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The Fight Against Homophobia

The LGBT Community and the Fight for Equality

Jason Vanegas

AP Literature

Janosch

11/30/18
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The Fight Against Homophobia:

The LGBT Community and the Fight for Equality

Homosexuality has long been a controversial topic both in the past and in the present.

Many people around the world have contrasting verdicts of what it means to be homosexual, and

what it means to society. People even question it’s morality, whether or not homosexuality is

right or wrong, and is actually deemed negatively in certain societies due to cultural,

environmental, and/or religious upbringings. In many nations around the world, homosexuality is

considered a crime, a crime sometimes punishable by death. ​Such actions are thought of as

inhumane by many, causing an uproar-leading to the initiation of the fight for equality. Today, a

vast amount of people and organizations have come together to end discrimination, injustice and

homophobia. Homophobia, the hate and prejudice against gay people, is still being spread today,

sparking violent actions and tendencies against the LGBT community.

Homophobia dates back for centuries, and still manifests in present day societies. The

exact roots of Homophobia are unknown, but many social scientists are able to date it back as

early as the 19th century. In 1886, Richard von Krafft-Ebing, Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist

and author, published the reference book ​Psychopathia Sexualis​. ​Psychopathia Sexualis​ was

among one of the first books to study homosexuality and bisexuality. Homosexuality in this book

was portrayed as a fixed sexual desire. Also, in 1905,​ “​Sigmund Freud​ popularized the ​erroneous

notion that homosexuality was the product of a child’s upbringing, writing, “The presence of

both parents plays an important part. The absence of a strong father in childhood not infrequently
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favours the occurrence of inversion.” Freud even gave child-rearing tips to help parents lead their

children to heterosexual adjustment.” (​Eric Anderson, Britannica​). For many decades leading up

to today, homosexuality has been long thought of as wrong but curable, leading to homophobic

behavior among families. Many LGBT children are victims of discrimination in their families,

mainly due to religious and/or cultural beliefs, resulting in 26% of LGBT identifying being

bullied and not accepted by their families as a problem. Homophobia in families may also lead to

suicide, depression, and homelessness- alarming scenarios that eventuate in the families of those

who identify as LGBT. Not only is homophobia a common practice in some families, it can

manifest outside of home, as well. In a study conducted by Harvard, most LGBT Americans

have experienced some form of harassment and/or discrimination. The study found that more

than half of Americans (57%) have experienced slurs and offensive comments because of their

sexuality-a staggering number of those who are/were victims of homophobia.

Discrimination and prejudice against people who identify as gay, bisexual, and

transgender people is being practiced in different parts of the world today. Being gay in countries

such as Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, among others, is lethal. Practicing homosexuality in

countries where it is illegal can lead to serious consequences because of sodomy laws.

Homosexuality often leads to arrests- but unfortunately being executed due to the fact is not a

rare occurrence. ​Despite there being many homophobic countries around the globe, there is a fair

amount of nations who are in favor of equal rights among the LGBT community. Gay marriage

is legal in 26 countries, most legalizing it in the past five years or so. It is a fact that

homosexuality is slowly but surely becoming legal in many different nations in the upcoming
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years. ​Gay marriage was first legalized in the United States in Massachusetts, having the

Supreme Court rule it out across the country in 2015 under ​Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)​.

Obergefell v. Hodges​ was a Supreme Court case argued by James Obergefell, who filed a lawsuit

that challenged “the state’s refusal to recognize same-sex marriage on death certificates” (​ACLU

Ohio​). This was a violation of the 14th Amendment, which serves to protect and preserve the

rights of Americans. In this case, Obergefell and his now deceased husband’s rights weren’t

given the equal protection of laws as heterosexual couples due to Ohio’s refusal to recognize

homosexual marriage on death certificates. “The state’s refusal to recognize these mariages

violates the ​Equal Protection Clause”​ (​ACLU Ohio​). Fifty-seven years prior, the first Supreme

Court Case in favor of the LGBT community was ruled out; ​One, Inc. v. Olsen (1958). I​ n this

Supreme Court case, an LGBT publication known as ​The Homosexual Magazine​ w

​ as prohibited

from being delivered via U.S. mail. “The publishers of the magazine sued, and lost both the first

case and the appeal. The Supreme Court accepted the case and reversed it, marking the first time

the Supreme Court ruled in favor of homosexuals” (Beth Rowen). This was a violation of the

14th amendment due to the fact that equal protection and right weren’t being enforced,

preventing the mailing of gay publications.

Despite there being many successes and achievements regarding the rights of the LGBT

community, many people are still fighting and striving for such. There is a long history of social

movements in the United States, commencing as early as the 1940’s and 50’s, when the civil

rights movement for racial equality was in progress​.”The gay rights movement saw some early

progress In the 1960s. “In 1961, Illinois became the first state to do away with its anti-sodomy
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laws, effectively decriminalizing homosexuality, and a local TV station in California aired the

first documentary about homosexuality, called ​The Rejected​” (​History​). In the 1960’s,

acceptance and equality began to take place in the United States, which was a tremendous step

for the LGBT community. In 1969, a protests and demonstrations began in New York, after a

raid took place at the ​Stonewall Inn,​ a gay bar. On June 28th of 1970, ”​Community members in

New York City march through the local streets to recognize the one-year anniversary of the

Stonewall​ riots. This event is named Christopher Street Liberation Day, and is now considered

the first gay pride parade” (​CNN​). ​Gay pride marches are big contributions to the equality of the

LGBT community. Pride marches are held in many major cities around the world, and it serves

as a celebration of sexuality, uniqueness, and egalitarianism, among other things.​ In recent

events, 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump, “​is considering an interpretation of

Title IX, the federal civil rights law that bans sex discrimination in federally funded schools, that

“would define sex as either male or female, unchangeable, and determined by the genitals that a

person is born with” (​German Lopez, Vox​). The LGBT-friendly policies Trump is dismantling

has caused and still is causing widespread controversy and distaste, provoking protests. ​LGBT

activists as well as other advocates for equal rights have come together to battle against the

president’s antics, resulting in unity playing a significant role in assuring and securing the rights

of those who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.​ Many activists such as former

D.C. mayor Marion Barry have been recognized for their advocacy on LGBT rights. Barry has

been named “one of the nation’s most LGBT supportive big city mayors in the 1980’s and

1990’s” (​Chibbaro, Washington Blade)​ .

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For years, the security and right of the LGBT community has been at stake, fought for,

and gained. The fight against homophobia is a necessary action to ensure equality in all societies,

communities, nations and the world as a whole. The idea of homosexuality is still a controversial

topic that still provokes violence, prejudice and discrimination today- ​but many people around

the globe come together to make the world not only accepting of the LGBT community, but

accepting other minorities as well.

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Anderson, Eric. “Homophobia.” ​Encyclopædia Britannica,​ Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 22

Nov. 2016, ​www.britannica.com/topic/homophobia​, 28 November 2018.

LGBT Rights on the Docket.” ​ACLU of Ohio​,

www.acluohio.org/archives/cases/obergefell-v-hodges​, 28 November 2018.

“Gay RIghts.” History.com, A&E Television Networks,

www.history.com/topics/gay-rights/history-of-gay-rights​, 29 November 2018.

“LGBT Rights Milestones Fast Facts.” ​CNN​, Cable News Network, 10 Nov. 2018,

www.cnn.com/2015/06/19/us/lgbt-rights-milestones-fast-facts/index.htm​, 29 November

2018.

Lopez, German. “The Trump Administration's Latest Anti-Transgender Action, Explained.”

Vox.com,​ Vox Media, 22 Oct. 2018,

www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/10/22/18007978/trump-administration-lgbtq-tran

sgender-discrimination-civil-rights​, 29 November 2018.

“LGBT Activists Turn out for Barry Statue Unveiling.” ​Washington Blade: Gay News, Politics,

LGBT Rights​, 6 Mar. 2018,

www.washingtonblade.com/2018/03/06/lgbt-activists-marion-barry-statue-unveiling/​. 29

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