Gay

Katie Mullen **Gay**

**Definition** The word gay cannot be easily defined because it has a few different meanings. According to the World English Dictionary, gay can mean carefree and merry, brightly colored, given to pleasure, and homosexual (2011). The term gay has been used in a variety of ways throughout history, but today, its primary meaning is homosexual. The Gender Equity Research Center at the University of California, Berkeley defines the term more specifically as men attracted to men. They also explain that gay is often used as “an umbrella term to include all LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, intergendered and queer) people” (2011).

**‘Coming Out’** Even though one might identify oneself as being gay, the process of informing others of their sexual preference is not often an easy task. This process of, “Identifying yourself as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender and disclosing this to other people is often referred to as ‘coming out’” (Avert, 2011). Although coming out is often a very positive experience, many LBGTIQ fear the negative reactions of their family, friends and co-workers. It has been said that these main concerns are often of rejection, fear of upsetting those that are close to them, prejudice attitudes and discriminating laws (Avert, 2011). Unfortunately, there has been, and often still is a very negative connotation to the word gay. Throughout time, gay individuals have had to endure prejudice against them because of certain cultural or religious beliefs that fail to accept homosexuality. With this extreme prejudice throughout history, there has been a huge gap in equality between homosexuals and heterosexuals. Because of this inequality, it is easy to see why many people within the gay community feel silenced and do not feel comfortable “coming out” to the public. Instead, gay men and lesbians often hide their sexuality. This can be very troubling for many individuals because they have to hide a huge part of themselves from others, which can often cause an identity crisis (Avert, 2011).

**Gay Rights and Activ****ism** In order to help those who have come out feel more comfortable and supported, groups and organizations are formed. In fact, “many organizations are working to provide support and campaign for the rights of people who are able to come out and live their lives openly as LGBT” (Avert, 2011). There are many different groups that are specific to helping the gay community. These groups of people are called gay rights activists. One specific group of activists who support LGBT rights is called the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Project. This project in particular helps to fight discrimination by moving public opinion through the courts, legislators and public education (ACLU, 2011). The LGBT Project focuses on “Relationships, youth and schools, parenting, gender identity and expression, discrimination in employment, housing and other areas” (ACLU, 2011). Activist groups such as the LGBT Project help to form a stronger and more supported gay community.

According to Times magazine, gay relationships were recognized as far back as seventh century BC Greece, however, the history of gay rights activism did not flourish until the twentieth century.

**Gay Rights Timeline (Highlights)** In 1926, the New York Times became the first major publication to use the word “homosexuality”. In 1945, Harry Stimson, the U.S. Secretary of War ordered a review of gay discharges during World War II in order to re-instate men who had not committed any in-service homosexual acts. In 1965, Dr. Frank Kameny started the first public protests by gays and lesbians with a picket line at the White House. In 1966, the first known gay student organization was founded in New York City at Columbia University. In 1969, what was later noted as the start of the gay rights movement in the United States occurred as riots broke out after a police raid on the gay bar Stonewall Inn in New York. In 1977, Harvey Milk, an openly gay politician was elected to the San Francisco board of supervisors In 1993, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was passed allowing gay men and lesbians to serve in the military as long as they did not disclose their sexual orientation. In 2004, the first same-sex couple in the United States completed a state-sanctioned marriage application. (Time, 2011)

**Gay and the Media** Today, Gay Rights activists are not the only ones discussing the topic of gay. Now, more than ever, gay, and what it’s like to be gay is being revealed through the media. In fact, there have been over 200 television shows containing a gay character within the past two decades. Shows like Gossip Girl, Brothers and Sisters, Ugly Betty, Greys Anatomy, Glee, Modern Family, and Will and Grace all feature at least one gay character. While many are happy with the inclusion of gay characters in today’s media and television shows, some think that these characters often reinforce negative stereotypes about gay culture. Often times, these characters are portrayed in exaggerated, unrealistic and sometimes even hurtful ways. Despite the sometimes stereotyped portrayals of gay men and lesbians in the media, a few television shows have received very positive feedback from GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, also referred to as “the nation’s leading gay rights group” (Serjeant, 2011). Both Glee and Modern Family won best television comedy at the most recent GLAAD awards where “the campaign group honored shows and stars for advancing the portrayal of gays and lesbians in the media” (Serjeant, 2011). Rather than enforcing a negative stereotype against gays like previous television characters have done, these two shows in particular were acknowledged for helping to “build acceptance of America’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community” (Serjeant, 2011). Television shows were not the only medium that GLADD gave acknowledgment to, however. Along with giving awards to television shows, GLADD also awarded movies, journalists, musicians and bloggers that they felt “most fairly portray[ed] the LGBT community and the issues that affect them” (Serjeant, 2011). Hopefully, this positive feedback will encourage others to follow in their footsteps of creating a positive and excepting image of the gay community. In doing so, the media could potentially lead today’s society to a greater awareness and acceptance of the gay community.

**References** (2011 ). American Civil Liberties Union. //LGBT Rights//. Retrieved from [] (2011). Avert. //Coming out//. Retrieved from http://www.avert.org/coming-out.htm (2011). Gender Equity Research Center. //LGBT Resources-Definition of terms//. Retrieved from [] Poe, Cynthia R. (2003). Dictionary of American History. Retrieved from []

(2011). Reuters. “//Glee” and “Modern Family” Honored by Gay Group//. Retrieved from [] idUSTRE73A0NF20110411 (2011). Time World. //Gay Rights Timeline//. Retrieved from http://www.time.com/time/interactive/0,31813,1904681,00.html (2011). World English Dictionary. //Gay//. Retrieved from []