Breaking down closet doors

On November 4, 2008 Americans elected the first African American President in this country’s history; it was seen as a giant step forward in the fight for equality. On that same date Proposition 8 was passed by the citizens of California; they not only voted to take away the right of homosexuals in that state to be married, but they changed their state’s constitution in order to do so. To me, it is unbelievable that in today’s society people would vote to take another human’s rights away based on a stereotype and stigma that has been perpetuated by religious bigots for many years. As Harvey Milk so eloquently stated, “More people have been slaughtered in the name of religion than for any other single reason. That, my friends, that is true perversion.”

Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man to be elected to, and to serve in any type of government; he fought a long and exhaustive fight against the stereotypical view of homosexuals in order to prove that they deserved to be treated equally and without prejudice. In Milk’s time, he was fighting for the rights of homosexuals to be treated as humans and not as degenerates. He proposed that homosexuals that had not come out of the closet because they were afraid of repercussions from society were basically perpetuating the stigmatization of homosexuality.

It is understandable that “coming out” is a difficult task, many people who come out are setting themselves up for the possibility of rejection from the people who matter to them the most. I have to argue, however, that we need to break down these barriers once and for all in our society, and to do that we must stop running away from the painful issues that are involved. Milk said, "Burst down those closet doors once and for all, and stand up and start to fight." Homosexuals can not continue to allow the stereotypes that society has given to them to define them in a negative way. When someone’s doctor, neighbor, relative or friend comes out of the closet, it provides a new and healthier definition of what it is to be gay or lesbian, and once we start redefining the stereotypes in society we can begin the journey to equality.

Discussion Questions:

1. Has anyone that was close to you ever "come out of the closet", if yes did it change your perception of homosexuality? If no, do you think that it would change your perception?

2. Do you think that the stigmatization of homosexuals in this country can be ended? Why or why not?

3. Do you think that after some equality is attained by homosexuals that another group will acquire their negative status, in other words, do you think that Americans just need someone to hate?