Gay Oppression in America

[littlegreen2]

Posted: 6/5/11 at 4:55pm

Hey everyone! I have decided to write my final research paper for my US History class about gay and lesbian oppression in the United States. There is so much information out there - I could probably take any stance and it would be a thorough paper. I was wondering if any of you had ideas about which route to take? I'm just looking for suggestions or thoughts to work with.

There are always some great discussions on here and I think it would help me significantly! Thank you!

[artscallion]

Posted: 6/5/11 at 5:16pm

You could explore the phenomema that allows friends and family of LGBT to support religious institutions that actively work to oppress them. I find it endlessly fascinating how they rationalize their support by saying they only support certain things that the church does. Yet the money that goes into the collection plate, as well as their visible presence in church supports ALL the things the church works toward. It's like saying you belong to the KKK because of their charity work, but don't agree with all that race stuff.

Well, I think it's a fascinating topic.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/5/11 at 5:57pm

Why don't you write about the people on this list: a whole generation of gay writers, actors, dancers, directors, designers, composers, musicians, visual artists, filmmakers and architects who were killed by government inaction?




The National Registry of Artists with AIDS

[Kristie-K2]

Posted: 6/5/11 at 7:35pm

Pal Joey, I think they forgot my friend Stephen Stucker...I won't forget

[ahhrealmonsters]

Posted: 6/5/11 at 10:37pm

I wonder if you could look at youth/teen/young adult LGBTQ suicides throughout history, and look at the "It Gets Better Project"- really look into it- and see if it has any effect, and if so, what. Maybe also look at the media's portrayal of lesbians and gay men.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 6/5/11 at 11:37pm

I think you need to narrow the scope a bit. "Gay oppression in America" is pretty broad. A history professor that I had in college used to say the broader the paper, the less insight it provides.

Some ideas off the top of my head:
1.) Suicides by gay teenagers (or older people for that matter) Why? How do we stop it? How do we react? etc.

2.) America's progress on the issue compared to other countries of the western world.

3.) Gay celebrities - and the "closeted" ones who fear the ruining of their career that may come along with coming out.

4.) The origins and evolution of homophobia. Does the bible really tell religious individuals to hate gay people? Where else does homophobia come from? How do we deal with it in modern society.

Good luck!

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 6/6/11 at 6:37am

I would be interested on an in-depth article on friends and family members that support religious institutions and political parties that fight to deny us rights. Sarah Palin has said one of her best friends is a lesbian. It's hypocrisy that's just accepted.