"San Francisco is a refugee camp for gays. We have fled here from every part of the nation... We are beginning to realize that we are a group, a subculture, and a potential political force. Our liberation is tied to the liberation of all oppressed people—Blacks, women, Chicanos, and the anti-war movement. We must build a coalition to challenge the institutions that enforce conformity and deny us our basic human rights."
— Carl Wittman, "Refugees from America: A Gay Manifesto," 1970
Which of the following developments during the late 1960s and early 1970s did the sentiments expressed in the excerpt most directly reflect?
- AThe unification of all civil rights organizations under a single, nonviolent legislative agenda.
- BA reliance on the expansion of Great Society programs to achieve economic equality for sexual minorities.
- The growth of identity-based liberation movements that rejected assimilation and sought solidarity with other radical social causes.Answer
- DAn effort by activists to seek legal draft exemptions under the provisions of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
Answer
The growth of identity-based liberation movements that rejected assimilation and sought solidarity with other radical social causes.
The correct option is correct because the Gay Liberation movement, which accelerated after the Stonewall Riots of 1969, shifted away from the assimilationist 'homophile' tactics of the 1950s. Instead, activists embraced radical identity-based politics and sought solidarity with other contemporary movements—such as the Black Power, Chicano, feminist, and anti-war movements—to challenge systemic societal norms and institutions.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Feminist, LGBTQ+, and Minority Liberation Movements