AlthoughtherecontinuetobedebatesintheUnitedStatesovergayrights，asahistorianIammoststruckbyhowquicklypublicopinionintheUnitedStateshasshiftedinsupportoffullequalityanddignityofgaypeople.AsevensomeChristianfundamentalistsrealize，thetideofhistoryisrunninginfavorofgayequality.
WhyDiscriminationAgainstGayPeopleShould
BeaMatterofLegalConcern
BYWilliamN.Eskridge，Jr.
Lesbiansandgaymen（or“homosexuals，”womenandmenattractedtopersonsofthesameratherthandifferentsex）havebeenaprominentsocialpresenceinEuropeandNorthAmericasincethe1970s.ManyWesternershavefeelingsofhatredorprejudiceagainsthomosexuals.Certainreligionsteachthathomosexualityisimmoral，andsomeWesternreligionsteachanti-homosexualhatred.Othercitizensharborbeliefsabouthomosexualsthatarebaseduponunreasonablestereotypes.Forexample，Americanparentssometimesassumethathomosexualsaresex-crazedandmolestchildren.Anti-gayprejudiceandstereotypinghavebeenthebasisforagreatdealofsocialdiscriminationagainsthomosexuals，eventoday.