Facebook, love it or hate it, has been the face of social change over the past decade and has really helped to move social causes such as LGBT rights, forward. Prominent social figures such as George Takei (of Star Trek) have helped to change the face of the gay movement, making it less threatening and helping many to understand that it’s okay to be gay, and it’s also okay to be a straight ally. George Takei has 3.7 million followers (and it’s still growing). His posts and calls-to-action spur an immediate reaction within the Facebook community. His influence is visible, tangible and can be seen even beyond the confines of social media. Recently, George Takei upload a photo on Facebook which more or less went viral with likes and shares still increasing exponentially.  On Facebook there are many LGBT Groups, causes and Gay-Straight Alliances. Groups such as The Equality Mantra, Enough is Enough, Wipe Out Homophobia, Adam & Steve and even the tongue-in-cheek I Bet This Turkey Can Get More Fans Than NOM all keep their members aware of LGBT causes that are in the news, of legislation and other issues.  There is a constant appreciation expressed among the members and moderators for their straight allies.

 While some scoffed at the social media show of support for gay rights, others felt that the overwhelming visible support helped send a message about the change in public sentiment and beliefs. Other prominent gay media icons such as Rachel Maddow also maintain a strong social media presence even outside of their main media platform. Though Maddow doesn’t just focus on LGBT issues, her presence and success speak volumes about public acceptance. With the lightning fast speed of information transmittal, all social media platforms, including Twitter and Google +, can quickly change information into a short viral meme with a call to action. Followers can quickly respond to changes with phone calls to their representatives, reposts of vital information or donations through text messaging.

 President Obama continued to make history by publicly announcing his support of gay rights and marriage, including this stance in his second inaugural address and even featuring an openly gay Inaugural poet, Richard Blanco, among other guests. Just as there is always room for growth, acceptance and change within race relations, the fight for equal rights for LGBT will also be ongoing. We strive for perfection even though we may never reach it. Since it is not necessary or even desired for LGBT people to remain “in the closet” anymore, many straight allies join the cause because someone close to them is a member of the gay community. As intolerance of the intolerant becomes a growing cause, more allies will be joining. There are so many ways to get started and become a part of the movement. In this day and time, it really is becoming easier to imagine a world that will one day love and accept all.