Gay Rights Movement In The 1960s And 1970

“You can cure yourself, in a day, a minute, a second, with three words, with six. I’m-not-sick—three words. Three words more: I-love-myself.” (Stonewall,79) This was said by Leo Skit, a poet and activist while giving advice to his closeted friend in 1970. The late 1960s and 1970s were huge for the LGBTQ movement. Everything from parades to protests happened. This has helped shape and form the rainbow community that we know today. The LGBTQ+ movement continuously fights for basic human rights in the face of discrimination. In 1969, discrimination attacked LGBT individuals. The gays were so highly discriminated that the mafia was running most of the gay bars and meet up places in the New York City Area. Also, there was a law against cross dressing.
1970 brought many things to the community, such as coming out to the public, homosexuality was removed from the list of mental disorders, there was less discrimination and harassment and greater visibility for the entire community. (uky.edu) On June 28th, 1970, one year after Stonewall, there was the first ever pride parade on Christopher Street. LGBTQ members would chant “I am out!” while they walked and Allies would chant “We support gay rights!” By the end of the walk, thousands had joined the march and the chanting. Boston, Chicago, Los Angles, and San Francisco also had gay pride celebrations in 1970, but New York City will remain the first. (Stonewall
According to a survey taken by Dr. Brian S. Mustanski, 1/3 of 246 LGBTQ people aged 16-20 had some sort of mental disorder. 15% had major depression and 9% had PTSD. Lifetime suicide attempts and PTSD are higher with most LGBT individuals. (Power library)
Hates crimes are huge for the LGBT community as a whole. We are still separated after all these years. Employers can fire workers based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Even though this has gotten better in a lot of states, it still isn’t a federal law protecting discrimination. There are laws in 21 states and D.C. protecting LGBT individuals in the workplace. (Huffington Post) 42% of transgender individuals won’t fully transition because they don’t want to lose their jobs. LGBT are forced into closets to keep jobs and make a living in the world. (stonewall.org)
You might think this is just in the adult workplace, but no. There is a lot of discrimination in schools as well. 55% of lesbians, gays, and bisexuals have experienced direct bullying from someone. 1/3 of lesbians, gays, and bisexuals have been isolated or ignored. 41% of LGBT have wanted to take their own lives or self-harm because of bullying. 59% of transgender youth have hurt themselves, compared to the regular 8.9% (stonewall.org) Even though we are supposed to be all seen as equals, there is still a lot of separation between the two