Thank you for your comments. And yes, by all means, you can tell the story … as a gay man who grew up in a small, Midwestern town (pop. 950 then, about 300 now), I appreciate anyone who wants to be an ally and can see beyond his or her own immediate concerns.

For a very long time, I viewed this country as a highly diverse network of distinct communities, slowly but steadily evolving into a more tolerant and inclusive society. Some of these communities (most often rural, or heavily influenced by traditional religions) were changing slowly; others— largely urban and more secular—were moving at a faster pace. But the good news was the fact that ultimately we were all moving in the same direction.

I can no longer defend this optimistc vision. In the wake of the Trump debacle and the global lurch to the right, it now seems clear that an enormous segment of our population hasn’t moved past the 1960s … the racism, sexism, homophobia, embrace of irrational beliefs, skepticism of science and reason and assumption of moral superiority is the same as they were in that chaotic and violent decade.

I no longer believe that evolution toward a better society is inevitable. With the environmental damage that we are inflicting on the world of our children and grandchildren, and the ugly but widespread desire to renew the culture wars, it is entirely possible—I could even say likely—that the foreseeable futire of humanity will be markedly inferior to the civilization that we have today.

So yes, tell this story—and others that need to be told. We need you as an ally, just as you need us. It is going to take every willing hand to salvage what is good and decent and beautiful. And the outcome is by no means guaranteed.