Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Rights

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Rights

Throughout history there has been many different groups that have encountered discrimination. The main group has been the African/African-American population for many years. Other groups have been the Irish, Chinese, Mexicans, and the Jews, just to name a few. Those groups all endured prejudice based on ethnicity; the new group is facing prejudice because of their sexual orientation. The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered community experiences many challenges in society globally. It is a shame that we must be told who we can love or what sex we can be. For the GLBT community deserves as much right as the “straight” community because everyone involved is a human being not an object that can be controlled.

Over the history of civilization there has been many indications of homosexuality. Some of the main civilizations thought it was honorable to be homosexual or it was encouraged. The Romans welcomed the idea of the soldiers having partners within the troop, a great concept being the soldiers would fight harder to protect the one they loved ("Pride is A Wonderful Thang").

Modern movement of GLBT rights sparked with the Stonewall riots that began on June 27th, 1969 in Greenwich Village, NY ("Stone Wall Riots- 1969"). On that night seven plain clothed detectives came into the gay bar and announced their presence. The detectives demanded identification papers from the customers and then escorted them outside. Some were thrown into the paddy wagon and pushing others off the sidewalk. The “usual-suspects” who fled the s

www.gaycitynews.com, stone wall riots

cene came back and decided to fight against this

injustice (figure 1). After these instances many more were triggered ("Stone Wall Riots- 1969"). Coins, bottles, rocks and other objects were thrown at the police officers. Detective Inspector Pine, who was the lead in the crackdown, ordered his fellow officers to follow into the empty bar and proceeded to bash and severely beat a heterosexual folk singer who just happened to walk by. D.I Pine and his subordinates were just about burnt alive when lighter fluid was squirted through the door of the Inn and someone attempted to ignite the fluid. Many more events came to follow with the brutal beatings of gays, lesbians, drag kings/queens, and those who seemed “camp” or “femme” were made examples of.

www.lgbta.dsu.org.uk, Gay liberation front

These horrific events lead to the creation of the Gay Liberation Front (figure 2). The name was chosen for its connection with the anti-imperialist struggles in Vietnam and Algeria. Different sectors of the GLF would go on to organize an alliance for arrested Black Panthers, collect money for workers on strike, and associate the struggle for gay rights to the flag of socialism. The GLF is no longer in existence but the slogan of “Gay Power” is stronger than ever; in countries and cities worldwide “gay pride” comes in the form of an annual gay pride parade ("Stone Wall Riots").

Ridiculous is what homophobia is; the irrational fear of gay persons ("Homophobia"). There is no reason to fear anyone because they are homosexual. The thought is very childish that people think the gay community is out to convert everyone and believing the GLBT community is evil and wrong in their natural actions. Some have even gone to say damnation shall be brought upon all those who follow in the “devil’s path” of homosexuality.

Bigots who have no idea what they are talking about have brought about un-called for fear of the GLBT community. Looking through history you can see the vast acceptance of homosexuality through the ages and how the scope has changed and been perceived. The Romans, as mentioned early, welcomed the homosexual way into their troops. Many would say this could not be true since the Romans were a very harsh society and had “strict” rules but in actually they were loose. Other civilizations, like ancient China and Japan, thought homosexuality was honorable and those who were with the same sex were seen as superior ("Ancient China and Japan").

In ancient China and Japan samurais, craftsmen, artisans, and warriors took on a pprentices and taught them their mastery and eventually took them o

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality_in_Japan, Man and youth

n as lovers (figure 3). At specific

times in Japanese history love between two men was viewed as the purest form of love. Homosexuality has never been viewed as a sin in religion but was banned due to prohibition because of the influence western society