Looking at how quickly (in societal terms) the gay rights movement in the USA has progressed: the number one thing that changed people&#x27;s minds was individuals coming out to their friends &amp; family. It is easy to demonize people you&#x27;ve ever met as perverse deviants: very different to hold on to those demonizations when you learn that somebody you&#x27;ve been close to your whole life is a member of this group.<p>On the other hand, racial minorities can&#x27;t really do this: prejudices that exist prior to getting to know somebody have a much easier time both preventing people from interacting as well as having a greater likelihood of persisting during interpersonal interactions.<p>This is a large portion why the gay rights movement has been progressing at a faster rate than either women&#x27;s rights or civil rights have in this country.