ABSTRACT
This essay considers the question of “progress” in US LGBT legal and political history. After a brief introduction to earlier philosophical discussions about notions of “progress” in historical scholarship, the essay is divided into two main sections. The first presents strong evidence of progress in US LGBT law and politics; the second presents opposing examples and alternative arguments that challenge the notion that “progress” is the best way to characterize LGBT legal and political developments. The essay does not attempt to resolve the conflict between these opposing frameworks but instead encourages readers to consider the evidence and arguments on both sides before reaching their own conclusions.
