A moral panic is a condition that leads to social hysteria due to a perceived threat to social order and morality. It has been used to justify laws and policies against sexual minorities for many years. This paper will explore how this concept has impacted LGBTQ+ individuals and why it is important to understand its effects on society.
Moral panics are often caused by exaggerated fear about certain behaviors, groups, ideas, or objects. In recent history, there have been several moral panics regarding homosexuality, bisexuality, transgender identity, and other gender identities. These panics have led to laws and policies designed to control these groups' behavior, including censorship, surveillance, incarceration, violence, and even death. The most famous example is the Lavender Scare during the Cold War era in America when people were fired from their jobs simply because they were suspected of being gay. Another case occurred in the United Kingdom when the press reported on "gay cannibalism" after a series of murders committed by serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. These examples show how moral panics can lead to harmful consequences for those involved.
The first section of the article will discuss how moral panics perpetuate societal and legal control over sexual and gender diversity. Moral panics tend to result from anxiety-inducing news stories or rumors that create an image of danger in public consciousness.
In 1983, conservative activist Anita Bryant claimed that gay men were trying to recruit children into their lifestyle through the media and schools. Her statements helped fuel a backlash against gays and lesbians across the country, leading to anti-discrimination legislation and hate crimes.
Many states passed laws banning same-sex marriage as part of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). This act was upheld by the Supreme Court until it was struck down in 2015. It also allowed employers to fire employees based on sexual orientation.
The second section of the article will explore how moral panic leads to legal controls over sexual and gender minorities. In some cases, these panics have led to policies like Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT), which barred LGBTQ+ individuals from serving openly in the military. This policy had been around since World War II but was revoked during President Clinton's administration.
It was reinstated under George W. Bush's presidency and finally repealed under Barack Obama's leadership in 2011. Another example is the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), which requires prisons to prevent sexual assaults between prisoners regardless of sexual orientation. These laws are meant to protect vulnerable groups from harm but can be used to target them instead.
This paper has shown that moral panic contributes to the control of sexual and gender diversity. The government uses such panics to justify repressive policies toward LGBTQ+ people. Moral panics create an image of danger in public consciousness while justifying discriminatory laws and policies. They are dangerous because they perpetuate stereotypes about sexual identity, leading to increased stigma, marginalization, and violence against those who do not fit into mainstream norms. Understanding the consequences of moral panic is essential for understanding why we must resist them and fight for social justice.
In what ways does moral panic perpetuate societal and legal control over sexual and gender diversity?
Moral panic is characterized as a social phenomenon where individuals react negatively towards nonconforming behaviors that threaten their belief system, causing them to call for stricter regulations and restrictions. Moral panics perpetuate societal and legal control over sexual and gender diversity by reinforcing existing norms of behavior that are considered "normal" and acceptable by society at large, making it harder for those who do not conform to these expectations to be accepted and understood.