In the history of America, many battles have been fought. The country has fought wars, disease outbreaks, and even political maneuvers. However, the loudest and most ignored battles are the peaceful, pushed-under-the-rug fights for rights. Many groups have fought for their rights, Black people and women being the most common in the country, and have been brushed off and nearly forgotten. Another common fight for rights, though, is people of the LGBTQ+ community. Unfortunately, this is one of the most forgotten-about groups.
It is often believed that the fight for LGBTQ+ rights has only been an issue for the past few years, but that is incorrect. The earliest documented fight for LGBTQ+ rights was in 1924 when Henry Gerber founded the Society for Human Rights. The start of the modern LGBTQ+ movement began with the Stonewall Inn Riots in 1969, which began because of a police raid on a gay bar.
The fight for LGBTQ+ rights has been modified many times since the creation of the Society for Human Rights with big changes, but little progress being made.
- Homosexuality was named a mental illness
- Homosexuals were labeled as security risks
- Employees of Congress had their sexualities covertly investigated
- The American Psychiatric Association named homosexuality as a sociopathic personality disturbance
- Maryland banned same-sex marriage
Positive changes have occured as well, though, and each small step adds together to make one huge leap.
- 10 years after Maryland banned same-sex marriage, it became illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation
- The first legal same-sex marriage took place in 2004
- Same-sex marriage finally became legal, but not until 2015
Unfortunately, the list of positive progress is much smaller than the list of negative progress, but every little push forward matters. Fortunately, there have been many people who have fought for LGBTQ+ rights.
- William Dorsey Swann
- Henry Gerber
- Gavin Newsom
- Harry Hay
- Christine Jorgensen
- Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon
- Dale Jennings
Each person has been monumental in this fight for rights, but the most important is Henry Gerber. Without him, there wouldn’t be the Society for Human rights. This brave first step forward by Gerber is the reason brave people are fighting today.
While it is understandable that some people may not want to put themselves out there for protests, hearings, lawsuits, etc., it is very possible to show support silently. People can donate to charities, leave positive comments of support on social media, find organizations that may be less well-known and help them get more recognition, and even just listening to the cries for help and to acknowledge them. Don’t live in ignorance; try diligently to help, not just for LGBTQ+ rights, but for the deserved, human rights of Black people and women all around the country.
