Sexual identity is an individual's personal understanding of their gender and sex, which can be different from society's norms. It becomes politicized when it intersects with broader societal issues such as morality and social change.
During the Cold War era, homosexuality was considered deviant behavior that threatened American moral values and patriotism. This led to the decriminalization of homosexuality in 1962 through President Kennedy's Executive Order 10450. The Stonewall Riots in 1969 further catalyzed LGBTQ+ rights movements across the US, prompting laws like the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in 1982. The ERA outlawed discrimination based on sexual orientation but did not succeed due to conservative backlash. Today, sexual identities have become charged political symbols that reflect national anxieties about morality and social change.
Morality
The debate surrounding sexuality has always been linked to moral values. In the 17th century, Puritan settlers in America believed that sexual pleasure was sinful and immoral. They also saw it as a threat to religious beliefs and traditional family structures. During the Victorian era, repression of women's sexuality became widespread, culminating in the Comstock Act of 1873 banning obscene materials, including birth control devices and information on contraception. Later, in the early 20th century, psychiatrists diagnosed homosexuality as a mental illness until it was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1973. These historical events demonstrate how sexual identities have been used as tools for enforcing societal norms and shaping public attitudes towards sex.
Social Change
Social change can be catalyzed by sexual identity politics when people use their personal experiences to challenge societal norms.
The Stonewall Riots were triggered by police raids on gay bars and led to widespread LGBTQ+ activism across the US. The Women's Liberation Movement in the 1960s challenged gender roles and sexual mores. The Me Too movement began with Tarana Burke's advocacy against sexual assault and inspired a global call for accountability. Today, sexual identities are still politicized through laws, policies, and cultural narratives around issues like reproductive rights, marriage equality, and workplace discrimination.
Sexual identities become charged political symbols that reflect national anxieties about morality and social change because they intersect with broader societal issues. The debate surrounding sex has always been linked to moral values and traditional family structures. Sexual identity can also shape social movements and policy changes, which have far-reaching impacts on individuals and communities.
How do sexual identities become charged political symbols that reflect national anxieties about morality and social change?
Sexual identity has always been a sensitive topic that evokes strong reactions from people across cultures. It is not surprising, then, that such an important aspect of human life would eventually become politicized as a way to express concerns about morals and values.