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In this article, Dani talks about the LGBT movement.
A movement at a glance
A movement at a glance
by: Dani Porterfield
by: Dani Porterfield
The queer movement is not simple. The fight for LGBT rights is a long, drawn-out battle from the beginning of time. It is a journey marked by the first acts of courage, resilience, and fight for recognition and has evolved over the years. Queer rights have been shaped by countless individuals and communities who have bravely stood up for equality and justice. From the past to the present, there is a story to be told.
Early LGBTQ+ history spans millennia, encompassing various cultures, diverse gender identities, and sexualities. These relationships and identities have shown up in cultures worldwide, some remaining quite similar to our modern definitions. Continually, In most cases, queer relationships were often not separated into an alternative category. This is explained in an article by The World Encyclopedia: “Same-sex relationships were quite clearly traditionally accepted, respected, and even revered for over 2,000 years… Distinctions concerning sexual identity, and prohibitions on same-sex relationships, only began to appear after the rise of Christianity which rejected practices associated with earlier religious beliefs.” Though queer relationships have been standard practice for thousands of years, religious-derived beliefs changed the opinion of many Christian-led cultures, consequently creating a source of Stigma surrounding homosexual relationships and a hateful attitude that was carried through the 20th century.
Hateful ideas about queer people erupted in the 19th and 20th centuries. The rise in beliefs can be due to many complex and layered factors, including religious beliefs, cultural norms, and historical events. While homophobia has existed for centuries, its manifestation and impact intensified in the 20th century, allowing governments, religious groups, and common people worldwide to both socially and legally create divisions over sexual identity. This resulted in 20th-century riots, raids, and protests, which intentionally created a community and the modern queer movement that we know of today. Hate and fear birthed both community and culture.
Many of the culture-changing movements were sparked out of anger and were called by the roar for change. These events changed and molded the future. Some notable examples are the ACT UP protests of 1980, the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights, the Liberation protests in 1993 and, most notably, the Stonewall Riots of 1969 which, according to the Library Of Congress, was a “series of events between police and LGBTQ+ protesters which stretched over six days. It was not the first time police raided a gay bar, and it was not the first time LGBTQ+ people fought back but the events that would unfold over the next six days would fundamentally change the discourse.” Stonewall started a new era with never seen before news coverage, newly formed public supportive organizations and widespread activism that pushed for greater recognition and equality for both Gay and Transgender individuals and was truly a history-altering event. These actions eventually led to the first Pride marches and a stronger, more unified movement and want for change.
The fight for equality and equity among the LGBTQ community continually moves forward and has transformed into so many possibilities and opportunities in the modern day. There have been people who made impulsive decisions and moments that have changed time and that overall led to openings for the future. These people have left a forever-lasting impact on humans and their relationships with the world. The famous Trans Youth Activist Marsha P. Johnson best articulated this, saying: “History isn’t something you look back at and say it was inevitable. It happens because people make decisions that are sometimes very impulsive and of the moment, but those moments are cumulative realities.”
Sources:
Sources:
Marsha P. Johnson Quote
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