The Civil Rights Movement Harvey Milk - 1583 Words

Courage is defined as the strength to withstand danger, to venture into the unknown, and to persevere in spite of difficulties that one may face. Marsha P. Johnson, a transgender woman of color who lived during the civil rights movement, is credited for throwing the first brick during the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Her choice to stand against police brutality in a time when most psychiatrists still viewed any break of the status quo as an issue or mental illness would eventually lead to the reformation of detrimental and unjust Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) policies and the nullification of sodomy laws. Another individual of outstanding prowess was Harvey Milk. Milk was an American politician and the first openly gay elected†¦show more content†¦Sex between consenting adults of the same sex that was performed anywhere, even in a private home, could be â€Å"punishable for up to life in prison, confinement in a mental institution, or even chemical castration† ( Wolf). The persecution of homosexuals and other members of non-sex stereotypical, heteronormative communities began long before the Stonewall riots, but a major influence in the rapid degradation of the humanity of such community members was U.S. Representative and Republican Senator, Joseph McCarthy. Born on November 14, 1908, near Appleton, Wisconsin, McCarthy became very accomplished at a young age. Excelling academically, he attended Marquette University in Milwaukee where he earned his degree in 1935 and soon gained many titles. Some of which include Judgeship in Wisconsin’s Tenth Judicial Circuit, First Lieutenant in the Marines, and U.S. Congress Republican. In the years after World War II, when peace should have been felt in the people and between nations, â€Å"an atmosphere of fear of world domination by communists† hung over the heads of Americans (â€Å"McCarthyism†). This was largely due to a large portion of Europe being under the control of Joseph Stalin , the Soviet Union exploding their first atomic bomb in 1949, and China becoming a communist state. Having an uneventful political career, conservative McCarthy claimed that 205 communists had infiltrated the U.S. StateShow MoreRelatedEssay on Gay Rights Movement1257 Words   |  6 PagesGay Rights Movement Have you ever thought how much progress the LGBT community has made and how it affects other people? The gay rights movement was and is currently a movement that â€Å"strives to end all discrimination towards the LGBT community† (Redlingshafer). As early as 1924, the Society for Human Rights in Chicago becomes United States’ earliest known gay rights organization (â€Å"Milestones in the American Gay Rights Movement†). However, most people recognize the Stonewall riot in 1969 as beingRead MoreLGBT and the Religious Right: Opposing Movements, Similar Methods1161 Words   |  5 Pageson LGBT rights (The Stonewall Riots). In the years to follow, two opposing mass movements manifested: the LGBT movement and the Religious Right movement. The LGBT movement aimed to get equal rights for homosexuals. The Religious Right focused on stopping the perceived moral decay of America and protecting children from lesbians and gays. While these movements had polar opposite goal s, they used surprisingly similar methods to get their messages across. Politicians Both the LGBT movement and theRead MoreHarvey Milk Essay1072 Words   |  5 PagesHarvey Milk said, â€Å"If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.†(Aretha 83). Harvey Milk was the first gay politician that moved people’s hearts. He changed the way people thought about gay people back in the 1970’s. Defending homosexuals from criticism, he civilized them with the people. Since the background of homosexuality was harsh which affected Harvey Milk’s early life, he took the action to process of becoming civilized as an officer, and he left many legaciesRead MoreThe Gay Liberation Movement Of Manhattan, New York City1536 Words   |  7 Pages On June 28, 1969, the Gay Liberation Movement was sparked due to the Stonewall Riot in Manhattan, New York City, (History.com Staff). The Stonewall was a gay club located in New York City. It was often regulated and harassed by police officers but one day the LGBT decided to stand up for themselves and fight back. Although the police were legally justified in raiding the club, which was serving liquor without a license among other violations, New York’s gay community had grown weary of the policeRead MoreSocial and Political Themes in the Movie Milk Essay721 Words   |  3 PagesExtra Credit Assignment MILK   1. What are the main themes, politically and socially, that are portrayed in the film? Milk is a biographical film based on the triumphs and struggles of Harvey Milk. He was a gay rights activist and the first openly gay elected official in California. Socially, the film addresses the discrimination homosexuals faced on a daily basis. â€Å"(T)he normal majority†, as labeled by Anita Bryant, inflicted prejudice upon the homosexual minority. â€Å"The Castro†, the nameRead MoreThe Film : Milk, An Activist And Leader Of The Gay Rights Movement1602 Words   |  7 PagesThe film that I have chosen for my critical analysis is titled Milk (2008). The film sheds light into the issue of discrimination of homosexuals in the time period of 1970s which triggers the gay rights movement in San Francisco, California. The film is a bibliography of Harvey Milk, an activist and leader of the gay rights movement. In this paper, I will discuss some of the major underlying themes that overlap with topics discussed in class, including gender identity, gender stereotype, discriminationRead MoreCommunication Techniques Of Harvey Milk1635 Words   |  7 PagesAn Assessment of the Various Communication Techniques of Harvey Milk. By Christian Samson Harvey Milk was the first openly gay politician to be publically elected to office in California with his entry to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. It was in November 1978 that a fellow conservative politician who strongly opposed Milk’s views on anti-discrimination and gay rights assassinated Milk whilst he sat in his office. Milk had only been in office for 11 months and his death sent shockwaves throughRead MoreThe Origin Of The Lgbtq Movement1749 Words   |  7 PagesThe origin of the LGBTQ movement begins in England. After years of discrimination and poor treatment, LGBTQ individuals banded together to attempt to change the way they were viewed by society. The global portion of the movement focused primarily on changing the cultural ideas of masculinity and femininity (â€Å"History of†¦Ã¢â‚¬  1). These stereotypical gender roles proposed an ideology that not every individual fit into. This caused problems among the LGBTQ community because they were una ble to liveRead MoreGAY RIGHTS MOVEMENT IN THE 60S3496 Words   |  14 PagesThe American Gay Rights Movement: A Timeline This timeline provides information about the gay rights movement in the United States from 1924 to the present: including the Stonewall riots; the contributions of Harvey Milk; the Dont Ask, Dont Tell policy; the first civil unions; the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York; and more. 1924 The Society for Human Rights in Chicago becomes the countrys earliest known gay rights organization. 1948 Alfred KinseyRead More The Assassination of the Mayor of Castro Street Essay2835 Words   |  12 PagesSystem It was November 27th, 1978. There was a cheerful atmosphere in San Francisco’s City Hall that morning. Supervisor Harvey Milk’s good mood was due to Mayor George Moscone’s upcoming announcement to the press. He was going to publicize that he had decided not to reappoint the ultra-conservative voice for the family, Dan White, back to the board of supervisors. Harvey Milk was a fierce advocate of this political move, for he was the first openly gay elected official, and thus, the most important