Classe : 1ère L

Professeurs coordinateurs : - Nom : Mr. GORCE.        Discipline : Histoire géographie.

                                               - Nom:Mr.MOUTEL.         Discipline : Anglais.

Elèves de l’équipe :

image:http://www.examiner.com/muslim-in-los-angeles/is-homosexuality-forbidden-or-misunderstood-islam

1.1 Who are the homosexuals?

Homosexuals are people, who are sexually who are romantically, sexually or

 affectionally attracted by their own sex. Sexual orientation cannot be changed, as it is not an

illness. Homosexuality is one of the three main sexual orientation, others are heterosexuality and

bisexuality.

http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/sexual-orientation.aspx

The history of the homosexual movement in USA started in 1924, when The Society for

Human Rights became the country's earlies known gay right organization. However, it

was a couple of decades later, when there was any real progress. The Mattachine

Society, which is first national gay right organization, is formed by Harry Hay in 1951.

Harry Hay is considered by many to be the founder of the gay rights movement. In the

1950s it was dangerous to found any kind of gay organization, so the founders had to

protect themselves by using code.

The real progress started in 1962, when Illinois became the first state to decriminalize

 homosexual acts between consenting adults in private. The decision of American Law

 Institute stunned many, and a lot of the states ignored the recommendation.

1969 is often regarded as the year that the gay rights movement took off. When the

NYPD (New York City Police Department) raided a gay bar in Greenwich Village and

started arresting employers and performers. Contrary to expectations, the patrons fought

 back and approximately 2000 supporters of the bar took on the police, forcing them into

 the club. Three days of riots followed and almost overnight a massive gay rights

liberation was born.

In 1973 American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from DSM-II

(Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), as they began the realize that

homophobia was a real social problem. The early psychiatry was haunted by the legacy of

Sigmund Freud, who sometimes had an unhealthy obsession with normalcy.

Two years later the Civil Service Commission eliminated the ban of the employment of

homosexuals in most federal jobs. Many states included sexual orientation in their civil

rights, for example Wisconsin and Massachusetts. The lesbian and gay world wasn't an

underground subculture anymore but a well-organized community. Especially in the larger

 cities there were businesses, political clubs, social service agencies, community centers

and religious congregations bringing people together.

The growing gay rights movement had also an opposition. A singer Anita Bryant led a

campaign to repeal a gay rights ordinance in Dade County, Florida in 1977. Her success

encouraged others and by 1980s, a conservative force targeted the gay rights movement.

The AIDS epidemic also intensified the anti gay rhetoric of the New Rights but it also

stimulated further organizations such as the Gay Men's Health Crisis in New York City

to provide services and assistance to those infected. The AIDS paradoxically

strengthened the political army of the gay movement.

In 1993 the ”Don't ask, don't tell” policy was instituted for the US military. It permitted

the homosexuals to serve in the military, but it banned homosexual activity.

 President Clinton's original intention was to revoke the prohibition against gays, but it

was met with strong opposition. The ”Don't ask, don't tell” was a compromise.

Homosexual movement gained a lot of sympathy when a 22-year-old college student

Matthew Shepherd was brutally beaten and left then die. Just a year and a half after his

death, Vermont became the first state of USA to legalize civil unions.

In 2004 San Fransisco became issuing same-sex-marriage licenses. However, it was

muted by President Bush, who called for a country-wide ban on same-sex marriage.

Sources: http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_agen60.htm (retrieved November 27th 2010)

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0761909.html (retrieved November 27th 2010)

http://www.lifeintheusa.com/people/gaypeople.htm (retrieved December 3th 2010)

http://www.edubook.com/gay-rights-movement-in-america/13845/ (retrieved December 3th 2010)