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Abstract
| form of homosexuality dates back to at least the Greco-Roman period, but is seen as a new form of prejudice when compared to racism and sexism (Fone 2000:7). We have begun to see the very beginning of the battle for gays and lesbians. Since the 1950’s, and more so since the rebellion at the Stonewall Inn in New York in 1969, the U.S. has experienced a growing gay and lesbian rights movement (Fone 2000). The Stonewall Inn is a gay bar in New York City. On June 27, 1969, New York police raided the Inn expecting patrons to leave, but instead they fought back, barricading themselves inside. People began to shout back, and crowds outside of the Stonewall Inn grew larger. Some arrests were made, which caused the crowd to physically fight back at the police, breaking into a riot. People continued to riot for three days after the police raided the Inn (Fone 2000). In response to the Stonewall Riots, “liberation produced a new gay culture which took root in the form of protest and political activism, but also influenced education, religion, entertainment, the media, and material culture in what was called the homosexualization of America” (Fone 2000:11). Despite the growing gay and lesbian liberation movement, homophobia “stands as the last acceptable prejudice” (Fone 2000:411). Anti-gay sentiment is found in religion, government, the military, media, and even the Supreme Court. These contradictory statements bring one to question if Americans have yet accepted homosexuality. Have gays and lesbians been ‘liberated’ as Fone states, or are these claims false? Do the majority of Americans still possess anti-homosexual attitudes? |
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