By: Tess Lampe
From the beginning of time, many groups throughout the ages have been discriminated against because they differed from a social or religious norm. From this discrimination, people have risen up against those who disrespect them, like Rosa Parks and Henry Gerber. Rosa Parks supporting African-Americans and Henry Gerber supporting LGBTQ+. These leaders, the punishments their people endured, and their attempts at freedom that occurred during the movements towards claiming their rights may have differed, however, they were quite alike in their overall goal.
Every battle always has a person or people who help define or lead the fight. Rosa Parks, Claudette Colvin, and James Farmer all progressed their fight for civil rights while Henry Gerber and Craig Rodwell were doing the same for the Gay Rights Movement. The one thing they all have in common, as they were treated like they were monsters, they continued to fight on for their equality for decades. Many things Rosa Parks and James Farmer did had to do with equal transportation, service, etc (Biography.com Editors). Henry Gerber created the Society for Human Rights that helped protect the rights of homosexuals. Craig Rodwell created the first gay bookstore and a very important march that is now known as Gay Pride Week. These things helped the gays to be able to show their real selves in public. Nonetheless, everything these people did for their rights drastically progressed and improved the Civil Rights and Gay Rights Movement.
Even with all of the effort people put in to gain their rights, a large majority of people disregarded these efforts by punishing protesters every chance they got. These punishments were also applied to anyone who protected or helped the two groups. It began as authorities invading their free spaces, like the Stonewall Inn or African-American homes/meeting places. Likewise, many were forcibly humiliated and abused as well. However, homosexuals, especially those who were in the military or army, were frequently questioned to find any other gay person who may have joined the military to find those like them. If the victim refused to tell the questioner, they were beaten or threatened to be outed (Kuhn 25). Similarly, hundreds of people in the government were fired if anyone was suspicious of them being gay because others thought gays communists. On the other hand, African-Americans could not hide who they were, and therefore were not questioned or threatened to bring out their true selves. Instead, they endured the segregation of water fountains, bathrooms, buses, and job opportunities/equal charge. If they started to show any resistance, they were turned in and accused of wrongful things. In the same way, groups of African-Americans were abused and provoked by groups of white people in public.
Despite what both groups were unwillingly put through, many refused to give up the fight for freedom. Bus segregation was a large problem for the majority of African-Americans. In 1955, Rosa Parks and the NAACP organized the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a protest against bus segregation (Parks/Haskins 126-132). Pamphlets were sent out to many African-Americans to notify them not to ride the buses in response to Rosa Parks’ arrest. This occurred for nearly a year until the federal court ruled that bus segregation was unconstitutional. This became a large victory for the African-American community, as they could now get to work, school, and their homes without being treated poorly and separated from others. Meanwhile, as the fight for gay rights had many ups and downs, its most important victory took place less than five years ago. On June 26 of 2015, former President Barack Obama officially legalized gay marriage in all U.S. states (Ariane de Vogue & Jeremy Diamond, CNN). This was the most important because not only were people of the LGBTQ+ community recognized, they were finally able to marry the one they loved without repercussions like everyone else could. These major victories differ because the Montgomery Bus Boycott was indeed important, but only a stepping stone of the other battles African-Americans had yet to win. However, gay marriage being legalized was the victory that the community has been waiting for since they were first discriminated upon; it was, as of now, the last legal win for gay people. In the end, the most important thing in common between these victories is that they greatly progressed the fight for equal rights for both communities.
In conclusion, both the African-American and LGBTQ+ communities have long fought for their liberties and endured the punishments forced upon them. Nonetheless, every single person involved overcame the obstacles thrown at them. Today, both communities still struggle with public acceptance, but it may be believed that their most difficult battles are over. Tragic occurrences also take place today, like the Pulse Shooting and police brutality, but this is a time where history repeating itself when it comes to winning battles may be what some people need.
Bibliography
Parks, Rosa & Haskins, Jim. Rosa Parks: My Story. New York: Dial Books, Puffin Books, 1992. Print.
Kuhn, Betsy. Gay Power! Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century Books, 2011. Print.
Vogue, A. & Diamond, J. (2015, June 27). Supreme Court rules in favor of same-sex marriage nationwide. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2015/06/26/politics/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-ruling/index.html
The Biography.com website. (2014, April 2). James Farmer Biography. Retrieved from https://www.biography.com/people/james-farmer-21349629
Bayard Rustin - leader for social movements such as civil rights, socialism, nonviolence, and gay rights.
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