Changes

==History==

==History==

[[Harry Hay]] is regarded as the father of the modern gay liberation movement. As a [[Communist Party of the United States]] (CPUSA) organizer, he turned out "essays, position papers, critical studies, and manifestos concerning what it means to be gay in the world."<ref> [http://www.aim.org/media_monitor/A269_0_2_0_C/ Red Roots Of Gay Movement], Cliff Kincaid, Accuracy in Media, September 10, 2003. </ref>

[[Harry Hay]] is regarded as the father of the modern gay liberation movement. As a [[Communist Party of the United States]] (CPUSA) organizer, he turned out "essays, position papers, critical studies, and manifestos concerning what it means to be gay in the world."<ref>[http://www.aim.org/media_monitor/A269_0_2_0_C/ Red Roots Of Gay Movement], Cliff Kincaid, Accuracy in Media, September 10, 2003.</ref>

The first step Hay took in organizing the gay rights movement was to recommend to the CPUSA that he be expelled. In

The first step Hay took in organizing the gay rights movement was to recommend to the CPUSA that he be expelled. In

light of his 18 years of service to the party<ref>[http://www.sojournertruth.net/ipp.html#i In Partial Payment Class Struggle, Sexuality and Gay Liberation (1978)], by A. Rausch. Retrieved from ''Urgent Tasks: [[Leftist|Journal of the Revolutionary Left]]'', Sojourner Truth Organization Digital Archive , 10 May 2007. </ref> they released him as "a security risk but a life-long friend of the people." The early leadership of the Foundation shaped the organization to reflect the cell structure of the Communist Party, in which "secrecy, hierarchical structures, and centralized leadership predominated." <ref>John D'Emilio, ''Sexual Politics, Sexual Communities: The Making of a Homosexual Minority in the United States'' (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1983), quoted in Martin Meeker, Behind the Mask of Respectability, ''Journal of the History of Sexuality'', (2001) 78-116. </ref>

light of his 18 years of service to the party<ref>[http://www.sojournertruth.net/ipp.html#i In Partial Payment Class Struggle, Sexuality and Gay Liberation (1978)], by A. Rausch. Retrieved from ''Urgent Tasks: [[Leftist|Journal of the Revolutionary Left]]'', Sojourner Truth Organization Digital Archive , 10 May 2007.</ref> they released him as "a security risk but a life-long friend of the people." The early leadership of the Foundation shaped the organization to reflect the cell structure of the Communist Party, in which "secrecy, hierarchical structures, and centralized leadership predominated." <ref>John D'Emilio, ''Sexual Politics, Sexual Communities: The Making of a Homosexual Minority in the United States'' (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1983), quoted in Martin Meeker, Behind the Mask of Respectability, ''Journal of the History of Sexuality'', (2001) 78-116.</ref>

Hay and his fellow gay rights activists began circulating the [[USSR]] and the East European Communist parties sponsored anti-war [[Stockholm Peace petition]] against the [[Korean War]]<ref>[http://www.kimsoft.com/2000/germberia.htm New Russian Evidence on the Korean War Biological Warfare Allegations: Background and Analysis,] Milton Leitenberg, Cold War International History Project, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.</ref> at a gay beach in Los Angeles. The first months produced hundreds of members.  

Hay and his fellow gay rights activists began circulating the [[USSR]] and the East European Communist parties sponsored anti-war [[Stockholm Peace petition]] against the [[Korean War]]<ref>[http://www.kimsoft.com/2000/germberia.htm New Russian Evidence on the Korean War Biological Warfare Allegations: Background and Analysis,] Milton Leitenberg, Cold War International History Project, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.</ref> at a gay beach in Los Angeles. The first months produced hundreds of members.  

== Timeline ==

== Timeline ==

* Henry Gerber starts Society for Human Rights under a State of Illinois charter for a non-profit organization for people with "mental abnormalities" on December 25, 1924.  Several issues of ''Friendship and Freedom'', the first American publication for homosexuals were printed but the organization was shut down by Chicago police.  Gerber was arrested but not convicted of any crime.  As a result of his efforts, Gerber lost his job as a post office clerk, his life savings, and found himself abandoned by his friends.<ref>[http://www.gayhistory.com/rev2/factfiles/ff1924.htm "Gay History"]. ''gayhistory.com''. </ref>

* Henry Gerber starts Society for Human Rights under a State of Illinois charter for a non-profit organization for people with "mental abnormalities" on December 25, 1924.  Several issues of ''Friendship and Freedom'', the first American publication for homosexuals were printed but the organization was shut down by Chicago police.  Gerber was arrested but not convicted of any crime.  As a result of his efforts, Gerber lost his job as a post office clerk, his life savings, and found himself abandoned by his friends.<ref>[http://www.gayhistory.com/rev2/factfiles/ff1924.htm "Gay History"]. ''gayhistory.com''.</ref>

* [[Alfred Kinsey]] publishes ''Sexual Behavior in the Human Male'' in 1948, allegedly the first scientific body of work that examined the subject of homosexuality.  Mainstream publications started printing their opinions about this formerly taboo subject.<ref>[http://www.indiana.edu/~kinsey/library/mediaresponses.html "The Kinsey Institute - [Library & Special Collections]"]. ''indiana.edu''.</ref><ref>[http://www.indiana.edu/~kinsey/library/kinsey.html "The Kinsey Institute - [Library & Special Collections]"]. ''indiana.edu''.</ref>

* [[Alfred Kinsey]] publishes ''Sexual Behavior in the Human Male'' in 1948, allegedly the first scientific body of work that examined the subject of homosexuality.  Mainstream publications started printing their opinions about this formerly taboo subject.<ref>[http://www.indiana.edu/~kinsey/library/mediaresponses.html "The Kinsey Institute - &#91;Library & Special Collections&#93;"]. ''indiana.edu''.</ref><ref>[http://www.indiana.edu/~kinsey/library/kinsey.html "The Kinsey Institute - &#91;Library & Special Collections&#93;"]. ''indiana.edu''.</ref>

* Rev. Elder Troy Perry founded the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches in 1968 which served as a specific outreach to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities.<ref>http://www.mcccharleston.org/about/troyperry.htm</ref>

* Rev. Elder Troy Perry founded the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches in 1968 which served as a specific outreach to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities.<ref>http://www.mcccharleston.org/about/troyperry.htm</ref>

*[[Stonewall Riots]] of 1969 marked a turning point within the Civil Rights Era of the United States.  New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn and for the first time the gay patrons fought back which started several days of rioting.<ref>[http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/exhibitions/sw25/case1.html "Stonewall 25: Cases 1-2"]. ''columbia.edu''. </ref> This bar had been operating illegally by bribing the police and was owned by the [[mafia]]. The riots occurred when the police finally came to shut down the illegal activities occurring at the site.

*[[Stonewall Riots]] of 1969 marked a turning point within the Civil Rights Era of the United States.  New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn and for the first time the gay patrons fought back which started several days of rioting.<ref>[http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/exhibitions/sw25/case1.html "Stonewall 25: Cases 1-2"]. ''columbia.edu''.</ref> This bar had been operating illegally by bribing the police and was owned by the [[mafia]]. The riots occurred when the police finally came to shut down the illegal activities occurring at the site.

* American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses in 1973. <ref> http://archive.psych.org/edu/other_res/lib_archives/archives/197308.pdf </ref>

* American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses in 1973.<ref>http://archive.psych.org/edu/other_res/lib_archives/archives/197308.pdf</ref>

* 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy as crafted by Gen. Colin Powell and approved by Pres. Clinton takes affect in 1993.  This measure allows homosexuals to serve in the US military.  Sexual orientation will not prohibit anyone from serving though they must not engage in homosexual conduct or openly say they are gay.<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE5D81F30F933A15754C0A965958260</ref>

* 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy as crafted by Gen. Colin Powell and approved by Pres. Clinton takes affect in 1993.  This measure allows homosexuals to serve in the US military.  Sexual orientation will not prohibit anyone from serving though they must not engage in homosexual conduct or openly say they are gay.<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE5D81F30F933A15754C0A965958260</ref>

== Opposition to Gay Rights ==

== Opposition to Gay Rights ==

A poll reveals that a majority of US citizens<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/18/AR2007031800484.html | Clinton, Obama Slow to Respond to Questions on Homosexuality] Washington Post, March 18, 2007</ref> disapprove of homosexuality, or at least consider it less than ideal, and prefer that public policy does not encourage it. They also believe that accepting homosexuality would require the loss of rights to free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of association, and traditional [[marriage]].<ref>Traditional Values Coalition - [http://www.traditional values.org/modules.php?sid=2963 Homosexual Marriage In Canada Killing Free Speech]</ref>

A poll reveals that a majority of US citizens<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/18/AR2007031800484.html   Clinton, Obama Slow to Respond to Questions on Homosexuality] Washington Post, March 18, 2007</ref> disapprove of homosexuality, or at least consider it less than ideal, and prefer that public policy does not encourage it. They also believe that accepting homosexuality would require the loss of rights to free speech, freedom of religion, freedom of association, and traditional [[marriage]].<ref>Traditional Values Coalition - [http://www.traditional values.org/modules.php?sid=2963 Homosexual Marriage In Canada Killing Free Speech]</ref>

Conservatives criticize attempts by gay rights activists to prohibit any statements which are critical of homosexuality, such as the idea that it is "unnatural" or "sinful", using [[hate crime]]s statutes and anti-[[discrimination]] laws. These laws violate the rights of those against homosexuality to continue trying to restrict the rights of homosexuals.

Conservatives criticize attempts by gay rights activists to prohibit any statements which are critical of homosexuality, such as the idea that it is "unnatural" or "sinful", using [[hate crime]]s statutes and anti-[[discrimination]] laws. These laws violate the rights of those against homosexuality to continue trying to restrict the rights of homosexuals.

===Presenting outstanding homosexuals as contributors to society===

===Presenting outstanding homosexuals as contributors to society===

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Turing was arrested in 1952 for [[homosexuality|homosexual acts]] and subsequently lost his security clearance. He was allowed to stay out of prison by agreeing to be injected with female hormones (which would supposedly decrease his sex drive).  He later confided to a friend that the hormones caused him to grow breasts.<ref>''Oddballs and Eccentrics''.  Shaw, Karl.  Edison, New Jersey: Castle Books, 2004</ref>  This may have contributed to his suicide by [[cyanide]] poisoning in 1954.<ref>[http://www.turing.org.uk/turing/index.html "Alan Turing: the enigma"]. ''turing.org.uk''. </ref> The British Government issued a formal, official apology for the way Alan Turing and other homosexuals were treated in the past.<ref>http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page20571</ref>

Turing was arrested in 1952 for [[homosexuality|homosexual acts]] and subsequently lost his security clearance. He was allowed to stay out of prison by agreeing to be injected with female hormones (which would supposedly decrease his sex drive).  He later confided to a friend that the hormones caused him to grow breasts.<ref>''Oddballs and Eccentrics''.  Shaw, Karl.  Edison, New Jersey: Castle Books, 2004</ref>  This may have contributed to his suicide by [[cyanide]] poisoning in 1954.<ref>[http://www.turing.org.uk/turing/index.html "Alan Turing: the enigma"]. ''turing.org.uk''.</ref> The British Government issued a formal, official apology for the way Alan Turing and other homosexuals were treated in the past.<ref>http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page20571</ref>

==See also==

==See also==