The Gay Community in the United States

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Introduction

The term gay community is used to collectively refer to people who are homosexual or whose sexual orientation is not a norm in the mainstream society . The term is also used in reference to people with homosexual interests who interact with other homosexual people . Homosexuality is not a new concept in the United States as it has been in existence for a long time albeit in secrecy . For example , before the stone wall riots of 1969 in New York , the gay community

existed in less visible forms operated secretly and was mainly aimed at socializing . This was mainly as a result of fear of being discriminated against if they came out in the public (Haggerty ,

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However , the concept of gay community is relatively new in the United States referring to people who are of gay , lesbian , bisexual or transgender orientation that are connected by common interests . One major bond connecting members of the gay community is the fact that their sexual orientation is considered an exception rather than a norm in the mainstream society . Policies relating to the gay community in the United States have evolved over time and differ in different states . For instance , in some states such as California , Massachusetts Connecticut Iowa , New Hampshire and Vermont , same sex marriages have been legalized As a result of the Supreme Court ruling in the Lawrence v . Texas case of 2003 , sexual acts between people of the same gender have been legal (Haggerty...