LGBTQ+ Rights: Understanding and Advocacy

The history of LGBTQ+ rights can be summed up as a brutal game of tug-of-war.

On the one hand, there are people who just want to live in peace as their authentic selves, without judgement or persecution. On the other side, there are people who consider us to be sexual deviants who pose a danger to society.

The battle over these opposing viewpoints has been going on for quite a while, although the lines have not always been drawn in the same place. There's a lot more give and take than most people know about.

We think of LGBTQ+ acceptance as a wholly new phenomenon, but that could not be further from the truth. Acceptance and rejection of LGBTQ+ identities come and go throughout human history, with cultures across the planet showing varying degrees of understanding.

In Ancient Rome, there was no distinction between heterosexuality and homosexuality, and they understood the concept of gender identity differing from biological sex.

By contrast, in modern-day Rome ruled by the Catholic Church, this same information would be considered immoral and wrong.

Organized religion is often considered to be the bedrock of anti-LGBTQ+ activism, but that is mostly a result of modern interpretations of Abrahamic religious teachings.

Most faiths throughout history have not shown the same reticence to accept the natural variance in human sexuality and gender, and many religions outright celebrate it- particularly pagan religious groups, who tend not to be as rigidly dogmatic as the various Christian denominations.

As such, I can't point to a specific moment in time as the 'turning point' for LGBTQ+ rights, because that moment just doesn't exist. It's a constant evolution, changing with the tides of culture and morality.

In the 1920s United States, drag queens were high-class entertainers and gay nightclubs were the place to be. Songs like, "Masculine Women and Feminine Men" were absolute hits, performed at major venues across Harlem during the famous Drag Balls.

The same could be said in Germany during the Weimar Republic, where the world's first gender confirmation surgeries were happening, and pioneering research into sexuality made Berlin the global Mecca for LGBTQ+ individuals.

By the 1930s, with the onset of the Great Depression and the rise of the Nazis in Germany, drag went from high-brow entertainment to being illegal once again.

It's a never-ending back-and-forth.

Even gay marriage can't be described as a new idea; going back to the Middle Ages in Europe, the legal construct of 'embrotherment' allowed pairs of young unmarried men to live together, pool their financial resources and 'share one bread, one wine, one purse.'

Sounds quite similar to a civil union, doesn't it?

Now, we're currently experiencing a global loss of LGBTQ+ acceptance- if you're paying attention to global news, you'll notice that attacks on gay, transgender and non-binary people are becoming commonplace again.

The regression is a political one; a backlash against 'debauchery', much like the sudden turn in the 1930s that led to the upending of civil liberty for gay and transgender people.

We're witnessing a tsunami of hatred and bigotry, accusations of grooming and pedophilia against the LGBTQ+ community.

It's nothing new; Anita Bryant used the exact same accusations to fuel an assault against the gay community in the 1970s, with her 'Save Our Children' campaign. In case you were wondering, she ran that campaign out of Florida, which is still a significant battleground in the culture war of today.

LGBTQ+ individuals like myself are often targeted these days, facing discrimination and outright slander, dealing with misinformation campaigns and even violence. There are legal challenges, the loss of basic rights like bodily autonomy, self-expression and even the right to marry.

Now, more than ever, we need the support of strong allies.

How To Be An Ally To The LGBTQ+ Community

Allyship is not a title that you claim for yourself; it is granted to you by the community you're trying to support.

It isn't a declaration you make and then forget about. It's a set of actions that you take and genuine beliefs that you hold. If you aren't willing to put your proverbial money where your mouth is and take a public stand, then you aren't much of an ally at all.

Nobody needs a mouthpiece who shrivels when the time comes to step up.

It isn't always easy to know what to do or say in any given situation, but it helps to take your cues from others involved in the fight. When you're trying to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, then you should let them take the lead and decide for themselves what they need from you.

You're there to support, not to try and run the show.

Getting educated on LGBTQ+ issues and history is the first step to being a good ally, and on that front I can offer you some assistance. I have a collection of some articles and posts for you to look at, most of which contain links for further reading.

Welcome to the fight!

Articles To Get You Thinking

Support These LGBTQ+ Organizations

If you're looking for good organizations to support, don't worry; I've got you covered.

There are loads of fantastic charities and groups that work specifically on behalf of LGBTQ+ individuals, especially vulnerable and at-risk youth who are in need of extra support.

The Trevor Project: The Trevor Project is easily one of the most famous LGBTQ+ organizations in the world. Their goal is simple; to provide mental health support, guidance, and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth.
Stonewall: Named for the Stonewall Uprising, a watershed moment for LGBTQ+ rights. This organization was founded in the UK, and it takes a stand for LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance everywhere it operates. They have been instrumental in the battle for basic rights like same-sex marriage and adoption.