8.6 Changing Laws and Opinions

LO 8.6: Describe how laws and public opinion has changed regarding LGBTQ rights.

Social changes in the areas of gender, sex, and sexuality have occurred through the legal system in the form of court decisions and legislation, as well as through shifting public opinion. The legal system has expanded rights for LGBTQ people and public opinion has grown more supportive of LGBTQ rights over time. Favorable U.S. Supreme Court decisions preceded broader public support for LGBTQ rights. It is crucial to recognize that significant social movement work (see Chapter 10) occurs before a case reaches the U.S. Supreme Court. However, that work is beyond the scope of this textbook.