Homosexuality dates all the way back to the time of Alexander the Great. With the exception of a few Greek city-states, same-sex relationships were the norm for most of Greece because of their belief in the concept of arête. The Classic definition for arête is perfection but for the ancient Greeks, arête meant manly virtue. This was every man’s ultimate goal because it meant possessing all the characteristics an ideal Greek man should have. However, it could only be acquired if the man associates himself with other men who possess arête, usually until they develop an intimate relationship that eventually leads to sexual intercourse.
As Christianity began to spread throughout Western Europe, prejudice against homosexuals increased, particularly during the twelfth through the fourteenth centuries when heretics, witches and non-Christians were being persecuted. The Church used the natural law theory as their reason for condemning homosexuality; it remains to date the most frequent argument used by homophobics. Plato was the first to propagate the theory, saying that heterosexual acts cause pleasure by nature, while same-sex attraction is abnormal. Thomas Aquinas’ articulation of the natural theory was more influential to the growing Christian community. According to the 13th century theologian, sex after marriage helped strengthen love, companionship, and family values. He did not consider it immoral for a couple to choose not to sire children but he added that any moral sex act must be a reproductive kind, which can only be achieved through vaginal intercourse. This was an indirect statement of the sinful nature of same-sex relationships, and it lead to the outright discrimination and oppression of homosexuals.
Very few protests were made during all these years of persecution but in the 1960s, the gay liberation movement finally took off when the patrons of a gay bar in New York City called The Stonewall Inn rioted after police raided the place. Since then, homosexuals have been more open about their sexual preferences and have started demanding respectful treatment and equal rights. These rights include the legalization of same-sex marriages, adoption, and the policy against gays and lesbians in the military.
People do not fight for a cause until they realize that their liberties are being threatened. However, law that prevent homosexual relationships have existed since medieval times, such as Lateran III of 1179, the first ecumenical council to condemn same-sex intercourse and relationships. Violent acts against homosexuals are nothing new, either. In medieval times, those found guilty of sodomy were beheaded or burned at the stake. In World War II, German male homosexuals were exterminated along with the Jews and the Nazi’s other political opponents. Although gay and lesbian groups such as Mattachine Society and Daughters of Bilitis have been around since the nineteenth century, they kept low profiles and were not very vocal about the advocacy for gay rights. What drove the homosexuals to aggressively fight for their rights after the Stonewall riot?
Most homosexuals who belong to various gay rights groups join the fight because they believe that homosexuals should from heterosexuals is their gender, therefore they should be allowed to get married, adopt children, and enjoy all the other benefits straight people have.
But the one thing that made the fight for their rights possible is secularism. The church was driving force in the discrimination and persecution of homosexuals; homosexuality became a societal taboo after they declared it a sin. This changed after the great thinkers and philosophers in the Age of Enlightenment found different worldviews that did not depend on Christian assumptions. In the eighteenth to nineteenth century, psychology and medicine gave more secular and scientific interpretations to homosexuality. They discovered that homosexuality was actually a mental disorder, not an immoral decision as the Church claimed it to be. The Founding Fathers of America were influenced by the ideals of Enlightenment, and modified the Constitution of the United States to the Bill of Rights. The first right warranted the separation of church and state, and the authors of the Constitution laid down a secular state based on liberty of conscience instead of religion.
Because the church no longer has its stranglehold on politics and society, people can make decisions without fear of getting punished if these decisions clash with the teachings of the Church. Thus, homosexuals found the opportunity to let their voices be heard and demand equal treatment. A great number of gays are becoming more open about their identity than they used to, with the help of support groups found all over the internet and organizations such as the Gay-Straight Alliance. The popular TV show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy , where five gay males give a heterosexual male a complete physical and personality makeover, clearly demonstrates this and shows society’s changing attitude and growing acceptance of homosexuals. In terms of legal rights, the Netherlands legalized same-sex marriages in 2001 and granted them the same benefits heterosexual couples possess, such as divorce, inheritance, and taxes. The US military already considers sexual orientation as a personal thing and no longer prevents homosexuals from joining the army.
In spite of these positive changes, homosexuality still remains a stigma for the most part. Homosexuals all over the world are still not exempt from name-calling, mockery, and unfair treatment, particularly from heterosexual men. In the future, perhaps homosexuals will lose this stigma and finally enjoy the legal rights they have been struggling to achieve. But for the gay rights advocates today’s society, where most of people’s perceptions of homosexuality is tainted by stereotypes and prejudice, theirs is a long and difficult road to travel.
