As evident from the protests and rallies fighting for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer rights, society has advanced to the point where LGBTQ people find more freedom and acceptance than ever before. Although discrimination still clearly exists, acceptance of the LGBTQ community is at an all-time high, and the general population embraces those outside of the sexual “norm” in a way that proves that society is changing for the better.

While acts of violence against LGBTQ people are still publicized, younger generations are leading the way toward a new era for those who identify as LGBTQ. The young people of today are taking a stand to prove that intolerance is not justifiable. In a YouTube video by the channel TheFineBros, the creators of the channel asked 13 children between the ages of 5 and 13 to discuss their thoughts on same-sex marriage. All of the children in the video were completely unfazed by the possibility of same-sex relationships. Almost all societal revolutions in the past have garnered the support of the newer generations, most notably demonstrated by the influx of support from teens and young adults for racial equality in the 1950s. Similarly, the rally for LGBTQ acceptance has gained momentum due to the support of today’s youth in the past few years.

“At some point in our lifetime, gay marriage won’t be an issue,” said actor George Clooney on Proposition 8 in a public statement. “Everyone who stood against this civil right will look as outdated as George Wallace standing on the school steps keeping James Hood from entering the University of Alabama because he was black.”

Homosexual characters in films and television shows today are becoming far more common as a drastic change from the minute diversity in films from 50 years ago. From “Modern Family” to “Orange is the New Black”, there is an increasing number of respectable and loved LGBTQ characters. In addition, many well-admired celebrities are openly homosexual or transgender, such as Ellen DeGeneres, Neil Patrick Harris, Anderson Cooper and Laverne Cox. Not long ago, coming out would have elicited outraged and uncomfortable reactions, but these celebrities’ unconditional fan bases reflect that a majority of today’s world is far more liberal in embracing people of all sexualities. These celebrities set a precedent for LGBTQ people still “in the closet” and ensure that one need not fear coming out any longer, as he or she will find acceptance in the world. Furthermore, at the 2015 Golden Globes, the television series “Transparent”, which centers around a transgender woman, won Best Televison Series: Musical or Comedy. This win indicates the growing acceptance by the public of transgender people.

In many ways, increasing acceptance of the LGBTQ community is founded on the existence of an open discussion among everyone about LGBTQ rights. For example, this issue of same-sex marriage would never have been addressed thirty years ago–society’s ability to rationally debate social issues allows for a greater freedom to question what is considered the norm. The discussion itself is an indicator of society’s more accepting views of gay and transgender people: no longer is homosexuality or transgenderism considered too taboo to be mentioned in general conversation.

There is a societal revolution finally upon us. Fighting to oppress those who are attracted to people of the same sex or those born the wrong gender is a losing battle–LGBTQ people and their activists have found a voice, and they are not willing to lose it. This revolution reflects a similar one not so long ago, in which people were discriminated against based on their race; sometime in the near future, one’s sexual orientation will matter just as little as the color of their skin.