Angels In America Act 1 Analysis

By understanding the history of gay rights, we can better interpret Angels In America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, written by Tony Kushner. Specifically, part two of the play Perestroika Act 4, Scene 10 can be better understood when the reader is informed on the history of gay rights in America. During this scene, we are set in Louis’s apartment and Joe enters. Upon his entrance Joe is rudely greeted by Louis. Joe is concerned with why Louis has not shown up for work in the last few days. Louis then begins to attack Joe for his previous involvement in a court case decision regarding a gay Army soldier. Within this court case, that Louis is referring to, a man had divulge that he was gay when he enlisted in the United States Army. Upon this man’s retirement from service, he was denied his pension and so he sued the United States Army for wrongfully withholding his money. He eventually won the case and was able to receive his pension from his time spent in the Army. According to Louis in this scene, he states
“ They [first judges] ruled that gay men are members of a legitimate minority, entitled to the special protection of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S Constitution. Equal Protection under the Law.” (p. 248)
This
During the time period of this play, gays and lesbians were not treated equally under law as those who were straight. As was mentioned, there were still laws up until 2003 that made it illegal to be homosexual and perform acts of homosexuality7. This is being addressed within this scene when Louis is stating that the court system actually believes that homosexuals “ are not entitled to equal protection under the law” (p.248). With the understanding of the history of gay rights we are given a deep insight to the play’s context and able to better comprehend the lives of gay Americans and their societal