I think that is no longer the case so much anymore. Right now we seem to have a large part of the population that wants to stand out, and be different. They want to conform to nonconformity. It's cool to be different. They work very hard at it, while trying to seem like they just don't care.
Sure there are many who try to conform, and maybe it's the squeeky wheel getting the grease. But I think conforming is seen as bad in today's society.
The biggest area where homosexuality is frowned upon is in religion. Most religions, Christian and Muslim both look upon homosexuality as an abomination. Most agnostics, or non denominational religious people are less discriminating.
So do we outlaw religion?
I think even those who claim to be expressing their individuality are conformers. In high school, we had the goth kids, punk kids, emo kids... all claiming to be individuals and going against the grain. But they all dressed alike, talked alike and even walked alike. Though they thought of themselves as unique, they weren't, they were conformers. I don't think anyone truly wants to be an "individual" unlike anyone else, they just like the idea.
I don't think religion should be outlawed. But personally, I believe that religion has run its course, we have science now.
It's very true, and that's what I mean by conforming to nonconformity. All these groups WANT to be seen as non conforming. But in the end they end up conforming to something in the end. But the pressure for nonconformance can be incredibly strong.
Religion has it's place. What do you tell someone on his or her death bed. Don't worry. Your remains will be buried in a six foot hole, or burned up in an oven, and that will be the end. Forever. People need a certain amount of reassurance to be able to accept the inevitable. That's the ultimate leap of faith, and we have to take it whether we like it or not.
Anyway religion does have a place, but like anything too much adherence to an ideal, too much fanaticism for anything can be a bad thing. it's possible to go too far with anything, and that's where we get into trouble. Even excessive nonconformance is problematic.
