Coming out of the closet

[UltraBudgie]

And yet people can witness the same events, in the same context, with people who would be considered equals and peers, and they still embrace the shaming, bullying, derision, ostracization of people who disagree - regardless of 'subject.'  What does that say about where our heads are at?

Quite a lot actually. Perhaps to the extent that all else is mere commentary. The importance of "coloring inside the lines" is established at an early age, in elementary school, and usually by middle school the trauma-enforced bullying of social conformity is laid down. From then on, it's simply a matter of living life in avoidance of fear. Or, for some few, in challenge of.