Massachusetts first state to legalize gay marriage

Summary


On May 17, 2004, Massachusetts made history by becoming the first state to allow same-sex marriages. "To have the highest court in the state affirm your right to be a family was wonderful, and it just gave you courage," said Marcia Hams, who camped out in front of Cambridge City Hall on Sunday with her bride-to-be, Susan Shepherd, to be the first in line to apply for a marriage license" (CNN). Many towns in the state opened up their licensing offices late on Sunday so they could hand out marriage license applications right when it became legal. Crowds cheered and sang the Star Spangled Banner as the clock struck 12, allowing the same-sex couples to finally apply for marriage. This marks a milestone in the Gay Rights Movement, however, conservatives are fighting for the act to become illegal across the country, and pushing for states to make bans on same-sex marriage. According to polls, approval of gay marriage is growing and unapproval is sinking.


Anaylsis


On May 17, a milestone was definitely hit. After decades of fighting hard for it, gay marriage was finally legalized in a state. It may be just one state, and there may be many people against it, but it definitely progress. 


Questions


Which will be the next state to legalize gay marriage?


Which state will be the next to put a ban on gay marriage?


Citation


CNN. (2004, May 17). Same-sex couples ready to make history in massachusetts. Retrieved from http://articles.cnn.com/2004-05-17/justice/mass.gay.marriage_1_lesbian-couples-marriage-law-federal-constitutional-amendment?_s=PM:LAW

Obama Supports Gay Marriage

Summary:


Recently, president Barack Obama became the first president in history to approve of gay marriage. “I’ve been going through an evolution on this issue,” Obama told ABC News Wednesday. “At a certain point, I’ve just concluded that for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married" (Obama). Mr. Obama originally believed that civil unions would be enough for same-sex partners, aware of the fact that the word "marriage" evokes religious traditions and beliefs. He has now come to the point though that he believes the nations same-sex couples should be allowed the right to marry.


Analysis


This is to be considered a monumental step in the gay rights movement. Obama is the first president in history to approve of gay marriage, and if he is re-elected in the upcoming election, this idea could help change the rights of the LGBT community in America forever. It's amazing that after years of this idea being unapproved of, the leader of our nation finally supports the equal right of marriage. This shows that times are changing and people are becoming more approving of and open minded of homosexuals.


Questions


Why did it take Mr. Obama 4 years to come to this conclusion?


If Obama is re-elected, will he help further the legalization of gay marriage?


Citation


Video taken from "The Blaze" (http://www.theblaze.com/stories/obama-same-sex-marriage-should-be-legal/) [same page as article]


Morgenstern, Madeleine. "OBAMA: SAME-SEX MARRIAGE SHOULD BE LEGAL." TheBlaze. TheBlaze LLC, 09 May 2012. Web. 27 May 2012. <http://www.theblaze.com/stories/obama-same-sex-marriage-should-be-legal/>.

Stonewall Riots

Summary

    On June 29, 1969, in Greenwich Village, New York, riots broke out at a popular gay bar called the Stonewall Inn. At the time, there weren't many places in the country that could be "openly gay". "New York had laws prohibiting homosexuality in public, and private businesses and gay establishments were regularly raided and shut down" (The Leadership Conference). After growing angry about harassment from police, a riot broke out at the inn, and the rioters were soon joined by more homosexual people from around the area, who soon began to throw items at the police and shout "Gay Power!" Even though the crowd dispersed by police, demonstrations continued on days afterwards. On the 1st anniversary of the Stonewall Riots,  the first Gay Pride parades took place in cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Analysis

   The Stonewall Riots are considered the event that pushed the Gay Rights movement into motion. This was one of the first events where gay people took a stand for their rights and showed police that they wouldn't take the discrimination anymore. After this event, Gay Rights groups were started in almost every major city across the United States. This event showcases the fact that gay people were finally fed up enough with the harassment that they took a stand, and this stand against the police caused a chain of more events to happen, which have led to some of the rights granted to them today.

Questions

What made the customers at the Stonewall Inn finally take a stand against the police?

Did "Mob Mentality" take a big place in some of the actions of the rioters?

Citation

The Leadership Conference, . "Stonewall Riots: The Beginning of the LGBT Movement." The Leadership  Conference: The nation's premier civil and human rights coalition.. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, 22 07 2002. Web. 22 May 2012. <http://www.civilrights.org/archives/2009/06/449-stonewall.html>.