Queer Legal Theory

Essay # 6595

Gender and Sexuality > Homosexuality
Law
Women Studies > Philosophy

Queer Legal Theory

A discussion of The 21st Century's New Liberationist Theory and how it affects the gay community.

2,250 words () | 17 sources | APA | 2002 Canada

Paper Summary:

An examination of the development of Queer Legal Theory in the 21st Century. This paper considers the benefit of forming alliances with previously well established theories such as: Critical Race Theory and Feminist Legal Theory. The recent development of gay and lesbian communities within mainstream society has contributed to the dismantling of invisibility and isolation. Within these communities, gays and lesbians have begun to seek legal reform in attempts to end the discrimination and oppression aimed at their communities. While QLT provides great promise independently, the potential exists for even greater reform through the joint efforts of Feminist, Critical Race and Queer Legal Theories working together to acknowledge their common oppressors and achieve their common goals.

From the Paper:

"Within the realm of social sciences there exists a multitude of theories concerning nearly every aspect of human life and interaction. The purpose of these often conflicting or overlapping theories is to provide guidelines for critically examining specific issues of interest. Theories serve to organize and simply information and to guide our perceptions through the process of investigation. Within the domain of law and society, theories help to identify the roots of social conditions, define common goals, and to aid in the understanding of how the law impacts specific social groups and vice versa. Often minority groups develop theories that aim to explain their social condition and which propose methods of law reform targeted at improving their condition. Historically these groups have been isolated, oppressed and discriminated against in both the social and legal spheres. Over time the walls of isolation break down allowing individuals to join others and form sub-cultures and communities. It is with the development of such communities that minority groups begin their uphill battles against oppression and discrimination. The most well known theories originating in this manner are Feminist Theory and Critical Race Theory."