Thomas Jefferson formulated a bill that homosexuals be castrated while lesbians have their noses mutilated. According to Jefferson, failure to adhere to these requirements would mean death. However, the Supreme Court gave rights to the lawful existence of same-sex intercourse. Consequently, legislation at the federal and county level targeted the lesbian and gay community. Movements work to reverse the equal rights accorded to the lesbian and gay community. Nevertheless, the first legal lesbian and a gay group formed in the year 1950 (Head, 2019). The group played a social function of demonstrating the social norms in society but did not succeed in the activism. The American law considered gay sex as an equal crime to the sexual violation, which attracted up to twenty years of service in prison. The tribulations faced by the gay community made them formulate a rights movement in the year 1969 (Head, 2019). There seemed to be a real disconnect between the political associations of and the lesbian and gay community. Riots took off following the arrest of the supporters of gays. This event saw the LGBT activists stage their operations across the states of America.
Literature Review
According to Sigmund Freud, an invert is a person who is socially attracted to individuals of their gender. Freud endowed with the explanation of normalcy and obsession. However, in the year 1973, the American psychiatric association declared that homophobia is a social problem. Psychiatrists argued that lesbians and gays should have equal rights and protection, as indicated by the law (Head, 2019). In the year 1980, the religious groups spoke on matters concerning birth control, abortion, pornography, and homosexuality (Head, 2019). Democratic leaders held that there was no loss in supporting the gay community; therefore, all persons should possess equal rights regardless of sex, gender, language, origin, or religion. Gary Hart featured as the first president to speak on the rights of lesbians and gays (Head, 2019). The gay community requires not only equal rights but also a recognition of their relationships.
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Same-sex married couples undergo challenges when they are denied access to services in the event of illness or bereavement. In some scenarios, hospital visits among gays get denied. However, Berkeley became the first American state to accord partnership benefits to same-sex couples. Besides, Hawaii allowed marriage from same-sex couples. This move saw opposition when President Bill Clinton Signed off a bill that fought same-sex marriage and barred lesbian and gay couples from getting access to federal benefits (Head, 2019). Bill Clinton is known for his war against same-sex marriage despite his engagement in a sexual scandal that jeopardized his administrative position. Come the year 1999, America called for the registration of all domestic partnerships (Head, 2019). The record of same-sex couples made lesbians and gays acquire benefits as well as hospital visitation rights.
The constitution of California upholds that denial of a person’s rights based on their marriage is a violation of the policies of equal protection and democracy rights. Unlike Hawaii, Vermont rejects the marriage of same-sex couples. Despite the success in the activism by the LGBT community, same-sex marriage remained illegal in at least the fourteen states of America (Head, 2019). President George W. Bush referred to the symbolic function of the government as the lack of approval of same-sex gender. Officers in Texas charged a couple with sodomy. This case went up to the supreme court, whereby for the first time in American history, homosexuality ceased from becoming a severe breach of the law. States established that same-sex partners possess equal rights as heterosexuals. On the contrary, Massachusetts only legalized same-sex marriages, whereas thirty-three states had legalized same-sex marriage.
Lesbians and gays undergo socio-economic challenges similar to other communities. The lives of same-sex gender couples are at risk amidst the Covid-19 global pandemic (Human Rights Campaign, 2016). The LGBT community, alongside other groups in America, face health challenges, especially in the global Covid-19 crisis. There have been public awareness campaigns in the general population to advocate for approaches to maintaining good health during the pandemic. Human rights activists, as well as the LGBT group, ensure that health providers be aware of community needs. LGBT communities fall vulnerable amidst the global pandemic. Research indicates that the total population of the LGBT community in America stands at fourteen million, with at least two million youth.
Moreover, Covid-19 has affected over five million employment opportunities in America, which include food service, education, retail business, and the health sector (Human Rights Campaign, 2016). There is uncertainty about the impact of the health crisis on the economy. However, the LGBT community would face severe effects from the pandemic. The LGBT community is vulnerable since it constitutes the American population that his highly likely to face issues of poverty, inadequate medical care, unpaid leave, and lack of necessities. The increased risk for the LGBT community bases on the fact that the majority of this population works in the sectors severely affected by the covid-19 crisis. Bout forty percent of the working population constitute the LGBT working in restaurants, schools, hospitals, universities, and in the retail business. Those working in restaurants and health sectors are at a high risk of exposure while the education sector works around the notion of virtual classrooms. LGBT communities more often live in poverty and cannot afford preventive measures taken by other cities. Research also indicates that bisexual women are likely to live in poverty compared to heterosexuals. Equality issues make LGBT families undergo stigma at work.
Lesbian and gay population undergoes employment stigma through denial of work and promotion or firing, which increases their economic struggles. Discrimination is the primary cause of unemployment in the LGBT community. Besides, children raised by LGBT parents in most cases lack civil rights protection. Older LGBT adults face discrimination during the administration of healthcare, housing allocation, and the provision of job opportunities (Human Rights Campaign, 2016). LGBT face intense trauma due to stigma and discrimination. Those in rural areas have even fewer access to community resources. LGBT youth experience homelessness, rejection by families and are more likely to grow up in foster homes. The challenges that the LGBT community goes through make them prone to smoking, which results in zoonotic diseases. The chances for Covid-19 infections are high among smokers. The same scenario applies for persons living with diabetes or AIDS.
Background information/History
The most significant hurdle for the LGBT community would be the declaration of their liberty (Kirchick, 2019). The most controversial activist groups in history have been those that seek the political rights to couples of same-sex gender. The gay population is often regarded as mentally and portrays the deviant culture in America. Homosexuality is considered as benign in America, while fifty-seven percent argue that gay sex is illegal. However, society today has embraced the gay community with same-sex gender couples actively serving in the army. Studies indicate that seventy percent of Americans propose the legalization of homosexuality. Television shows feature lesbian and gay couples today. A good example is the wrestling show where a performer comes in a boisterous gay entrance. Sporty oiled men attract homophobic stereotypes who celebrate gay personalities.
The current American generation seems lenient on matters of sexual orientation. Gays and lesbians receive more formal treatment with the perception of cool status. However, the acceptance of LGBT does not occur in all states. Homosexuals may undergo depression and risk committing suicide in countries where friends abandon them or violence occurs against them. New trends of the LGBT community have occurred, unlike the past, where gays held secret meetings (Kirchick, 2019). American history experienced the most significant advancement in social acceptance and equality among the LGBT community. The effectiveness of sodomy laws allowed gays to serve in the military and achieve statewide marriage equality openly. The Administration of President Donald Trump protects gays from discrimination. Despite Trump's resentment towards minority groups in the year 2016, the gay population was exempt from public discrimination (Kirchick, 2019). Gays did not celebrate much since Trump's move to appoint LGBT leaders appeared as a lack of respect given religious and conservative individuals.
Furthermore, a public survey conducted in the year 2017 clearly showed hate violence towards the LGBT communities. Hate violence and murder took place in the LGBT community (Kirchick, 2019). There are concerns that anti-gay sentiments reduce their life expectancy by about twelve years. Increased gay activism indicates the regression of LGBT rights (Kirchick, 2019). The conditions among the gay community have improved over the years as much as it seems like the war for liberty is not yet overdue to constant opposition. Homosexuality and lesbianism are an attribute of American society, which indicates the culture and politics of the United States. Conservative leaders have resolved to ways of ensuring equal rights to LGBT and moderating the reaction towards them. Martina Navratilova changed the world perception on LGBT when she emerged a top athlete hence proving that transgender individuals have more capability than heterosexuals. However, the athlete's case is a cheating case through claims that she went through hormonal surgery to foster the recognition of the female gender.
Global Perspective
The LGBT community advocates for social change and mitigation of oppression on the grounds of sexual orientation. LGBT organizations seek international financial assistance to facilitate the running of projects (Levy, 2019). Since funding organizations have limited funds, fund allocation prioritizes according to needs. World advocacy programs such as Astraea challenge the human rights and social justice system towards the LGBT community. LGBT have endured discrimination and exploitation despite a commitment to feminism and effective social change. For instance, in the year 1977, women of color and those from the LGBT community lacked funding (Levy, 2019). Astraea works globally to ensure that the LGBT community has access to finance. This organization operates on the basis that social change calls for a global collaborative effort. Organizations should commit to the fight against oppression, racism, stigma, and gender inequality facing the LGBT community.
Resistance to cultural change hinders the efforts directed in promoting the rights of the LGBT community. Astraea places the first consideration to the supporters of the LGBT community (Levy, 2019). Implementation of sound organizational structures would promote practical social justice principles. Organizations that receive funding should have the LGBT community involved in leadership. The Astraea organization seeks global funds to address the issues faced by the LGBT community to enable the victims to live a life of dignity without fear.
Future Implications
The struggles of the LGBT community are every day in the media. The suffering of the LGBT community is due to the current American legislation. There is not any federal law to safeguard against firing or job denial of a person belonging to the LGBT group in America. Furthermore, the military discriminates against the employment of the LGBT community. Same-sex gender marriages face rejection while others go through the pain of losing child custody on the grounds of sexual orientation (The Rights of LGBT,2018). In the year 1992, there were strict laws that prevented any future legislation to protect the rights of the lesbian and gay community. Early in the year 1969, several persons got arrested for their presence in a homosexual bar (The Rights of LGBT,2018). The war against gay rights began with tremendous success over the years. Columbia banned employment discrimination, while domestic partnerships formed part of institutions. There was increased empowerment of the LGBT community with the implementation of sodomy laws. However, there are exceptions where LGBT faces violence, employment discrimination, and harassment. The second constitutional amendment faced scrutiny since it only made gays unequal to other community groups.
The media lacks sensitivity towards LGBT traditional lifestyle. For instance, a school head is declaring their change of gender or a teacher fired for posting issues of homosexuality on their social media page. Other schools do not allow the exchange of views with parents from the LGBT community (Vcyamerica,2018). The cry for the liberalization of LGBT featured in the media while others view advocacy as a marketing tool. Conservative religious groups took up the fear that the LGBT community was eventually winning the battle. Religious groups considered the rising cases of HIV/AIDS among homosexual individuals as a punishment to man for immoral behavior (Winston,2019). Gays fought their rights similarly to heterosexuals, even when journalists profiled the LGBT community based on the fashion and music of the producers. Journalists also broadcast the rise of AIDS among gays. The rising gay culture prompted civil rights changes that are still effective to date. The future of the LGBT community looks bright with increased awareness and change of attitude towards the lesbian and gay communities. More people are now embracing that LGBT is part of society and need protection since they go through economic and social challenges like heterosexual communities.
In conclusion, measures should be put in place to ensure that the LGBT community challenges get resolved. The LGBT community, like other members of society, undergo social and economic difficulties. Poverty, lack of access to medical care, homelessness, and job discrimination are among the significant problems that the LGBT community faces. Efforts to legalize same-sex marriage have been successful in a few states. However, other countries still uphold violence against homosexuals and deny them rights to employment or health visits. The military is also among the organizations that discriminate against the LGBT community. Mainstreaming LGBT issues results in increased awareness of the need for protection of the rights of the LGBT community. However, encouraging the rights and practices of the LBGT community creates a picture that America has deviant morality. Promoting homosexuality is also regarded as the promotion of the spread of HIV/AIDS transmission.
References
Head, T,(2019,February 7),How The American Gay Rights Movement Has Played Out So Far. Retrieved March 13,2020,from https://www.thoughtco.com/american -gay-rights-movement-721309
Human Rights Campaign.2016, April). Advocating for LGBTQ Equality. Retrieved March 13,2020, from https://www.hrc.org/
Kirchick, J, (2019, July2). The Struggle for Gay Rights is Over. Retrieved March 13 2020,from https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/06/battle-gay-rights-over/592645/
Levy, M. (2019, June20). Gay rights movement. retrieved March 13,2020, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/gay-rights-movement
The Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people. (2018, June 5).Retrieved March 13,2020,from https://www.aclu.org/other/rights-lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-people
Vcyamerica, (2018, December 2), The Mainstreaming of the LGBT Movement. Retrieved March 13,2020, from https:// www.vcyamerica.org/crosstalk/2018/02/13/the-mainstreaming-of-the-lgbt-movement/
Winston, D, (2019, June,30). Perspective /How gay rights went mainstream-and what it cost. Retrievedmarch13,2020,from https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/06/30/how-gay-rights-went-mainstream-what -it-cost/
