The Stonewall: Fighting for the Gay Rights - Research Paper Example

History and Political Science The Stonewall Introduction The Stonewall refer to a rebellion, which was made through a movement aimed at fighting for the gay rights. This was an uprising for both the gay men and lesbians due to their notion of being subjected to attacks and discrimination as a group by the society (Violette, 104). During this moment, there were advocacy and lobbying groups that emanated due to Stonewall riots and these groups comprised of non-profit organizations. In fact, these organizations focused on campaigning through anti-discrimination adverts while others applied political action committee, housing and health initiatives (Anon, 1). Nevertheless, the paper will focus on discussing a brief history of the Stonewall riots and determine whether things would have changed if the history turned out differently. Several years after Stonewall riots, the issue concerning the gay has attained high publicity, which was evident through their high level of progression. There for the last few years, numerous gay activists are free to take their protests to the street leading to a significant change in the laws (Anon, 1). In fact, there are new laws, which have been established to facilitate protection of gay men and lesbian. Furthermore, there numerous regional and local organization, which are established for protecting gay rights such as the Gay Liberation Front. These organizations have actively been involved in offering services such as political activism, legal and economic assistance to the gay community. In fact, these they have been successful in their effort to help political candidates, teenagers in schools, same sex marriages and gay families and relationship. Therefore, this has led to the issue of gay becoming friendly in the society despite numerous challenge faced by gay men and lesbian in the process of facilitating their inclusion and acceptance in the community. History The Stonewall riots began on June 27 1969, when law enforcement officers raided Stonewall Inn, which was interact place for homosexuals at Christopher Street (Batie, 1). However, it was usual for police officers to raid any gay bars. In fact, this raid was one of regular occurrences where police would harass customers and apprehend transvestites, gays and lesbians. Nevertheless, the case in Stonewall Inn was different since there was a fight between gays and lesbian patrons. The fight involved the police officers and they responded by beating numerous protestors while arresting others. There were different speculations regarding cause of the fight between these patrons, whereby there are people who related the fight with the death of Judy Garland, who had died in London five days before the fight had occurred. However, this incidence was followed by other protests, thereby leading to a cultural shift during moments when people never wanted to be publicly regarded as homosexuals (Violette, 104). Therefore, after this incidence issues related to gay and lesbians were no more a secret; in fact, there were marches on Washington representing the civil rights which led to the establishment of gay pride. In this case, since 1970 the uprising has been marked through a celebration of annul gay pride march that occurs along the Fifth Avenue and across Christopher Street. Discussion The Stonewall riot in 1969 is regarded the initiation of contemporary gay and lesbian rights association; in fact, this riot lasted for six days leading to increased tension among the law enforcement officers, gay men and lesbians. However, if the history during the riot were different, things would be different concerning the current situation of gay men and lesbian movement. In fact, if things had tuned differently, issues regarding human and civil rights for the gay men and lesbian would still be constrained. During 1960s, there was increased tension in American population due to increased intolerance of harassment and arrest experienced by gay men and lesbians from this police (Whitney, 1679). Therefore, if it were not for Stonewall riot, things would not have changed at all; they would still be experiencing the same form of discrimination and harassment. Moreover, homosexuals would be strained to keep their sexuality confidential for the rest of their lives. If the riots did not occur, the gay men and lesbian would still be subjected to the civil laws that criminalized sodomy, and their patrons would still be denied the services at the bars. Issues regarding harassment and cases of entrapment by the police officers would be frequent. In fact, the reinforcement of the civil laws against gay men and lesbians would have been increased. However, the riots led to the establishment of Section 106, subsection 6 of New York State Penal Code, which was aimed at prohibiting services offered to the patrons. Moreover, this code was also prohibited any premises from becoming disorderly, which was an act associated with the homosexual patrons. Gay men and lesbians used the Stonewall Inn as a shelter or a refuge from the world against them, but the management of Stonewall in was distorted after execution of a planned raid on the bar. In this case, their refuge was no longer available for them, and this led to retaliation after the raids by NYPD on June 28 1969. During the raid, there were "drag queens" and street youth, and this caused a riot of throwing, bottles, debris and bricks at the police. Furthermore, other youth joined the Stonewall riots, which marked the uprising of the gay and lesbian community. There were people surrounded by the neighborhood who also contributed the riots, and this led to a rebellion and led to commencement of the modern gay and lesbian rights movement. The Stonewall marked a new age, which was attributed to the establishment of organizations such as Gay Liberation Front (GLF) aimed at responding to the perceptions of ineffective protests; for instance, there were protest such as Daughters of Bilitis. Gay Liberation Front (GLF) was an organization developed after a rebellion by thirty-seven men and women, who were more vocal in the group of the gay community (Cottrell, 1287). This led to the popularity and adoption of the word “gay” and aligning of their civil rights like other groups such as Black Panther. Therefore, this organization facilitated occasion such as same-sex dances, which were regarded as a way of demonstrating gay issues regarding the social movement. If there were no revolution of the gay community, which was initiated by the Stonewall riots, the GLF organization would not have been established. Moreover, gay men and lesbians would not have been considered legitimate. On the other hand, the disenfranchisement among the American citizens was caused by GLF organization and sexism. However, the gay community did not consider the assimilation as the solution to their problems; thus, they found the need to take their grievances to the street. This moment also marked the Gay Activist Alliance, which was attributed to a growth of frustrated organization of sexism and the rights of gay men and lesbians. Same-sex marriage has been prohibited in numerous states, and it has been legalized in only five states, but things changes recently to a point of being supported by the president. Nevertheless, if the history had turned out differently, members of the gay community would still be denied a chance of inclusion and acceptance into the community. They would still be facing the form of discrimination that deterred them form attaining various professions such as serving in the military. Furthermore, the chance in the life of gay men and lesbians has led to a decrease in the number of suicides among them. In this case, numerous things have changed, though same sex couples are continuing to face immigration challenges and families are living in poverty. Numerous difficulties have been faced by people of the gay community; while, there has been a substantial progress leading to a change in their future form the improbably to inevitable (Mark, Andriani, Scharf and Chenoweth, 67). In fact, this progress can be associated with the evolution and forces of activism, which has been achieved since the Stonewall riots. Nevertheless, there is an outlook of a life filled with challenges in the next several years. However, their unified forces have progressed, and their unity has been coming from different background and characters. Moreover, the diversity among the gay community has grown more than the initial trans-gender street youth that was throwing stones during the Stonewall riots. Therefore, diversity of the gay community has grown within the context of general society. Conclusion The paper has discussed issues related to the Stonewall riots, whereby it has offered a crucial description of various events in the history. The paper commenced with an introduction section that gave an overview of the issue regarding the Stonewall riots. On the other section, the paper covered a brief history of the Stonewall riots in order to provide a substantial background for understanding he issue. Therefore, the paper has focused on comparing the conditions during the past in order to base the discussion on a notion that things change in favor of the gay community, but if things were different, they would still be in the condition they were during the past or event at the worst condition. Works Cited Batie Alan. “The History of the Stonewall Rebellion”. Web. 15 Feb 2013. Cottrell, Frank. “Stonewall: the riots that sparked the gay revolution. Choice”: ProQuest Research Library; Mar 2005; 42(7); 1286. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. Mark, Gold, Andriani Sarah, Scharf Lynn, and Chenoweth Michael,. “Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution Rotella”, Emily Publishers Weekly: ProQuest; May 31, 2004; 251, 22; 67. Web. 15 Feb 2013 Anon.” Stonewall Rebellion”. The New York Times. April 10, 2009. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. Violette Richard. “Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution”. ProQuest Research Library. May 15, 2004. 129(9): 104. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. Whitney, Scott. “Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution.” The Booklist: ProQuest Research Library; Jun 15, 2004; 100, 19(20):1675. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. . Read More