(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.