Essay About The Homophile Movement

576 Words3 Pages

Dating back to the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s the gays, lesbians, and transgender did not have much support regarding their sexual relationships. During this time period they used clubs and bars to socialize as these spots were the only place they had to socialize in a public setting other than their own homes. They used these bar communities as a place to socialize, relax, as well as discuss politics in their community. Change was brought about after World War II allowed formerly isolated gays men and lesbians to meet as soldiers, war workers, and volunteers. The war had an important effect to give independence to all women, making lesbians more like other women and les easy to identify. Lesbian oppression made it difficult for them to survive in their everyday lives. They had to come up with a strategy to reduce their risk of exposure to society, as it would affect their lives negatively. They separated their lesbian social life from other aspects of their life and they avoided conflict when confronted about being lesbians which were effective strategies of resistance at that time. These strategies were put into play to avoid losing their jobs, …show more content…

According to the Mattachine Society, “in the case of the homosexual, it would seem that law had little or no effect on his activities.” This organization along with other organizations found support from prominent sociologists and psychologists. Homosexuals faced many issues in regard to law enforcement. Therefore, this organization sat down with legislators, law enforcement officers, judges and others in the legal field to work out an objective program to meet the legal problems affecting homosexuality and to constructively administer to the causes and not the symptoms of the problems (burns, pg. 286). Throughout the 50s and 60s gays and lesbians continued to be at risk for law enforcement and work conflicts as they were defined as sick, criminal, or