The Changing Values of Society

[Jazzy Jaz]

Veronica, i think we are in the process of this change now, though i feel we are still in the early part of this process. Cj coming out is a milestone, but very much just the beginning. The civil rights movement and process of pushing to stop racial discrimination took many generations and although things are much better than they were, this process is not over. Same with the movement for womens rights. In both of these movements for the most part it wasnt outside leaders pushing for these changes (at least not early on) it was leaders from minority groups and women bringing this about. The media initially didnt favor or support these groups either. Public/ political/ media etc support was something that came slowly over time and was a result of these women and minorities being out on the front lines educating and challenging the discriminatory views and not without suffering great hardship and physical abuse in the process. Some of the public brutalities they suffered i think also helped the public over time see and feel that the suffering imposed on these groups was wrong.

In the tg community cj is basically the first major high profile person to bring us out to the world like never before, but she is only one person. As far as specifically cders theres jaden smith but i cant think of too many others and it hasnt been that high profile neccessarily. Obama has recently hired a tg staff person at the whitehouse which is huge but the only way real change is going to happen is if WE come out together and support each other as a movement and make it happen. Thats when more outsiders will start to change thier thinking and slowly start to support it. Imagine if MLK marched in the streets with nobody walking with him and supporting him. What if they all decided to stay home. Something we all including myself should think about. I know in hind sight the civil rights movement and womens movement changes seem to have happened fast, but im sure for those fighting the fight and paving the way it took forever.

Also the LGB folks have had quite a head start on us and so naturally they're much further down the road than us.