（4）Thegeneralglobaladvanceofrespectforindividualhumanrights，andofappreciationoftheimportanceofupholdingthefundamentalhumandignityoftheindividual，hasbeenaresultoftirelessworkintheUnitedNationssince1945.Theadoptionofimportantinternationalhumanrightstreaties；theratificationofmanyofthembydiversecountries，includingChina；thegrowthofglobalscrutinyofhumanrightsandfundamentalfreedoms；andthecoverageofsuchissuesintheworldmediastimulateanexpectationofimprovementsintheconditionsofhumanfreedom.Whilstsignificantdebatescontinueinmanycountriesconcerningthebalancebetweenrightsandduties，theindividualandthecommunity，economicprogressandpersonalfreedoms，largeadvanceshaveundoubtedlybeenmadeinexpectationsofindividualself-expression，includingasbetweenadultsinmattersofsexuality.Inasense，economicprogressflourishesbestincreativesocieties.Theinevitablecounterparttoeconomicprogressisademandforprogressinthefieldofideasandintherespectforrightsandthewillingnesstosubmittoco-equalduties；
（5）Againstthebackgroundofthesechanges，universitiesandinstitutesoflearningthroughouttheworld，includinginChina，havebegunstudyingthegenetic，hormonalandsocietalfeaturesofsexualvariationinhumanbeingsandinotherspecies.Nolongerarethesethesubjectsofsecrecyanddenial.Theyarealegitimatefocusofintellectualcuriosity，researchanddiscovery.ThisworkshopinShanghaiisanillustrationofthegrowingscientificandempiricalscrutinyofsexualityininstitutionsofhighlearninginallpartsoftheworld.Ifitispartofourhumanity（indeedofnaturemoregenerally）itis，asDr.Kinseydeclared，thepropersubjectofstudy，researchandrevelation.Itisnotalientothehumanspecies-itisanaspectofit；
（6）Partiallyinconsequenceoftheforegoing，issuesofsexualityarenowmoreopenlypresentedinthemedia.Theyareportrayedanddiscussedandincreasinglyinathoughtful，reflectiveandinformativeway-notjustthroughstereotypesofhatred.Filmswhichexaminehumanfeelingsbetweensame-sexcoupleshavebecomepartofthepopularculture，atleastinadvancedWesterncountries.Thecurrentprize-winningfilmBrokebackMountainisanillustration.However，therearemanysuchinstances.Theyexistinallpartsoftheplanet.Theveilthathashithertocoveredthisaspectofhumanexistencehasbeengentlyliftedinrecentdecadesuntilnow，inmanylands，ithasbeencastaside.InAustralia，inthelate1960s，oneofthemosteffectivevehiclesforchangingsocialattitudestowardshomosexualswasatelevisionsoap-operaNumber96.ItportrayedtheroutineordinarinessofthelifeofagaymanviewedinthesettingoftheAustraliansocietyhelivedin.Nolongerwashedemonisedandpresentedasperverted，dirty，anobjectofridiculeorfear.Inmyowncase，myrelationshipwithJohan，mypartnerofthirty-sevenyears，isprofoundlyordinary.Thefactthatpeopleinallwalksoflife，whoaremembersofsexualminorities，arenowcomingoutoftheshadowsofthepasthelpsyoungpeople，discoveringtodayabouttheirsexuality，todothesame：tobeopenandcontemptuousofthedemandforpretenceabouttheirhumanreality.Thefearsandstigmasofearliergenerationsarethusgivingwaytothelightofscience，knowledge，andtruth.Therearesomewhowouldwishtopushthegeniebackintothebottleandtoreversethisprocess.Butscientificresearch，andhumanknowledgethatisitsproduct，canrarelybeputintoreverse.