It is 2019 and the world has progressed in so many ways. I think it's easy for individuals to forget certain moments in the past and rely on the fact that society literally never stops changing. Optimism is important because it is based on the principle that good times are always on the horizon. Two events have occurred recently that were extremely taboo in the past and that only few people remember. It is an important reminder that there will always be “naysayers” who fear change and want no part of it, yet progress will not be stopped because of the cries of a few. In recent times, two events have caught my attention namely the progression of gay rights and interracial/mixed marriage from deviant norms to social norms. To put these events in perspective, I always look back in history and carefully evaluate how far we have come and how much we still have to go. In the past, both homosexuality and mixed-race relationships were considered deviant behavior and contrary to all that is “right.” This article will discuss changes in culture that no longer view these acts as deviant behavior. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Homosexuality has been “taboo” to some communities for centuries, mostly for religious reasons. It was considered “ungodly” or “evil” to the moral elite. Homosexuality is considered a deviation from social norms and is therefore viewed negatively. The very concept of homosexuality creates fear in the eyes of those who fear that it could put an end to procreation. Because of the “fears” associated with homosexuality, rules have been put in place to influence society's opinion and protect what has become commonplace in all cultures. Homosexuality was seen as a negative lifestyle choice. To be blatantly honest, most religious texts are filled with homophobia, so witnessing homosexuals being ostracized from society was a kind of “spiritual cleansing.” Homosexuals are an easy target because spiritual texts consider it an unnatural shame on human nature. It was common for mental health professionals to institutionalize, castrate, and even use shock therapy to stop or "cure" people from being homosexual. Because of the immense stigma placed on homosexuals, policies were put in place to essentially silence their struggle and keep them "in their place." One of the most prominent policies was Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Don't Ask, Don't Tell was a military policy that allowed members of the military not to look for evidence of homosexual activity among enlisted personnel. Under this policy it was not punishable to refrain from disclosing identities of homosexual behavior. Before this policy went into effect, the military had a segment that investigated cases where there was suspicion of homosexual behavior and, if discovered, a dishonorable discharge was possible According to Kellie Buford's article From Exclusion to Acceptance A Case History in the US Court of Military Appeals "The Personnel. servicemen of all ranks and occupations harbored a variety of attitudes and beliefs about homosexuality that called into question the legitimacy and uniformity of the military's legal assault on sexual deviance. Over half of active duty personnel originally accused of homosexual tendencies received sentence reductions or reversals as a result of this highly contested process by which official military policy was translated into practice through courts-martial. (Buford, K 2013). This showsthe attitude so ingrained in our society against homosexuals, that individuals who wanted to serve our country were considered unfit because of their sexual orientation. Similar to laws like Don't Ask, Don't Tell, there were laws that prohibited the recognition of same-sex marriages as well. For example, Prop 8 passed in California states: that the only marriage recognized by the state of California was between a man and a woman. California has a very large homosexual population and Proposition 8 is still a reminder that they will never have the same rights or receive the same recognition as same-sex couples. Many supporters of the gay marriage ban were happy that the institution of marriage was “protected.” Traditionalists believe that if marriage is no longer between a man and a woman, then marriage does not exist, and that marriage between same-sex couples opens Pandora's box to allow unions between people and animals. Read how Prop 8 and Don't Ask Don't Tell paved the way for gay conversion therapy programs. Conversion therapy aims to change an individual's sexual orientation from gay, bisexual or lesbian to that of a "normal" heterosexual. Conversion therapy is essentially relocating a person's mind. Conversion therapy consists of therapy, homosexual deterrence techniques, and prayer. Conversion therapy is known to have long-term harmful effects. “Adults who have undergone some form of this so-called 'treatment' as young people often become depressed and suicidal due to internal conflict about sexual orientation and guilt over their inability to change it. Such survivors of conversion efforts often become unable to form intimate relationships in adult life” (Rushlow, A 2015). People's mental health is not taken into consideration in these "therapy" programs, what is taken into consideration is society's perception of homosexuals because they are not heterosexual. While it is true that there is still much of the world that openly attacks the LGBTQ community. Thanks to the increased awareness and free information dispensed by support groups and various media, homosexuality is slowly being destigmatized. In today's society it is common for members of the LGBTQ community to be seen in public and thrive. Policies like “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” were repealed in 2011, and the ban on gay marriage was overturned by the Supreme Court in a 5-4 vote. The ruling states that the Constitution guarantees the right to marriage of same-sex couples. “Anti-LGBT+ prejudice has declined significantly with the legalization of same-sex marriage across the United States, according to new research examining the link between attitudes and policy change. Prejudice has decreased both in states that have legalized gay marriage and in those that have not." (Ryan, K 2019). This demonstrates a huge shift in opinion on gay marriage. The more people connect with LGBTQ couples, the easier it is for people to open up and see that everyone is different and has the freedom to love who they choose. Just as the concept of homosexuality was and, in some segments, still is. considered deviant behavior, even the concept of interracial marriage was a deviant behavioral taboo. Race has been an issue in the United States and around the world for many years. One of the greatest fears was that of “tainted bloodlines,” so efforts were put in place to preserve racial boundaries. The unfortunate ideals of racism and bigotry are difficult to eliminate. Unfortunately, some people see racial/ethnic minorities as huge.