In the article What’s Next for the LGBT Movement? Urvashi Vaid, Lisa Duggan, Tamara Metz, and Amber Hollibaugh wrote about different issues that were occurring in the LGBT movement in 2013. In particular, Vaid talked about the strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that the LGBT movement experienced in the United States.
First, she mentioned that there are millions of LGBT people and others who “vote progressive,” this generated the world to be more developed (Vaid 2013, 2). A strength about this is that people are open minded about issues than ever before. Vaid wrote, “Young people’s attitude trend strongly for equality,” meaning that a larger movement from the young generation advocate for acceptance of people’s differences (Vaid 2013, 2).
Next, she discussed some weaknesses that are in the queer movement. For example, there are not much representation for transgender people, people of color, or others in queer communities. It is important to have representation of all kinds of people so that everybody feels accepted and recognized. Another issue not being addressed is that only few people contribute their “time or money to queer organizations and LGBT advocacy groups” (Vaid 2013, 2). Without people giving their time to LGBT organizations, there will not be fast improvements.
Then, Vaid continued talking about new opportunities. For example, having a movement on “sexual orientation and gender identity issues” (Vaid 2013, 3). This is important because people acknowledge all kinds of identities that exist. There are also new organizations that address issues of sexuality, gender, race, and poverty. It is crucial that there is a system in which minorities are able to receive help because they won’t feel alone or hopeless. Social media is also a new structure that allows movements to begin, and a safe place where queers can express themselves.
Finally, although there are new perspective on LGBT people, Vaid mentioned about the threats they still experience. Religious and political groups have continued to target LGBT people and their rights to sexual freedom. There are still many people who believe in the “national culture” and do not like when there are changes (Vaid 2013, 4). Some LGBT people still live with fear because not many are able to hold hands with their partners in public without receiving negative glares from others or even get assaulted.
Overall, Urvashi Veid argues that while there are still many changes that have happened in the LGBT movement, LGBT people are still oppressed and there is still more work ahead that needs to be done.
