Professor Name
Class Name (Political Science 101 or w/e)
April 30, 2015
The Impact of the Stonewall Inn on Gay Rights in America
One of the many staples of America is that all are treated equally under the eyes of the law. However, this was not always the case. First, the slaves fought for their rights. Then came the women’s rights movement followed by the civil rights movement. Another important movement that is often overlooked is the gay rights movement that started in New York City. The Stonewall Inn, situated in Manhattan’s West Village, was where riots started in the summer of 1969. These riots raised nationwide awareness for gay rights. Forty years ago, most states did not have a single gay organization, there were no …show more content…
By 1973, there were almost eight hundred gay rights groups and the number grew to a few thousand by 1990. In 1970, thousands of gay men and lesbians marched in New York City to commemorate the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots; in October 1987, over half a million marched in Washington, to demand equality (Hall "The American Gay Rights Movement And Patriotic Protest"). On the 1st anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the first gay pride parades in U.S. history took place in Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and near the Stonewall Inn in New York. The Stonewall riots inspired the oppressed gay, lesbian and transgendered people throughout the country to organize in support of gay rights (Gilbert “Stonewall Uprising: A Film …show more content…
In 1984 Berkeley, California became the first city to offer its employees domestic-partnership benefits. In 1993, the U.S. military instituted the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy permitting gays to serve in the military but banning homosexual activity. Same sex marriage became legal in Massachusetts on May 17, 2004. Civil union also became legal in Connecticut in 2005 and a year later in New Jersey in 2006. 2007 ushered a bill ensuring equal rights in the workplace for gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals (Lewis, Wood, Jacobsmeier "Public Opinion And Judicial Behavior In Direct Democracy Systems: Gay Rights In The American States”). Currently, same-sex marriage is legal in thirty-seven states, twenty-six by court decision, eight by state legislature and three by popular vote. However, same-sex marriage is still banned in thirteen states including Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, Texas and Nebraska. Out of these thirteen states, eight states have appeals that’s are in progress. The gay and lesbian rights movement is still active and moving in full