HIST 351 Lecture 14: 3-28-2017 Gay Rights
8 May 2017
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Document Summary
Continued the battle for gay rights and amplified voices of activists. Supporters of gay rights fight against sodomy laws. Case involving a late night party where cops busted into a house and guessed that party attendees were gay and violating the law based on posters on the wall. Supreme court overturned the 1980s decision via the 5th and 14th amendment. Decided that anti-sodomy laws were unconstitutional because private consenting sex could not be regulated by the government. Protection of privacy by courts helped build this. Only possible after peoples" hearts had been softened during the aids crisis. Bill clinton in 1992 attempted to take some steps forward (promised to) Used his authority as commander in chief to end the practice of dishonorably discharging gays from the military. Clinton faced an incredible amount of opposition, so he compromised and went for don"t ask. Congress in 1996 passed the defense of marriage act. Democrats over the years supported it as a whole.
