Social Movements and Gay Rights

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the definitions, landmark legal cases, and major organizations within the history and evolution of social movements and gay rights.

Social Movement

A group of people bound together by a common interest and organized for political advocacy but whose interest is not recognized as legitimate by the existing political system.

Social Movement Organization

A semiformal or formal organization that coordinates activities, provides leadership, develops strategy, and reaches out to public officials for support; often transforms into a regular interest group if the movement succeeds.

Grievance

The harm done to the interests of a group of people by existing public policy, usually because the group's interest is not recognized as legitimate by current policy makers.

Political Opportunity

Situations that arise when a group's interests are portrayed as consistent with dominant social values, serving as a success factor for social movements.

Grassroots Protest

Public events such as marches or speeches used to show lawmakers that many people are being hurt by current public policy and that there is a large constituency whose loyalty could be won.

Homophile Movement

The early stage of the LGBT movement starting just after WWII, characterized by educational groups and primary activity in NYC.

Assimilationist groups

LGBT groups in the late 1960's that sought acceptance and a desire to fit in through mainstream lobbying.

Liberationist groups

LGBT groups in the late 1960's that wanted a safe space to develop a positive gay identity and used unconventional tactics.

Stonewall Riots

A turning point in the LGBTQ civil rights movement occurring in June 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in NYC, sparked by a police raid targeting patrons for gender-appropriate clothing law violations.

ACT UP and Lesbian Avengers

Groups formed in the 1980's in response to delayed government action regarding HIV/AIDS to push for funding, new FDA drugs, and anti-discrimination policies.

Bowers v. Hardwick (1986)

A Supreme Court decision finding that the Fourteenth Amendment does not prevent a state from criminalizing private sexual conduct involving same-sex couples, upholding an anti-sodomy statute.

Amendment 2 (Colorado, 1992)

An amendment approved by voters that meant homosexuals living in Colorado were not protected from discrimination based on their sexual orientation.

Romer v. Evans (1996)

A case ruling that under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, a state cannot amend its constitution to deny homosexuals the same basic legal protections received by heterosexuals.

Equal Protection Clause

A provision of the 14th Amendment stating: ‐No State shall make or enforce any law which shall … deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.‐

Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)

A landmark Supreme Court case ruling that the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause and Equal Protection Clause guarantee same-sex couples the right to marry.

Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)

A 1996 federal law that defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman and allowed states to not recognize same-sex marriages from other states.

Proposition 8

A 2008 California measure passed by voters stating that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in the state; later ruled unconstitutional in 2013.

Freedom to Marry

A nonprofit founded in 2003 by Evan Wolfson that uses litigation and direct lobbying to legalize and increase public support for same-sex marriage.

Human Rights Campaign (HRC)

Created in 1980, the largest national LGBT lobbying organization with 1.5 million members and educational programs like the National Coming Out Project.

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

Formed in 1973, it is the oldest surviving LGBT group in the US, known for its Policy Institute and the annual Creating Change Conference.

GLAAD

Started in 1985 to pressure media outlets to end homophobic reporting; notably convinced the NY Times to use the term ‐gay‐ in 1987.

Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD)

A legal organization that pursues a strategy of litigation, including cases involving senior proms and gay foster parent rights.

Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund

A PAC formed in 1991 specifically to elect openly gay candidates at all levels of government.

Lambda Legal

Founded in 1973 as the first legal organization focused on LGBT equality; litigated cases such as Lawrence v. Texas and Romer v. Evans.

Log Cabin Republicans

The largest LGBT Republican organization, formed in 1978 to oppose a California measure that would have banned gay and lesbian teachers.

Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)

A large advocacy organization with over 350 chapters whose mission is to support LGBT individuals through family support, education, and programs like Straight for Equity.