1960s: The Civil Rights movement in the United States is bitterly contested. Reforms are made but many people are slain during the process, including major public figures John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, and Robert F. Kennedy.

Today: The Civil Rights movement is largely confined to consolidating and protecting gains already made, combined with legal challenges and organized protests attempting further reforms, particularly in the area of gay/lesbian rights.

1960s: The first major open gay/lesbian movement is sparked by the Stonewall Riots in New York City, and Midnight Cowboy, the first major movie to depict gay lead characters, is released.

Today: Gay and lesbian characters on cable television shows such as Queer as Folk and Sex and the City reflect wider acceptance of gay/lesbian citizens and a more open discussion of sexuality and gender expectations among an interested public...