The LGBT community consists of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people of the world. This community has been subject to oppression for most of their existence. However, there have also been times when they have been empowered and encouraged to be themselves despite the consequences they can potentially face. The LGBT community has been greatly influenced in both positive and negative ways by several different events following World War II in the United States. One example of an event that changed the LGBT community for the better was the legalization of marriage on June 26th, 2015. A negative event in LGBT history was the assassination of Henry Milk in 1978. In the 1950s the fear and paranoia around the idea of communism fed
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Raids on gay bars were a common occurrence for the New York LGBT community and that night, everything was happening as usual. People were compliant. They lined up, showed their identification, and were either thrown into a paddy wagon or given the opportunity to go home. That night, however, very few patrons decided to go home. Instead, they formed a crowd outside of the bar and proceeded to throw rocks at the police officers and their vehicles. It seemed like the gay and lesbian community had finally come to their breaking point. They were tired of being harassed and not being allowed to have the benefits of proper police and federal protection. The Stonewall Riots of 1969 paved way for change in the LGBT community in regard to political possibilities. The movement became more organized and influential following these riots and gave new hope for the community after decades of social and political negligence. Following the Stonewall riots, two new organizations formed. The Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance. Both groups differed in conduct and goals. The Gay Liberation Front (GLF) didn’t accomplish anything politically, but enabled LGBT people to embrace their individuality and uniqueness and created a sense of pride for the LGBT community. The GLF wished to transform or manipulate the institutions and society that defined American morals and ideals. Their slogan, “No One is Free Until Everyone is Free!” accurately describes the Gay Liberation Front’s aspiration. On December 21st, 1969, Jim Owles, Arthur Evans, Arthur Bell, and Marty Robinson created the Gay Activists Alliance (GAA). “The commitment to bring about change in the present, rather than to theorize about change in the future” explains the difference in views between the GLF and the GAA. The Gay Activists Alliance used its energy towards Democratic office holders,
Raids on gay bars were a common occurrence for the New York LGBT community and that night, everything was happening as usual. People were compliant. They lined up, showed their identification, and were either thrown into a paddy wagon or given the opportunity to go home. That night, however, very few patrons decided to go home. Instead, they formed a crowd outside of the bar and proceeded to throw rocks at the police officers and their vehicles. It seemed like the gay and lesbian community had finally come to their breaking point. They were tired of being harassed and not being allowed to have the benefits of proper police and federal protection. The Stonewall Riots of 1969 paved way for change in the LGBT community in regard to political possibilities. The movement became more organized and influential following these riots and gave new hope for the community after decades of social and political negligence. Following the Stonewall riots, two new organizations formed. The Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance. Both groups differed in conduct and goals. The Gay Liberation Front (GLF) didn’t accomplish anything politically, but enabled LGBT people to embrace their individuality and uniqueness and created a sense of pride for the LGBT community. The GLF wished to transform or manipulate the institutions and society that defined American morals and ideals. Their slogan, “No One is Free Until Everyone is Free!” accurately describes the Gay Liberation Front’s aspiration. On December 21st, 1969, Jim Owles, Arthur Evans, Arthur Bell, and Marty Robinson created the Gay Activists Alliance (GAA). “The commitment to bring about change in the present, rather than to theorize about change in the future” explains the difference in views between the GLF and the GAA. The Gay Activists Alliance used its energy towards Democratic office holders,