Paradigm Shift Essay

Anthony Quarles

English 137H

November 2, 2016

Increase in Acceptance of Homosexuality Within America

We refer to basic human rights like the freedom of speech and equal treatment in courts

as civil rights, because they are fundamental rights that each and every citizen should not be

denied on the basis of their sex, race, or religious belief. The United States has gained a

reputation as being a world leader when it comes to civil rights and patriotism. Its a nation

founded on the principles of unity, freedom, and equality. However, as civil and patriotic the

pillars of America may seem, there are many groups whove been receiving the short end of that

stick; namely the homosexual community. All throughout most of the twentieth century there

was an extreme struggle for homosexuals to be accepted within the American society. This was

mostly due to religious preconceptions and the publics negative view on homosexuality. Thanks

to science, morals, exposure, and social realizations, humans have become less naive and more

knowledgeable of the issue, threfore allowing it to become increasingly accepted within America

from the 1950s to now. Homoseuxality has come a long way, from once being labeled as a

mental illness to now slowly being assimilated into modern society. Today we live in a time

where all across America there are LGBT communities, pride parades, and even Gay-Straight

Alliance clubs and organizations. Homosexuality is finally being considered normal and is
perhaps one of the largest paradigm shifts in American history. As time rolls on, homosexuality

has grown to become open, understandable, and prominent amongst social issues, so society is

forced to look at it - and at least try to understand it.

Though it has been proven that homosexuality has existed since humans have began

documenting history, lifelong statistics have proven that homosexuals have always been

discriminated against. You might ask yourself, where did this stigma emerge? What led

Americans to such negative views on homosexuality in the first place? What had any

homosexual done that would put disgust in someones mind? The leading causes of the negative

views on homosexuality are religion and parental influence. This isnt surprising because in

modern American society these are still the two most prominent causes of anti-homosexuality.

Originally homosexuality was thought to be caused by heredity or by some derangement

of hormones. This view came from many doctors and psychologists who took many studies and

thought their research was accurate. In 1943, Alfred Kinsey, who was an American biologist and

sexiologist, regarded hmosexuality as a hormonal derrangement. He even developed the Kinsey

Scale which was used to determine how gay someone was. In March 1945, two psychiatrists

working with the US Navy published a study about homosexuality in which they said,

homosexualism is a biological anomaly. Weve come to the realization that the homosexual

suffers from a regrettable sexual anomaly. Thankfully. these views were debunked and

discarded thanks to science.

Another blame for this ideology, is parental influence. Parents raise children based upon

what theyd want their child to be. They try to mold their children and force upon them their

ideologies such as sex, religion, and lifestyle because they believe its right and its how their
child should live. For example, as a child your parents will take you to church, probably the

church of their denomination in hopes that youll grow up and follow the belief as they have.

Also, if as a child you do what is not deemed appropriate for your gender, your parents would try

to correct your behavior. For example, if you are a young boy and you play with or decide you

want a Barbie, which is regarded by society as feminine, majority of parents would say no,

thats for girls. As a child, you grow up respecting and learning from your parent so the

outcome is expected. This enables the child to distinguish what is feminine over what is

masculine, which subsequently enables them to distinguish gay and straight. As the child grows,

his or her friends and environment also influence these behaviors.

From a religious perspective, homosexuality and religion have never been best friends. In

almost all religions, homosexuality is viewed as a sin or as immoral, thus planting seeds of

negativity. Religious leaders reason that humankind were made to go out and have children.

Since homosexuals are not able to reproduce, homosexuality is, therefore, from their perspective

an act of sin. Religion is perhaps the most prominent and hardest rebuttal against homosexuality

because majority of the world is religious. Religion is also ancient and set and stone, so you

cant particularly change or challenge it. The negative viewpoint on homosexuality in America is

not a new idea. However, the movements that are later to come challenge the ignorant and

bigoted opinions of the past.

Homosexuality is no doubt prominent in America today, especially within the media and

entertainment bubble with celebrities coming out every year. What was once considered taboo

is now almost typical. Fortunately, its gathered lots of controversy. However, the attention of

homosexuality had not started merely after the 2000s, but was a major movement nearly 70 years
ago. The Society for Human Rights was an American LGBT rights organization established in

1924 in Chicago. This organization laid the foundation for civil rights and the notorious gay

rights movements of the 50s and 60s. In 1950, the Mattachine Society was formed. The Society

aimed to eliminate discrimination, prejudice, bigotry, and to assimilate homosexuals into

mainstream society. The organization later developed a comprehensive program for cultural and

political liberation. They started sponsoring discussion groups and the word began to spread, and

subsequently so did the gay movement. Thousands of people across California and the US came

in support of the Society and its principles. The Society was a positive outlet for the LGBT

community, but America was in no way ready to move forward.

After the establishment of the Mattachine Society, you would think that the American

Society wouldve become more knowledgeable and accepting of homosexuality. Well,

knowledgeable it did become, but accepting it did not. Just a couple months later, America

showed just exactly how they felt about homosexuals. The federal government began to

investigate employees sexual orientation. Over the next couple years, more than 4,000

homosexuals were discharged from the military and 500 were fired from their jobs within the

government. This purging was known as the lavender scare. To top it all off, in 1952, the

American Psychiatric Association listed homosexuality as a mental illness. Now not only do

Americans not like homosexuals, but believe that theyre sick and need to be cured. In 1953,

President Dwight Eisenhower signs Executive Order 10450, banning homosexuals from working

for the federal government. The Order lists homosexuals as security risks, along with alcoholics

and neurotics. Its almost sickening to think that Americans once thought like this, and even

deplorable that the President, the one who makes executive decisions for the greater good of the
American society, would entertain such ignorance and bigotry. Although I hadnt been born yet,

I could almost hear the screams of thousands of homosexuals in a fight for their freedom and

their lives. Its not simply them against society, its not them against the government, its them

against America. A place which uses words like freedom, equality, and brotherhood as a facade

to the horrors within. However, things began to slowly change and very few states began to shed

a positive light on homosexuality. In 1962 Illinois became the first U.S. state to decriminalize

homosexual acts. This was the first step toward social progressiveness for the LGBT community.

The battle of heterosexuality and homosexuality was reaching its boiling point. All the

years of abuse and discrimination were leading up to something big. People were tired of being

mistreated and unjustly judged. Tensions festered and the problem deteriorated. It was in June of

1969 that the Stonewall Riots took place. Patrons of the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village riot

when police officers attempt to raid the gay bar. The bar had been frequently raided by the police

and enough was enough! They werent gonna sit back and be treated as second class citizens

based on who they loved. They were done with the idea that they were the inferior. It was time to

rise above and claim what they shouldve long ago; social justice and civil freedom. Angry gay

youth clash with police officers in the street, leading to a three day riot during which thousands

of protesters receive only minimal coverage. Nonetheless, the event will be credited with

reigniting the fire behind Americas modern gay rights movement. It transformed the movement

from one limited to a small number of activists into a widespread protest for equal rights and

acceptance. That pivotal moment in American history is commemorated each year, with June

celebrated as LGBT pride month within the United States. At this point, America is now coming
face to face with its true problem; justice for the American people. A country where We the

people means ALL the people, not simply the heterosexuals.

Following the Stonewall Riot, the American societys opinion of homosexuality began to

slightly shift. Homosexualtiy is being put in more of a neutral spotlight, rather than a flat out

disgusting and immoral one. The Riot launched America into a positive direction and began to

allow people to look at homosexuality from a different perspective. Things in America began to

change and policies started to be modified for the better. In 1982 Wisconsin became the first

U.S. state to outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. In 1993 the Department of

Defense issues Dont Ask, Dont Tell. This policy was a very narrow one because it prohibited

the military from barring applicants from service based on their sexual orientation, but forbid

applicants in making a statement that he or she is homosexual. Its good and bad but an overall

step in the positive direction. On September 20, 2011, Dont Ask, Dont Tell was repealed on

the basis that it would have little to no effect on the military and its performance. As the 20th

century is coming to an end, so are the general prejudice opinions of homosexuals. In the Romer

v Evans case of 1996, the Supreme Court declares that Colorados 2nd Amendment, which

denied gays and lesbians protections against discrimination, is unconstitutional. According to

Justice Anthony Kennedy, We find nothing special in the protections Amendment 2 withholds.

These protections. . . . . .constitute ordinary civil life in a free society.

From the late 90s into the 2000s, homoseuxality is gaining more and more attention. Its

beginning to receive wider coverage in the media and America is slowly becoming one of the

leading nations in acceptance of homosexuality. Most of the discriminatory policies against

homosexuals are banned, more and more people are coming out, and the nation is positively
progressing. However, there was one major problem left, marriage. Same-sex marriage was

perhaps the largest issue within the homsexual community. This was mostly due to states being

allowed to regulate their own policies on marriage. In many religions, marriage is considered

sacred and justified between one man and one woman. Religions already believe that

homosexuality is a sin, so same sex marriage would be an abomination. For years and years

homosexuals have fought to be able to marry the person that they love. They often would marry

someone of the opposite sex to cover up their homosexuality. Theyve been granted unions but

not allowed to say I do like a heterosexual couple. This problem, perhaps the biggest of the

21st century, was holding America back from evolving as a progressive and truly free society.

On June 26, 2015 came the greatest thing to have ever happened to homosexuals within

the American society. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was sitting in the living room waiting

for my cousin to wake up, who is a member of the LGBT community, because it was his

birthday. I turned on the TV and there it was. Same-Sex marriage allowed in all 50 States. The

U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v Hodges that same-sex couples have the fundamental

right to marry and that states cannot say that marriage is reserved for heterosexual couples.

Under the Constitution, same sex couples seek in marriage the same legal treatment as opposite

sex couples, and it would disparage their choices and diminish their personhood to deny them

this right, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the majority opinion. This was so shocking yet so

exciting because it was hard to believe that America had sided with the LGBT community,

something theyve rarely done throughout history, and especially on an issue this big.The fact

that the law received more positive than negative feedback gives insight on how far weve come

as a nation.
 In modern society, homosexuality is not shunned as it once was. Many are graciously

accepted and even encouraged to come out. The publics modern view of homosexuality was

prompted due to many of the platforms we have in America. Technology plays a big role in the

increase of acceptance. Social media has become an asset in raising awareness and bringing

members of the LGBT community together. More and more people are reaching out on

Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and Facebook. YouTube is filled with hundreds of thousands of

coming out videos with people who comment supportive things. Google allows people to look

up and educate themselves on these topics so they can understand rather than blindly judge.

Celebrities also do a great job at advocating the rights for the LGBT community, and the

same sex marriage law probably wouldn't have been passed without their support. Celebrities

like Macklemore, Miley Cyrus, Hozier, RuPaul, Lady Gaga, Ellen DeGeneres, Caitlyn Jenner

and many more play a role in helping LGBT individuals get the spotlight and acceptance they

deserve. Rupaul has been a strong advocate for LGBT rights since the 90s and still continues to

push for acceptance all over the world. When Ellen DeGeneres came out, it was all over the

news and on magazines because she was a television star. This was perhaps the biggest coming

out of the 90s. People thought it would ruin her career, but now she has her own show on which

she hosts famous guests but also spreads awareness on the fight for acceptance within the LGBT

community. Music is also used as a platform of outreach for acceptance. Songs like Same Love

by Macklemore, Till It Happens To You by Lady Gaga, Take Me To Church by Hozier,

Vogue by Madonna, and Born This Way by Lady Gaga prompted these modern movements

for gays to come out and voice their opinions and bring awareness to their struggle for

acceptance. More and more families and communities are accepting their children regardless of
their religious preference and its sublime. These icons have changed the views of Americans

and still continue to. Another reason for the increase in acceptance is that Americans are less

naive. Were less ignorant of the topic so we are able to approach it correctly, politically, and

positively.

Societys views are changing. Homosexuality is no longer considered a mental disease or

a condition that is detrimental to society. Americans are less willing to allow their religious

beliefs dictate their stance on social issues, and children are becoming aware of the world

changing around them. We as Americans are exposed to homosexuality more and are becoming

almost accustomed to it. Weve come from a period in which you couldve been justly killed in

America for being homosexual, to a time where the LGBT community is accepted by the

majority of society. Of course there are still people who are solely against it, but thats expected

for any controversial issue. All in all, since the 1950s there has been a huge American increase in

acceptance homosexuality, making it one of the most drastic paradigm shifts of the last two

centuries.
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