The AIDS epidemic, the expansion of pathways to parenthood for same-sex couples, the widespread discrimination against transgender people and the fight for same-sax marriage are a few examples of events that have shaped LGBTQ+ activism in the U.S. Use these Retro Report resources to introduce your students to this history and the impact it is having on the LGBTQ+ community today.
Transgender Rights, Won Over Decades, Face New Restrictions
Transgender rights have been achieved over decades of activism, lawsuits and the sharing of narratives. Although certain policies have been implemented, conservative lawmakers have introduced hundreds of bills to curtail basic rights like access to healthcare. This short film explores some of the most influential points of transgender activism, like the Stonewall uprising of 1969. Introduce the history of the fight for transgender equality to your classroom in this 11-minute Retro Report video and accompanying free lesson plan.
Born by Surrogate: New Paths to Parenthood
With the rise of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in the 1970s, public opinion about gestational surrogacy began to shift, and some same-sex couples began to embrace this path to parenthood. Decades later, there continues to be widespread support for access to IVF. However, the process remains deeply regulated across much of the nation, resulting in a long, expensive and complex process. Same-sex couples have begun to demand greater access to this technology. Share this 11-minute Retro Report short documentary on the history of IVF and the impact it has had on the understanding of parenthood.
AIDS: From Ryan White to Today’s Silent Epidemic
Throughout the U.S., many believe that H.I.V. infection no longer poses a significant risk. But over the past decade, this has proven to be a dangerous misconception. The number of diagnoses continues to rise, and underserved populations like people of color and those living below the poverty line are disproportionately affected. Misconceptions have been a part of the AIDS crisis history. In 1985, Ryan White, a 13-year-old boy with hemophilia, contracted H.I.V. through a blood transfusion. In the face of parent-led protests and opposition from local school officials, a court ruled that Ryan could not be barred from returning to school. Share this 12-minute Retro Report video and accompanying free lesson plan to expose your students to the impact of the AIDS crisis, the signs that another crisis may be emerging, and ways to prevent repeating destructive patterns of history.
How the Supreme Court Ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges Legalized Same-Sex Marriage
This new short doc revisits the landmark Supreme Court decision from the perspective of the two named participants, Jim Obergefell and Richard Hodges. When Jim Obergefell and his partner John Arthur decided to marry after more than 20 years together, they faced a formidable obstacle: their home state of Ohio refused to recognize same-sex marriages. With John terminally ill, the couple chartered a medical jet to Maryland, where their marriage would be legal. Their decision set in motion a legal challenge that reached the Supreme Court in 2015, as Obergefell v. Hodges. The court ruled 5 to 4 that the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause requires all states to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples. Share this 10-minute short doc with your students and have them explore the fight for recognition for same-sex marriage in the U.S.
DAGMAR ROTHSCHILD is an education intern at Retro Report. She is an undergraduate at Georgetown, studying International Relations. CAROLINE WATKINS is the Senior Audience Engagement Manager at Retro Report.
