Changing minds among heterosexual men

What I said here has received yet more confirmation. This op-ed column in today's New York Times reports on increasing acceptance of “gay and lesbian relations,” particularly among men, and postulates various reasons. First is

The contact hypothesis. As more men openly acknowledge that they are gay, it becomes harder for men who are not gay to discriminate against them. And as that group of openly gay men becomes more varied — including athletes, celebrities and soldiers — many of the old, derisive stereotypes lose their purchase.

I have said so (and have come under fire for saying so) for a while now. The keepers of the queer orthodoxy, who seem to spend all of their time coming up with new ways to keep us in the role of the Other, would do well to remember the contact hypothesis.

In another hypothesis, "Virulent homophobes are increasingly being exposed for engaging in homosexuality." That is, just as Edina Monsoon's mouth worked for the prosecution, our opponents' hypocrisy works for us.