Homosexuality in the 1900’s
Overview
During the middle of the 1900’s, homosexuality was largely taboo. Despite the growing abundance of groups fighting to end homophobia and acheive equal rights, gays and lesbians were faced with hatred and disgust. Homosexuality was labelled as a psychiatric disorder by the APA, a classification that was not removed from the listing until 1973. Homosexual people had a high risk of losing their job due to their sexual attraction, and as a result, many remained in the closet. Throughout the country, sodomy laws were upheld, restricting the rights of any out gay or lesbian individuals. In addition to these civil rights violations, many other factors posed a risk to gays and lesbians, factors which eventually lead to the gay rights movement, giving LGBT people the rights they have today (UCSC.edu).
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sodomy laws
Sodomy laws are laws which regard certain sexual acts as a crime. Often regarded as originating from the inclusion of religious sins as laws, sodomy laws expecially target nonprocreative sexual activities (glapn.org). These sexual acts often include masturbation, oral and anal sex, sexual acts with a nonhuman, and many other types of activities. During the 1960’s, these US laws especially targetted gay and lesbian individuals and their behaviors. Although the degree and variety of these laws varied between states, many common themes of these laws were shared throughout the nation. Practiced in several states, the New York law banned the serving of alcohol to gay or lesbian people. As a result of the law, many suspected homosexual people were also prejudized. In New York, homosexuals could not be served alcohol in public. In many bars, bartenders would refuse to serve drinks to any suspected gays, often kicking them out or would forcing them to drink facing away from others. Gay people were also not allowed to serve openly in the military, a law that was not repealed until 2011. Throughout the nation, sodomy laws often allowed gay people to be fired or denied jobs. Laws also allowed same-sex marriages to not be recognized in the law and discredited LGBT voices. Sodomy laws also prohibited the fostering or adoption of children and denied many gay or lesbian parents the custody of their children (aclu.org). Although many of these sodomy laws became illegal under the Lawrence v. Texas court ruling, many sodomy laws still exist throughout the United States (pinknews).
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Social views
During the 1960’s and well into the Gay Rights Movement, homosexuality was largely viewed as immoral and taboo by society. Many gay people were subject to harassment and discrimination in public. As a result of this, many individuals remained in the closet. Homosexual acts were often regarded as erotic behaviors and viewed with disgust and hostility. Homosexuality itself was considered to be a disorder as a result of deeply rooted psychological problems from childhood. Many believed that events during childhood caused an individual to become more masculine or feminine and this lead to a varying degree of homosexuality (dp.la Radio Discussion). Despite education on the topic from gay rights groups and the growing movement, homosexuality still remained a mental disorder to society and many health professionals and was primarily viewed as a choice that could be reverted back to that of a ‘healthy heterosexual’ through conversion therapy.
