British gay-rights activist Peter Tatchell writes in the Guardian of the possibility that we will soon be beyond the need for "gay and straight." He says:
"In the last 40 years, queer people have become more visible than ever before and most of the public are relaxed about same-sex relationships. All homophobic laws have been repealed, apart from the ban on same-sex civil marriage. Positive images of LGBT life abound on television. Politicians and entertainers are openly gay. The police are serious, at last, about tackling homophobic and transphobic hate crimes. Gayness is no longer classified as an illness.
"At this pace of progress, homophobic prejudice and discrimination are doomed. It is then that the gay community will face an unexpected challenge. Faced with victimisation, we had to defend our right to be LGBT and create our own community institutions to fill the void created by an uncaring, bigoted society. But when legal equality and social acceptance have been won, will there be any need for a separate identity and community?"
Seems to me like there is still a long way to go, even in relatively gay-friendly pockets around the world. But it's an interesting read coming from Tatchell.
