For my first blog post I chose a topic of the list of topics provided by our professor; the origin of homosexuality. I chose this because I’ve never really been sure he history of homosexuality let alone the origin. As it turns out, the history of homosexuality in America isn’t that long. In the last third of the nineteenth century homosexual and heterosexual became based off of what you prefer sexually. It wasn’t until 1860-70 when anyone even noticed that some people preferred to build their home based off of their choice of sexual pleasure.[1] It makes sense to me that during the 20th century when people were moving to large cities for work that when they had to live outside “normal” homes with the same sex for long periods of time, that people with homosexual dispositions would be more likely to pinpoint one another.[1] I think this is the most interesting part of the history of homosexuality because it makes sense. It seems like everything that happens in any history is cause and effect and I believe that this had a big impact on the “normalization” of homosexuality. I know that to some people it’s not normal and they completely disagree however, it’s a common or “normal” topic no matter how controversial.
I wasn’t aware that after WWII they banned gays and lesbians from the armed services dishonorably discharging many soldiers.[1] This was hard to understand because I don’t see what sexual orientation has to do with how well you can serve your country. As I continued research I learned that in 1950 a man named Harry Hay started the first known homosexual political organization as an underground emancipation movement.[1]
In 1978 a California state senator tried prohibiting homosexual teachers from teaching in public schools! Being in California the state had a large homosexual support community that abolished that thought however, the mayor who supported homosexual rights and the man who fought on the side of homosexuals in state-wide debates were murdered by their supervisor. Given an all straight jury the man who murdered them got off with the easiest punishment you can get of manslaughter.[1] This last piece of what I think is important in the history of homosexuality I find very unnerving because things like this still happen today. People turn their heads and say that was a different time, well, that was only 26 years ago. We as a nation are still struggling with balancing everything as far as giving people their rights and keeping everyone healthy, however none of this should cost a man or woman their life.
[1]. Milt Ford , . Grand Valley State University , "A Brief History of Homosexuality in America." Last modified May 14, 2013. Accessed January 22, 2014. http://www.gvsu.edu/allies/a-brief-history-of-homosexuality-in-america-30.htm.
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