Protests are a consequence of a democracy that isn't.
If people had power, they would cast votes (on laws or representatives) instead of wasting their precious time walking around with little to no observable effect.
If people had power, they would cast votes (on laws or representatives) instead of wasting their precious time walking around with little to no observable effect.
In this example the personal opinion has shifted in favour of homosexuality, however the public opinion has not caught up yet. To break the stalemate of everyone holding their potentially-controversal-but-not-actually opinion to themselves, some external nudge might be needed. A protest might be what brings the topic up, so that peoples actual opinions can come forth.
Such outing can have ripple effects. Kid talk about their family fight-which-wasnt to other kids, and find out their families also are in support. Soon everyone in the church is collectively rolling their eyes when priest harps on gays. Eventually the priest picks up the vibe and stops mentioning homosexuality as a sin altogether.
The social backlash can be bad enough: I was 13 when some girls figured out I was interested in other girls. I sat alone the rest of the year and folks wouldn't speak to me. The high school I gradutated from (different school system) would not allow same-sex couples to go to prom together. I know of a school superintendent that tried not to hire gay teachers, as he thought a gay teacher turned his son gay. I personally identify as bisexual, but the options I had with women in the US weren't the same as men. A woman couldn't adopt my child, nor could we be legally married until recently.
As recently as 1998, oral and anal sex was considered sodomy by US military code. Guess what that means? Same sex sexual relations can get you dishonorably discharged.
And you are correct - few in the states look kindly on the oppressed class protesting. And it is supposed to be a right.
Different opinions may coexist.
So obviously if you want something to change...