Two days after the U.S. Supreme Court announced a landmark decision in favor of LGBTQ rights, Lady Gaga gave a moving speech at the New York City Gay Pride Parade, expressing her gratitude for the love and support the LGBTQ community has given her.

She then belted out an improvised version of the “Star-Spangled Banner.” Clutching the Pride flag in her hand, she sang, “O’er the land of the free and the home for the gay.”

Her altered version of the national anthem ignited roaring applause, continuing the ongoing celebration since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 vote that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)—which stated that the word “marriage” meant only the legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife—was unconstitutional.

People all over the country celebrated this victory at annual Pride Parades and Pride Festivals, including senior public relations major Justin Dorsen.

He heard the verdict while at New York University during a summer program. He immediately logged on to Facebook to see what people were saying about DOMA being declared unconstitutional, and then texted close friends to share the news.

“I was optimistic,” Dorsen said of the court’s decision. “I would have been more surprised if the case had been turned down.”

Dorsen attended his first Pride Parade in New York City four days after the decision. Many in attendance held signs expressing their happiness that DOMA was struck down, while others showed their love and support for Edith Windsor, the catalyst for the Supreme Court hearing.

As a strong supporter of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer causes, Dorsen said the experience was exciting and something he will always remember.

“It was a great feeling that people were coming together to support a cause that means something to me,” Dorsen said.

This ruling was an enormous step forward for the LGBTQ rights movement. While many people are still celebrating the progression, others are fighting for more and view the decision as just a smaller stepping stone.

Sam Greenberg, a senior television, radio and film major, who identifies as gay, also attended the New York City Pride Parade. She said she was ecstatic when she heard about DOMA being declared unconstitutional. However, she wasn’t completely satisfied with the outcome.

“I realized that although this is a major victory for the LGBT community, there is still a long way to go and many other issues that need to be addressed,” Greenberg said.

Dr. Margaret Himley, a professor of writing and rhetoric and a co-founder of the LGBTQ studies program and minor at Syracuse University, said she has done her best to address some of the barriers that members of the LGBTQ community face through her writing and rhetoric class, WRT 424: “Queer Writing.”

The course was designed to look at, “the political social formations of non-normative identities through a range of texts, from popular culture to science, and how that rhetoric has changed over the years,” Himley said.

While Himley said she was delighted with the news about DOMA, she too feels that the future for the LGBTQ community is a bit more complex than some may think.

“The future for queer folks who fit, who look and act more like straight folks, is good,” Himley said. “But for those who don’t, who have a more radical idea about their lives, they are still at risk.”

And though many are pushing for change, there are still people and organizations that don’t support the LGBTQ rights movement.

Himley referenced a Huffington Post article from November, in which a middle school teacher allowed one of her students to play Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ song “Same Love” in front of the class.

Through the lyrics of “Same Love,” Macklemore and Ryan Lewis denounce groups such as hip-hop artists for their use of homophobic slurs. The song suggests that while the LGBTQ rights movement has progressed, the nation still has a long way to go before equality is achieved.

The teacher was later suspended for allowing the song to be played in class.

Some may find the song’s message to be threatening and inappropriate for children. Others, like SU professor Himley, embrace it and what it stands for.

“I’m glad the teacher played it,” she said. “It sent a message of acceptance.”

TRF major Greenberg said she is happy the song is a part of the mainstream media. She feels it gives the song power to influence the public’s opinions on current hyper-masculine standards.

“There isn’t enough media reaching the mainstream public that takes the path of resistance and promotes transgressions,” Greenberg said.

As Macklemore sings in his chart-topping song, “…a certificate on paper isn’t gonna solve it all but it’s a d*mn good place to start.”

Published on July 9, 2013 at 11:38 am

Contact Katie: kjrichar@syr.edu | @ktjrichards