Gross, Arriaga, Gilbertson 1

Angie Gross

Dennis Arriaga

Sophia Gilbertson

It’s Okay to be Gay

The LGBTQ+ social movement revolves around the need for equalized treatment of those

a part of the LGBTQ+ community, and while it has made an astounding amount of progress in

the last century, there remains work to be done in fighting for total equality. The beginnings of

the fight were at a time when homosexuality was still considered a diagnosable psychological

disorder. Now, finally, gay marriage is legal in all fifty states, but this movement is not simply

about persuading the state to change their minds about laws; it is an attack from all directions on

discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation. This includes in workplace

settings, credit lending, housing, adoption, as well as stereotyping and prejudice attitudes in

wider society.

The history of the fight for worldwide gay rights began in 1924 with the first documented

gay rights organization founded by Henry Gerber in Chicago. The validity of LGBTQ+ members

was not yet recognized by society; from 1952 to 1972, the American Psychiatric Association

listed homosexuality as a mental disorder (History). There was a stigma around the alleged

“disorder” and it was viewed as dysfunctional and disruptive to society. In 1953, President

Eisenhower “signed an executive order that banned gay people—or, more specifically, people

guilty of ‘sexual perversion’—from federal jobs” (History). This ban would stay in effect for the
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next twenty years and clearly illustrates the discriminatory action commonly taken against

LGBTQ+ community, even at the federal level.

In the late 1970’s, the first openly gay candidate was elected to state office in

Massachusetts, and gay characters began to appear in pop culture for the first time in American

history (CNN). With these public advances, the LGBTQ+ community began being represented in

society like never before. Then in 1979, the “first National March on Washington for Lesbian

and Gay Rights [took] place. It [drew] an estimated 75,000 to 125,000 individuals marching for

LGBT rights” (CNN). This march drew national attention, with not just a small community

asking for reform, but many people coming together at the capital calling for their rights. Efforts

of the gay rights movement were looking up by the end of the 1970’s; however the outbreak of

AIDS dominated public attention in the 1980’s and 90’s. It was commonly believed that the

disease is an epidemic that only affects the gay community, but in fact heterosexuals can still

equally contract AIDS, biologically speaking. It is the impact of discrimination that has made the

LGBTQ+ community more likely to put themselves in dangerous situations in which they could

contract AIDS. Nevertheless, in 2004, the first same-sex marriage in the United States took place

in Massachusetts, and 77 more couples were married that same day across the state (CNN). After

determining that the denial of marriage to the LGBTQ+ community was unconstitutional, the

state enacted laws. With gay marriage now legal in all fifty states, the LGBTQ+ movement has

come a long way from its beginnings, but there are still civil rights for which to fight, as well as

the reform of societal opinion.

Today, one of the most affected demographics of discrimination within the LGBTQ+

community are teenagers. They are often rejected by their family and friends, as well as their
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wider communities. It is documented that, “50 percent of LGBT teens experience a negative

reaction from their parents when they come out; 30 percent experience physical abuse, and 26

percent are kicked out of their homes” (Friedman). Furthermore, teens who experience societal

rejection immediately from their parents are put at greater risk for being affected by further

prejudice throughout their lives. After all, attitudes being expressed against the LGBTQ+

community do not stop once individuals become adults; “42 percent of LGBT adults experience

workplace discrimination; the rate for openly gay adults is four times that of workers whose

sexuality was hidden” (Friedman). Hiring rates are less for those who are openly LGBTQ+, and

discrimination from coworkers and higher management is extremely prevalent as well. Gay

prejudice is a global epidemic, with “only 9 countries specifically mentioning sexual orientation

in their constitution as grounds for protection against discrimination… and in 8 countries, a

person can be put to death for participating in consensual sexual activity with someone of the

same sex” (Simmons). Though we are progressing every day towards total equality for the

LGBTQ+ community in the United States, there are still individuals here and all over the world

who are being marginalized, or even threatened, for who they are. The right to express one’s

sexuality freely should not just be a sought after American right, it should be a essential human

right.

A movement of social change is necessary to impact the lives of all LGBTQ+

individuals. They are attacked daily and in many ways, as “mistreatment comes in many forms,

from seemingly benign jokes, to verbal insults, unequal treatment and in the most extreme cases,

physical violence” (Friedman). There is an immense psychological impact on the victims of

assault, whether verbal or physical. Individuals are afraid to be themselves for fear of being
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discriminated against by their peers, family members, and greater society. However, when these

individuals receive support from their loved ones, they feel safe to express themselves.

Additionally, “evidence suggests that a supportive school environment with clear anti-LGBT

bullying laws and supportive educators reduces bullying. Further, in states in which there are

clear LGBT anti-discrimination and anti-hate crime laws, LGBT people display lower levels of

psychiatric disorders than do LGBT people in states without such protection” (Friedman). A

brighter future for the LGBTQ+ community is possible, and we have already found certain

actions that greatly better the situation, making this future a necessary goal for all of society to

work to achieve. With greater support from families, peers, and educators through support

groups, and the general increase of societal awareness, individuals can feel free to be who they

are and love who they love without the fear of being prosecuted for it.
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Works Cited

History.com Staff. “The History of Gay Rights.” ​History.com​, A&E Television Networks, 2017.

CNN Library. “LGBT Rights Milestones Fast Facts.” ​CNN​, Cable News Network, 1 Apr. 2018.

Friedman, Michael. “The Psychological Impact of LGBT Discrimination.” ​Psychology Today​,

Sussex Publishers, 11 Feb. 2014.

Simmons, Ann M. “Seven Striking Statistics on the Status of Gay Rights and Homophobia

across the Globe.” ​Los Angeles Times​, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2017.