The first known gay rights organization was in 1924. The objective of this Chicago-based group was to bring together other gays as well as educate lawyers and lawmakers on gay-related issues. Despite this, the first national gay organization wasn’t until 1951. In 1969, a riot occurred in the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar, between patrons and police. Some believe that this was the beginning of activism, but it can be traced to before World War II. World War II allowed gay people to meet one another, but there were issues before the start of the war. In the 1950s and before, to be gay could mean that one had a mental illness. Gay people could lose their jobs or be imprisoned for their sexuality, but if one were committed for being gay, one could …show more content…
Despite all of the advances the gay community made toward getting equal rights, it wasn’t until 2015 that gay marriage was ruled legal by the supreme court in a 5-4 vote. The supreme court ruled that same-sex marriage was completely constitutional and this opened up a whole new opportunity for gay people to get married. But this didn’t just allow them to get married it showed the country that the government will stand behind the rights of gays. A lot of the country was divided on whether they should allow, or respect, gays and their rights. This ruling showed the country's standpoint and brought elation to many. Some people either didn’t want to or couldn’t afford to travel across state borders to get married and now they no longer have to worry about it. They can do it at home surrounded by those they love and the ones who love them. America is one of the world’s superpowers and now more of it’s people can feel that same empowerment when they wake up and look into their husband or wife’s eyes. People have been committed to mental institutions, refused jobs, and faced blatant discrimination, but never gave up on the fight for their right to be who they are and do what they had every right to do; fall in love and get