CSP 6: (Queer 2.0) LGBT Rights in the Internet Era
Fall 2013

SECTION II: LGBT RIGHTS IN THE OBAMA ERA

Paper #2: Are We There Yet?

PROMPT AVAILABLE: Wednesday October 16th
PAPER DUE: Monday October 28th, 11:45am (or 9:35am)

Choose one of the options below.

OPTION 1
In a typed, double-spaced 3-4 page (800-1200 word) essay, respond to the following questions:

In this section of the class we have examined the time period from the 1960s to the present using excerpts from Neil Miller's text on LGBT history  titled "Out of the Past" and subtitled "Gay and Lesbian History from 1869 to the Present." Why does Miller interpret the 1960s-1980s as the era of "gay liberation"? To what extent do you agree with Miller's characterization of this era? Why or why not? Consider the legal, social, and cultural history of the era to develop your own analysis about the key players, events and processes that led to both historic change and historical continuity in how society views (and viewed) homosexuality and homosexuals today.

OPTION 2
In a typed, double-spaced 3-4 page (800-1200 word) essay, respond to the following questions:

In  this section of the class we have examined the period  from the 1960s to the present using excerpts from Linda Hirshman's text on LGBT history  titled "Victory: The Triumphant Gay Revolution" and subtitled "How A Despised Minority Pushed Back, Beat Death, Found Love, and Changed America for Everyone." Why does Hirshman use the word "victory" to describe the fight for LGBT equality in 2013? To what extent do you agree with Hirshman's characterization of this era? Why or why not? Consider the legal, social, and cultural history of the era to develop your own analysis about the key players, events and processes that led to both historic change and historical continuity in how society views (and viewed) homosexuality and homosexuals today.

REMINDERS & FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS
0) YOUR NAME SHOULD APPEAR NOWHERE ON YOUR PAPER UNTIL THE BACK OF THE VERY LAST PAGE (ON WHICH YOU CLEARLY HAND WRITE  IT ON THE REVERSE OF YOUR WORKS CITED PAGE).
1) NO LATE PAPERS OR ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL.
2) YOUR PAPER SHOULD BE DOUBLE SPACED, IN 12 POINT FONT WITH 1-INCH MARGINS AND INCLUDE A TITLE AND WORD COUNT.
3) YOUR PAPER SHOULD INCLUDE A THESIS STATEMENT (IN BOLD FONT) WHICH DEMONSTRATES A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE CONCEPTS REFERENCED ABOVE  AND WHICH ANSWERS THE SPECIFIC QUESTION(S) IN THE PROMPT. YOU SHOULD UNDERLINE AL: MAIN BODY PARAGRAPH TOPIC SENTENCES.
4) YOUR PAPER SHOULD INCLUDE A SEPARATE "WORKS CITED" PAGE OF ANY SOURCES YOU REFERENCE IN YOUR ESSAY. YOU MAY USE MLA OR APA CITATION STYLE.
5) A SUCCESSFUL PAPER WILL REFERENCE AT LEAST TWO READINGS AND DISCUSS ONE HISTORICAL EVENT WHICH HAPPENED IN YOUR LIFETIME AS WELL AS ONE THAT HAPPENED BEFORE YOUR LIFETIME.