Gay Social Justice Issue ESL 1750 American Cultural Lang.B.Fa15 Jennifer Lee

Definition of Gay Gay is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term was originally used to refer to feelings of being "carefree", "happy", or "bright and showy".

Homosexual? Gay?  The word began to be associated with immorality.  By the mid 17th century, according to an Oxford dictionary definition at the time, the meaning of the word had changed to mean  “addicted to pleasures and dissipations.  Often euphemistically: Of loose and immoral life”. Also at 19th century, the phrase “gay it” meant to have sex. Arround 1920’s, ‘gay’ started to refer to men who had sex with other men By 1955, the word gay now officially acquired the new added definition of meaning homosexual males.

Queer and Trans* Youth Homelessness 40 %of homeless youth identify as LGBT. 68% of those kids were kicked out of their families and homes because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and 54% reported being survivors of abuse from their families. 

Violence Against Queer and Trans

Racial Justice LGBT people of color are almost twice as likely to experience physical violence, and 73.1% of all anti-LGBTQ homicide victims in 2012 were people of color.

Health 82% of heterosexual adults had health insurance, while only 77% of LGB adults, and 57% of transgender adults, had health insurance  83% of heterosexual adults reported excellent or very good health, compared to only 77% of LGB adults

Economic Justice  Employment discrimination, lack of health insurance, homelessness, and other factors make LGBT people particularly vulnerable to the impact of economic inequality Gay and lesbian families (especially the latter) are significantly more likely to be living below the poverty line than heterosexual married families, and children in gay and lesbian households are twice as likely to live in poverty as compared to children in homes with heterosexual parents

Any Good News? In the United States of America, same-sex marriage has been legal nationwide since June 26, 2015 Adoption by single LGBT individuals is now legal in every jurisdiction in the United States, while adoption by same-sex couples is legal in 49 states with the exception of Mississippi,

What Can We Do? Speak out against bullying Register to vote or sing up Speak out for the equal right Join and support the movement

Films You Can Watch

Sources http://www.socialworkblog.org/practice-and-professional-development/2014/03/global-lgbt-equity-is-a-social-justice-issue/ http://drchristopherblackwell.com/socialjusticearticle_001.pdf.pdf http://www.buzzfeed.com/hfetter/7-lgbt-issues-that-matter-more-than-marriage-fk74 http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/10/14/velez.mitchell.gay.backlash/ Googlescholar.com