The Argument Against Gay Rights

Never before has the United States seen such a drastic change in public opinion than on the argument of gay rights. What was once the most taboo subject to appear in the public eye is now on frequent display in film, television, and news headlines. However, to say that the gay rights movement is more visible than ever, is not to say that the country is on the same page. Like all controversial issues, there are two sides to the argument, and both opponents are very much passionate about their opinions. However, there is no denying the fact that there has been a radical break in the history of homosexuality. Gay marriage has become legal in all 50 states, protections for LGBTQ people have been implemented in most areas, and it is rare to find a primetime drama without a featured gay character. To what do we owe such “seismic shifts in social attitudes”(Piontek 123)? The answer is simple and and right under America’s nose. More specifically, on the west coast: Hollywood. When carefully observed, film and

To fully comprehend the recent shift in attitudes towards homosexuality, an understanding of the history of the gay rights movement is needed. At the beginning of the 20th century, homosexuals were regarded as deviants and were therefore shielded from the public eye. The gay communities that modern America has become accustomed to in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles were not developed until after WWII, when “thousands of gay and lesbian people were dishonorably discharged from the armed services, and many were simply dumped in port cities”(Ford). In 1950, the Mattachine Society, an “underground emancipation movement”(Ford), was founded. The Society was an organization that acknowledged “gay men as an oppressed cultural minority”(Morris), and demonstrated and educated the public for