Gay Rights Vs. The Civil Rights Movement

The Civil Rights Movement gained traction around the 1950s, paving the way for many other oppressed groups. These groups fought for different rights, but they still had a similar struggle to the original movement. One of these groups is the Gay Rights Movement. The comparison between the black civil rights movement and the gay civil rights movement is “typically a sensitive subject, even among liberals” (Williams). Some people believe that it is unfair to compare a fight for marriage to a fight to gain equality in every aspect. If they step back and see the bigger picture, they could tell that the structures are very similar. The Gay Rights Movement is similar to the black Civil Rights Movement.
Both movements had similar beginnings. The groups

There are some incredible similarities between groups from the black civil rights movement, and the gay civil rights movement. For example, CORE, or the Congress of Racial Equality, is very similar to the Gay Liberation Front. The members of CORE “staged sit-ins” and “used nonviolent tactics to challenge segregation” (McCurdy). The Gay Liberation Front took this idea to heart and staged “‘Gay-ins’”, which were “dances, protests, and other demonstrations” for the gay rights movement (Finding Aid). They were both peaceful protest groups, who fought through nonviolent demonstration. The two movements also had another pair of similar groups. The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), and GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) are not only the oldest civil rights groups for their cause, but they also have extremely similar mission statement. According to their website, the NAACP wants “To inform the public of the adverse effects of racial discrimination and to seek its elimination” (NAACP). This is very much alike to the GLAAD mission statement. They want to “provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change”. These mission statements show how homogeneous the two groups, and the two movements are. Although they are fighting for the rights of different peoples, they are still fighting for the same thing, and in the same

In 1954, Brown v. Board of Education declared “‘in the field of public education the doctrine of “separate but equal” has no place’” (Important Supreme Court Cases). This started the desegregation of public schools, leading to busing, Brown v. Board of Education II, and other arguments about desegregation. The case “served as a catalyst for the modern civil rights movement, inspiring education reform everywhere and forming the legal means of challenging segregation in all areas of society” (Brown v. Board of Education). The gay rights movement also had a big victory very recently. In 2015, the Obergefell v. Hodges case ended the “state bans on same-sex marriage”, therefore legalizing same-sex marriage (Important Supreme Court Cases). Now, “same-sex couples can now receive the benefits...of marriage that were largely exclusive to heterosexual couples” (Koch). The ruling has led to the modern fight for gay civil rights. Exposure to the LGBTQ+ community, the southern “Bathroom Bills”, and other fights for transgender rights, and the press for more LGBTQ+ representation in the media has erupted from this case. Both rulings had very big impacts on their respective communities. They both led to the start of new eras in the fight for their rights.
In conclusion, the gay rights movement and the black civil rights movement have very similar structures. Each were treated terribly for awhile, and one event caused them to start fighting. They created groups