History of the 1970s This story takes place in the mid 1970s, revealing the struggle that the coach and the athlete went through as far as social stress to get to the 1976 Olympic Games. * Homosexuality was the counterculture during this time period. * 1969 Stonewall Riots: this event jump started gay rights activism.

Context Patricia Nell Warren’s book shows the often unknown presence of gays in athletics. * For us, we never gave thought that there could be gays in sports. I myself didn’t think that gays could compete with non-gays. * This book now opens the fact that gays do compete in sports.

Key Points Warren often writes about gay marriage, parenting, and the struggles for homosexuals to gain their civil rights. * The book takes place in a time where many social groups were fighting for their civil rights. - Like Blacks, Anti-War Believers, and Homosexuals

Political Issues Gay marriage has gone from being a barely noticed issue, only recognized by a few states to now being a nationwide controversy In 2008 alone three states banned gay marriage altogether and four others legalized the practice.

Political Issues Many people feel that marriage should be between a man and a woman and regulated by the state Some feel that marriage is again between a man and a woman, but say that "equality is a moral imperative" for gay and lesbian Americans. – Stating that even though they disagree with gay marriage practices they feel that the gay and lesbian community deserve equal treatment Others believe that love is love, and gay couples should have equal rights.

Religious Issues Many religious views see homosexuality as immoral – Some see the act as immoral, in a sense of “hate the sin not the sinner” – But many see the individuals just as bad as the practice itself The Christian community remains divided over the issue

Religious Issues Some sects of the Christian community state: – "God's design for sexual intimacy places it within the context of marriage between one man and one woman" and that "homosexuality is incompatible with Biblical teaching.” Some churches have gone as far as splitting from their national church organizations, in reaction to their failure to penalize congregations that welcomed openly gay members

Religious Issues, Con’t Other Christian groups have gone as far as to elect gay leaders, such as the Episcopalians who elected their first openly gay bishop in – However, many Episcopalian sub-groups oppose this paradigm shift.

Moral Issues Arguments that plague the gay community – The question of reproduction: it’s physically impossible – Divorce rates in homosexual relationships are much higher then that of heterosexual relationships

Moral Issues The affects of the children while growing up in school Some argue: Trauma may develop due to rejection by one’s peers because of others’ views toward same-sex marriages. Children of same-sex parents often grow up with a bias view on the types of relationships as well – Same-sex relations vs. heterosexual relations

Moral Issues However… – Many studies suggest that the sex or sexual orientation of the parents doesn’t matter; children are just as well adjusted. In fact, organizations like American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychoanalytic Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the Child Welfare League of America, the North American Council on Adoptable Children, and Canadian Psychological Association are in support of parental rights for gay parents.

1924 The Society for Human Rights in Chicago becomes the country's earliest known gay rights organization Alfred Kinsey publishes Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, revealing to the public that homosexuality is far more widespread than was commonly believed The Mattachine Society, the first national gay rights organization, is formed by Harry Hay, considered by many to be the founder of the gay rights movement The Daughters of Bilitis, a pioneering national lesbian organization, is founded Illinois becomes the first state in the U.S. to decriminalize homosexual acts between consenting adults in private.

1969 The Stonewall riots transform the gay rights movement from one limited to a small number of activists into a widespread protest for equal rights and acceptance. Patrons of a gay bar in New York's Greenwich Village, the Stonewall Inn, fight back during a police raid on June 27, sparking three days of riots The American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its official list of mental disorders Wisconsin becomes the first state to outlaw discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation The “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy is instituted for the U.S. military, permitting gays to serve in the military but banning homosexual activity. President Clinton's original intention to revoke the prohibition against gays in the military was met with stiff opposition; this compromise, which has led to the discharge of thousands of men and women in the armed forces, was the result.

1996 In Romer v. Evans, the Supreme Court strikes down Colorado's Amendment 2, which denied gays and lesbians protections against discrimination, calling them “special rights.” According to Justice Anthony Kennedy, “We find nothing special in the protections Amendment 2 withholds. These protections... constitute ordinary civil life in a free society.” 2000 Vermont becomes the first state in the country to legally recognize civil unions between gay or lesbian couples. The law states that these “couples would be entitled to the same benefits, privileges, and responsibilities as spouses.” It stops short of referring to same-sex unions as marriage, which the state defines as heterosexual. BEN & JERRY’S is an ice cream company based in Burlington Vermont. They came out with “HUBBY HUBBY” shortly after the legalization of same sex unions

2004 On May 17, same-sex marriages become legal in Massachusetts Civil unions become legal in Connecticut in October Civil unions become legal in New Jersey in December In November, the House of Representatives approves a bill ensuring equal rights in the workplace for gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals.

2008 In February, a New York State appeals court unanimously votes that valid same-sex marriages performed in other states must be recognized by employers in New York, granting same-sex couples the same rights as other couples. In February, the state of Oregon passes a law that allows same-sex couples to register as domestic partners allowing them some spousal rights of married couples. On May 15, the California Supreme Court rules that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. By November 3rd, more than 18,000 same-sex couples have married. On November 4, California voters approved a ban on same-sex marriage called Proposition 8. The attorney general of California, Jerry Brown, asked the state's Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of Proposition 8. The ban throws into question the validity of the more than 18,000 marriages already performed, but Attorney General Brown reiterated in a news release that he believed the same-sex marriages performed in California before November 4 should remain valid, and the California Supreme Court, which upheld the ban in May 2009, agreed, allowing those couples married under the old law to remain that way.

2008 cont. On October 10 the Supreme Court of Connecticut rules that same-sex couples have the right to marry. This makes Connecticut the second state, after Massachusetts, to legalize civil marriage for same-sex couples. The court rules that the state cannot deny gay and lesbian couples the freedom to marry under Connecticut's constitution, and that the state's civil union law does not provide same-sex couples with the same rights as heterosexual couples. November 4 voters in California, Arizona, and Florida approved the passage of measures that ban same-sex marriage. Arkansas passed a measure intended to bar gay men and lesbians from adopting children. On November 12 same-sex marriages begin to be officially performed in Connecticut.

2009 On April 3, the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously rejects the state law banning same-sex marriage. Twenty-one days later, county recorders are required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. On April 7, the Vermont Legislature votes to override Gov. Jim Douglas's veto of a bill allowing gays and lesbians to marry, legalizing same-sex marriage. It is the first state to legalize gay marriage through the legislature; the courts of the other states in which the marriage is legal—Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Iowa—gave approval. On May 6, the governor of Maine legalized same-sex marriage in that state in Maine; however, citizens voted to overturn that law when they went to the polls in November, and Maine became the 31st state to ban the practice. On June 3, New Hampshire governor John Lynch signs legislation allowing same-sex marriage. The law stipulates that religious organizations and their employees will not be required to participate in the ceremonies. New Hampshire is the sixth state in the nation to allow same-sex marriage. On June 17, President Obama signs a referendum allowing the same-sex partners of federal employees to receive benefits. They will not be allowed full health coverage, however. This is Obama's first major initiative in his campaign promise to improve gay rights.

Marriage Map Key Same Sex Marriage States States that grant rights almost like marriage / Civil Unions States with Limited rights International Same Sex Marriages recognized Statutes ban Same Sex Marriage Constitution bans same-sex marriage Constitution bans same-sex marriage and other kinds of same- sex unions

1989 Denmark becomes the first country to legalize same-sex partnership. * Within 2 years Norway, Sweden, France, and Iceland Follow 2001 Netherlands becomes first country to legalize same-sex marriages *2003 Belgium *2005 Spain The Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia legalized same-sex marriage in 2003, numerous other provinces followed suit in 2004, and on June 29, 2005, the Canadian parliament passed a bill legalizing gay marriage throughout the country. On April 1, 2009, Sweden legalized same-sex marriage.

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Sources Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender people website Book World website The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life: Politics The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life: Religion