Old Homosexual Warning Video

[Douglas Carpenter]

22. when I feel pessimistic about the world - I reflect on how radically the attitude toward gay people

and homosexuality has changed since when was a kid. Back in the 60's and even early to mid 70's - even the vast majority of liberals would have been utterly homophobic. When I was a kid growing up in small town western PA- the stigma of being gay was as strong as the stigma of being a serial killer or at least a pedophile would be today. Certainly no one - absolutely no one was openly gay in that world. Liberals thought gay people were mentally ill and should be locked up in mental hospitals. Conservatives thought they were criminals and should be locked up in prison. Even most secret gay people - which would have meant at that time and in that world all gay people - themselves were so convinced that they were sick - they didn't even feel angry about being oppressed. They only blamed themselves.

My point is - if society can change its mind that much on that issue - then society is capable of dramatically changing its mind on any issue.