Civil Rights Movement Essay

In the late 1960s, the United States entered its Civil Rights era. This era allowed voices of various marginalized groups to come forth and express their concerns about social injustices and inequalities. During this time social and political changes began occurring. While the study of this transformative time focuses primarily on African American people and their fight against racial inequality, it is still valuable to study other marginalized groups and their fight for equality. Namely, the Gay Liberation Movement gave a platform to gay people to begin fighting against social perceptions and oppressive laws. This movement proved that the Civil Rights era could be extended past racial equality. This fight for freedom of sexuality gives a broader

The gay activists felt a sense of empowerment that they never had before, they sought to use this power to make a list of goals and visions for the gay. With this, the movement created the Gay Liberations Manifesto to organize and bring together gays across America. Eldon Murray, a prominent activist, wrote the “Gay Liberation Organization Manifesto” in 1970. Murray first addresses straight people. He does this to reveal the truths about the multiple myths “Psychiatrists, social workers, ministers, and old gossips have used against gay people.” He explains that recent scientific proof shows that gay people are “common and healthy as anyone else.” This manifesto first and foremost wanted to promote a new way of thinking and allow for a new understanding of gay people. Murray uses the word fear when describing old attitudes toward gay people. He would argue that lack of knowledge and the use of fear by political and social figures has been used to promote prejudices against gay people. Next, Murray addresses his “gay brothers and sisters” and calls upon them to use the movement to live a life free from all the old stereotypes and discrimination they received before. And, to help other gays to come out of the closet by creating a safe place through the movement. Interestingly enough, Murray pleads for the gay community to be empathetic to the very people who have mistreated them. He would say that

Eldon Murray breaks down sex laws and their history. He starts by explaining that sex laws prohibiting gay sex started in early Jewish and Christian societies. These laws reflected what their society needed at the time. Due to the lack of population, they made any sex that was not producing children illegal. Homosexuality was considered an abomination because of this. Murray uses this example to explain that these laws were put into place based on what society perceived necessary. On the contrary, Murray explains that the early Greeks had overpopulation. Homosexuality was widespread with marriage between men accepted and legal. Murray uses these two examples to note how, in the past, society has used sex laws in a way that reflects what society needs at that time. Murray uses these sex laws to question the legitimacy of current United States laws regarding gay sex or sodomy. He would argue that these laws are subject to change over time. In addition, Murray challenges the interpretations, clarity, and inconsistencies among the different state laws on sodomy. With social norms changing Murray calls for change to laws and more clarity among