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June 28th marked the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riot in Greenwich Village and incidentally the Chicago Gay Pride Parade as well. These two events lead me to wonder a few questions about the state of the gay civil rights movement: Where have we come from in the last 40 years? On the other hand, what have we lost during our struggles? And where might we be 40 years?

The Chicago Pride Parade this year was an outward symbol of the movement that started at the Stonewall Inn, but also, for me, of the inertia that our movement has suffered in the past forty years. Underneath the floats of minibar's speedo-wearing gogo boys, of the motorcycle-riding bears club, and of gay-loving politicians lies the second-class status that we gay Americans still experience today.

Since Stonewall, we have made some considerable gains. Despite Illinois' eclectic mix of boring flat terrain, Midwestern mentality and impeached governors, it somehow managed to be the first state in the union to decriminalize gay sex. Way to go Illinois! Since 2003, all sodomy laws have been repealed. As for gay marriage rights, currently Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Iowa (snaps for the Midwest again!) permit gay marriage, with same-sex marriage beginning later in 2009 in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. We have gained Rep. Barney Frank, songwriter Stephen Sondheim, fashion designer Marc Jacobs amid other high-profile power gays. Gays also enjoy gay-themed cruises like the ones advertised in Out magazine, two gay television networks here! and Logo and fabulous pride parades in almost every major city across the county (well not in Champaign-Urbana yet, but maybe someday!).

Despite triumphs in the past forty years, we have been hit with disappointments as well. While the human cost of the AIDS epidemic can't be calculated easily, many have lost friends, partners, and family to the disease. We have lost gay marriage in California. First in San Francisco, then a deep blow across the state this past May. Pending legislation to legalize same-sex unions in Illinois is now on hold thanks to the anemic economy, although the House still finds time to vote on campaign-finance reform and health-insurance reform. Also, 2008 saw an increase in LGBT hate crimes, including a raid on a Texas gay bar on the anniversary of the Stonewall riots. It is Texas; their PD can get a bit rowdy.

And gays are miffed with Obama's glacial pace on moving gay rights forward. An offensive brief from his Justice Department, followed by a cop-out memorandum and then throwing a LGBT cocktail party in the White House does not live up to his campaign promises.

It is difficult to say where we will be in forty years from now. Unlike the Civil Rights Movement, the gay community is not just a single racial group, but also a mix of all types of people. Diversity in our community is a benefit, but it also can divide us and slow us down. For instance, the African-American Civil Rights Movement took 18 years to accomplish its goals, while it has taken us 40 to achieve about half. We as a gay community need to push our movement forward from the grassroots, and not use the HRC as a clutch to get what we deserve. Where are our sit-ins? Where are our freedom rides? Where is and who will be our Martin Luther King Jr.?

We still have 44 states to go to legalize gay marriage, DOMA needs to be repealed. Workplaces need to include anti-LGBT discrimination in their policies, and adoptions rights need to be defined and secure. Also, coming out can be a powerful personal and social step in breaking down stereotypes. More community efforts should be made in educating the public about LGBT life from the grassroots and in helping LGBT members build self-confidence to live proudly and out. Pride is a fun event, but a lack of civil rights isn't a laughing matter if our emancipation should take another 40 years.

So, don't let the pride parade fool you because it can. The throngs of people and show of support from the community does not disguise the fact that gays are still a vulnerable minority 40 years later.