The Gay Liberation

The Gay Liberation

Another important movement in history, alongside those of Feminism and African American rights, was that of Gay Liberation. Gay Liberation is often a movement that is overlook because of the taboo nature of homosexuality in the United States. Homosexuals had one main goal in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, and that was to be treated as equal, “average Americans.” Even though this movement was started in the late 60’s, it still presses on into contemporary society as now we see more and more advocates for gay marriage and equality.

Freedom to the participants of the Gay Liberation meant a way of life; it meant that they could be who they thought they were on the inside, on the outside. This idea began to unfold in 1969 with the Stonewall Riots. Many people believed that this was the beginning of the Gay Liberation, but some thought it started with the formation of the Mattachine Society in 1950. To the Mattachine Society, there were four goals that they had to achieve for them to meet the way of life that they expected. First they wanted to unify homosexuals; secondly they wanted to educate homosexuals and even heterosexuals on the homosexual culture and its origins. Next they wanted to find persons within their group to help to lead the entirety of the movement. Finally their last goal was to assist victimized gays to help better their way of life in this oppressed society. The Gay Liberation group had to continue to fight for their freedom long after the 1960’s and 70’s; and continue to fight oppression and inequality in today’s society.

To succeed in these goals, there were a few things that the movement needed to come to terms with and change in society. Some of these main ideas included policy reform, structural change, and political change. Policy reform was a main goal of the Gay Liberation because the group wanted to be known as a collective; they wanted to be heard as a group that could cause change. Structural change brought about the idea of a hierarchy of