Michael Kazin, professor of history, on shifting cultural attitudes toward gay rights in America:

"... We often forgot what a radical change this is, to have homosexuality accepted even to the extent it's accepted in this culture.We have thousands of years of human culture where homosexuality was considered to be a sin by religious groups. ... And, so, in some ways, I don't want to be too optimistic, but the last 40 years have been amazing, in terms of the progress of gay rights, the progress of the acceptance of gay people."

White House Push to End 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Spurs Debate in Military

February 23, 2010, PBS NewsHour