Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Rights Movement

The gay, lesbian, and transgender (GLT) rights movement has traversed a number of peaks and valleys in the past few decades. Despite a [Page 764]preconception that this movement is primarily a political one, it actually entails much more than the acquisition of legal rights and protections. The movement encompasses a wide range of goals, such as equal access to the institution of marriage and health care benefits, equal opportunities in employment, equal guardianship rights, and legislation against hate crimes, all of which are part of the larger goal of societal acceptance and normalcy. As a social movement, the GLT movement has been successful in attaining myriad legal rights; however, how individuals within these communities fare in terms of functioning within society, family formation, family maintenance, ...