Final Paper

The struggle for full equality for LGBTQIA+ citizens in America has been a long and arduous journey. From the Stonewall Riots of 1969 to the present day, significant progress has been made in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights, both legally and socially. Even with such progress being made, the question of, "Are we there yet?", in regards to LGBTQIA+ liberation still remains. Despite the significant progress that has been made during the post-Stonewall era, the goal of liberation for LGBTQIA+ people in America remains an elusive goal that cannot be achieved until all sexual and gender minorities are free from mass social and legal discrimination.When we look back at the Stonewall Riots, we can see how they paved the way for future progress to be made from the precedents that they set. On a social level, one of the most salient events in the history of gay liberation was the Stonewall Riots. The Stonewall Riots, which occurred in June 1969, are often seen as the catalyst for the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement as they marked a turning point when LGBTQIA+ individuals fought back against police harassment and discrimination. Neil Miller emphasizes the significance of this turning point when he tells us that “everything would be described as ‘pre-Stonewall’ or ‘post-Stonewall’” (Miller, 1995). Miller then goes on to discuss how Stonewall led to the formation of numerous LGBTQIA+ advocacy organizations and laid the foundation for legal and social change even outside of LGBTQIA+ rights. This precedent set by Stonewall caused the first steps to be made towards LGBTQIA+ liberation. Not only did Stonewall set a precedent for social change, but it also set a precedent for the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people of various intersecting identities. This was in part due to the efforts of the trans women of color that led the riots (Equality Archive, 2017). When striving for LGBTQIA+ liberation, people of all intersecting identities need to be included. The work done by Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and other trans leaders showed that queer people of color are not only just a part of the LGBTQIA+ liberation movement but can be outspoken leaders of massive social change as well.The precedents set by Stonewall instilled a sense of resilience amongst the LGBTQIA+ community that led to great social and legal change even in the face of adversity. During the post-Stonewall era of the 1970s, the LGBTQIA+ community began to assert themselves as a force in mainstream American politics. A major oppositional force that sought to stop any progress towards LGBTQIA+ liberation was Anita Bryant. Bryant led a campaign against LGBTQIA+ rights that gained national attention and eventually led to the revocation of the gay rights laws in various cities and the proposal of the Briggs Initiative, a California statewide bill that sought to bar open homosexuals from teaching in the state's public schools (Miller, 1995). The new campaign posed a significant threat to the current LGBTQIA+ rights movement. In response, activists organized nationwide anti-Bryant protests, many joined more pride marches, and key Democratic figures like Jerry Brown, Gerald Ford, and Harvey Milk spoke out against the Briggs Initiative. Their efforts were victorious as they led to the failure of the Briggs Initiative. This massive victory for LGBTQIA+ rights reflected the power and strength of the current movement. It took the effort of everyone involved–whether that be from those on picket lines and in protest or the political figures that stepped up and spoke out–to get this bill passed. This victory and the others that were achieved in the 1970s showed the impact Stonewall had and would continue to have nationwide.Given the current cultural and legal state of the US, LGBTQIA+ liberation has not been achieved. In order to gauge our progress towards achieving LGBTQIA+ liberation, we would need to define what it would look like in society. Liberation, as defined by the Cambridge Dictionary, is “an occasion when something or someone is released or made free” (Cambridge, XXXX). This definition tells us that LGBTQIA+ liberation is achieved when all sexual and gender minorities are free from discrimination. When we look at the current legislation in Florida we can see ways in which LGBTQIA+ people are still being discriminated against to this day. On May 17th, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed several bills that dramatically reduced the rights of LGBTQIA+ people in Florida. These bills enact a plethora of discriminatory practices that include prohibiting any instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity from Pre-K through 8th grade, an extreme gender affirming care ban, an anti-trans bathroom bill, and a bill allowing healthcare providers and insurers to deny a patient care on the basis of religious, moral, or ethical beliefs (HRC Staff, 2023). These laws seek to isolate LGBTQIA+ people by threatening those who want to advocate for and support LGBTQIA+ rights. They also specifically isolate transgender communities by enforcing legislation that denies them life-saving care which effectually punishes their existence. By targeting trans people specifically, these bills seek to hold back many members of the LGBTQIA+ community and attack anyone else who tries to support them. This dramatically sets back the progress that has been made towards LGBTQIA+ liberation as trans people are left to suffer from current legislation. These laws not only reflect various examples of blatant legal discrimination, but they can also be viewed as an example of current social discrimination towards LGBTQIA+ people. Governor Ron DeSantis is currently running in the 2024 presidential election, and the anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation passed by DeSantis has made it clear to voters that if elected, he will continue to use his legislative power to reduce the rights of LGBTQIA+ people nationwide and attack anyone who disagrees. This outwardly bigoted approach has gained popularity amongst Republican party candidates as he is second in the polls behind Trump (ABC News, 2023). This support reflects a culture of anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiment amongst a huge population of Americans furthermore showing the work that needs to be done socially in the pursuit of LGBTQIA+ liberation. Although this group of Americans is a minority as most voters across both political parties disagree with the bills, they show that there is still extreme social progress that needs to be made in the pursuit of LGBTQIA+ liberation.

In conclusion, despite the significant strides made in LGBTQIA+ rights since the Stonewall Riots, the recent discriminatory legislation in Florida and the popularity of politicians who champion such policies demonstrate that true LGBTQIA+ liberation remains an ongoing and challenging endeavor. To advance further towards this goal, it is imperative to actively oppose discriminatory laws, foster inclusivity, and ensure the dignity and respect of LGBTQIA+ individuals from all intersecting identities. The struggle for LGBTQIA+ liberation continues, requiring continued determination and unity in the pursuit of a more equitable and accepting society in America.