sports to openly declare gay identification.
This announcement comes at a time when media and public consciousness are looking to take steps towards greater honesty and dialogue about the obvious reality that LGBT individuals are a presence in all sectors of our society, even professional sports. The reaction and implications of Collins' announcement will surely be an important part of LGBT discussion moving forward.
This announcement comes at a time when media and public consciousness are looking to take steps towards greater honesty and dialogue about the obvious reality that LGBT individuals are a presence in all sectors of our society, even professional sports. The reaction and implications of Collins' announcement will surely be an important part of LGBT discussion moving forward.
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