Application

Robin Piach

Professor Sony Coráñez Bolton

ENGL 121

31 March 2015

Application

St. Serge and St. Bacchus

In his article “Capitalism and Gay Identity” John D’Emilio argues that “gay men and lesbians have not always existed.  Instead, they are a product of history, and have come into existence in a specific historical era.  Their emergence is associated with the relation of capitalism; it has been the historical development of capitalism - more specifically, its free labor system - that has allowed large numbers of men and women in the late twentieth century to call themselves gay, to see themselves as part of a community of similar men and women, and to organize politically on the basis of that identity.” (p. 468)  I find this statement challenging because later in his article D’Emilio states there is “Evidence from colonial New England court records and church sermons indicate that male and female homosexual behavior existed in the seventeenth century.” (p. 470) So, D’Emilio himself shows proof that homosexual relations have existed in history.   

Achilles tending Patroclus’ wounds from a red-figure kylix by Sosias Painter from about 500 B.C. in the Staatliche museum in Berlin, Gill, About.com

              Homosexuality can be found thought out history as far back as 3000 B.C. Mesopotamia. Homosexuality can be found in art, poetry, and legal documents in China in the Han Dynasty. “The largest amount of material pertinent to the history of homosexuality is from Greece, from notable philosophers and writers such as Plato, Xenophon, Plutarch, and pseudo-Lucian, to plays by Aristophanes, to Greek artwork and vases. James B. De Young notes that homosexuality seems to have existed more widely among the ancient Greeks more than among any other ancient culture.” (www.conservapedia.com)

               D’Emilio argues that there is no history for gay men and lesbians, but this is false when you talk about homosexuality as behavior. It is true when you speak of it as unified homosexual identity.  D’Emilio states that  “Homosexual behavior, however, is different from homosexual identity. There was, quite simply, no “social space” in the colonial system of production that allowed men and women to be gay. Survival was structured around participation in a nuclear family.” (p. 470) 

The argument can be made that capitalism has made possible the formation of current and expanding gay identity and community on a more worldly scale and has made it a culture of its own.  People from all walks of life and areas of the globe now have a universal name to put to their feelings, and this gives them a sense of community. I believe D’Emilio should amend his argument to state “Defined homosexual identity of gay men and lesbians has not always existed but it is rather a product of social freedoms granted by the historical development of capitalism, industrialism, and the free labor system.”  A statement such as this would be a clearer statement to prove his overall argument of this article.  

Everybody’s Gay, Queer Scifi

The current LGBT movement, (formally known as the gay rights movement) is very strong in the United States and has expanded worldwide.  There are distinct lines of division between LGBT supporters and the opposition on current issues facing the LGBT community as a whole. Today the LGBT community and allies continue to fight for acceptance and equality, especially when it comes to the aspect of marriage and family life. This is different then D’Emilio’s statements on devolution of the family structure, and the creation of an “affectional community” (p. 475)

             One major current issue facing the LGBT community is the right for same-sex couples to be legally married. Currently thirty-seven states in the U.S. have legalized same-sex marriage, while thirteen states still ban same-sex marriage (www.procon.org) By being married or in an long term, they are creating a family unit. Not all but some same-sex couples have chosen to expand the family to include children. Those couples have options to create this either through in vitro fertilization, surrogacy, or adoption. In my opinion the family unit of Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka is one of the most beautiful and genuine families in today’s Hollywood. They are strong advocates for the LGBT movement and family equality.  They appear to be wonderful and loving parents. "The couple announced in August 2010 that they were expecting twins via a surrogate mother. Harris and Burtka became parents on October 12, 2010, with the arrival of son Gideon Scott and daughter Harper Grace." (www.biography.com) Burka and Harris are both the biological fathers of the twins, with one fertilizing an egg each to be implanted into surrogate.  Harris and Burtka were married on September 6, 2014 in Italy. 

The Butrka-Harris Family, Disney Ride, Sharpshooter Images / Splash News

The Butrka-Harris Family, Halloween 2013, Lauren Yapalater, Buzzfeed.com

The show "Modern Family" follows the live of Jay Pritchett and his family. Pritchett's family includes his much younger second wife, his stepson, and infant son, as well has his two adult children and their spouses and children. This a very strong visualization of how the family unit in the United States has changed.

ABC's Sitcom "Modern Family" Family Tree

           A major current opposition to the LGBT civil rights moment is the signing of legislation in Indiana Governor Mike Pence (R) “that could legalize discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act would allow any individual or corporation to cite its religious beliefs as a defense when sued by a private party. But many opponents of the bill, which included business leaders, argued that it could open the door to widespread discrimination. Business owners who don't want to serve same-sex couples, for example, could now have legal protections to discriminate.” (Terkel, www.huffingtonpost.com)

“I signed SEA 101 today to ensure religious liberty is fully protected under IN law” Huffington Post via Twitter @GovePenceIN

History is always being written. What happens today becomes the building blocks of tomorrow, and the historical references of yesterday.  If we do not learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat it. While there was not a recognizable identity, and sense of community in regards to homosexuals throughout history, there was definitely a recognizable presence. 

Citation

Bio.com "Neil Patrick Harris." Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 01 April 2015.

Boswell, John, "St. Serge and St. Bacchus "Same-Sex Unions in Premodern Europe. WEB 29 March 2015

Conservapedia.com. History of Homosexuality. Web. March 29, 2015

D'Emilio, John. "Capitalism and Gay Identity". The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader. Ed. Abelove, Henry. Barale, Michele. Halperin, David. New York, NY: Routledge, 1993. Pages 467-476.  Print.

Gill, N.S., "Greek Mythology", About.com, Sosias Painter, “Achilles tending Patroclus”, 500 B.C., Staatliche museum, Berlin. Web. 29 April 2015

ProCon.org. "37 States with Legal Gay Marriage and 13 States with Same-Sex Marriage Bans” ProCon.org. 4 Mar. 2015. Web. 1 Apr. 2015.

Scott, Queerscifi.com, “Everybody’s Gay”. Web. 01 April 2015

Terkel, Amanda “These Events Were Canceled Because Of Indiana's New Anti-Gay 'Religious Freedom' Law” Huffington Post, Web. 01 April 2015
Weingus, Leigh. "'Modern Family' Season 5 Premiere: Where We Left Off". The Huffington Post. Web. 01 April 2015