American Teenagers Love Diversity and LGBT Relationships

by Michael Jones · 2009-12-03 18:22:00 UTC
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DiversityThings sure have changed since 1989. Milli Vanilli is no longer around. The Berlin Wall, too. And American teenagers have changed their viewpoints dramatically on how they view the sanctity of LGBT relationships.

A new study out by the Girl Scouts of America surveys the state of the American teenage mind and how opinions on loads of issues, from civic engagement to cheating on tests, have changed since 2009. Some of the findings? Teens today place a much greater value on the principle of diversity, and view relationships between LGBT people with more dignity and respect.

The survey, Good Intentions: The Beliefs and Values of Teens and Tweens Today, shows that six out of ten American teenagers support same-sex relationships. That's nearly double from where the stats were at in 1989, and according to one author of the study, a sign that there are generational changes moving the arc of this country toward equality.

"There’s clearly a generational change taking place," said Kimberlee Salmond, the lead author of the study for the Girl Scouts of America. "These young people strongly value diversity, acceptance and civic involvement, and almost across the board they’re more committed to these values than were their predecessors 20 years ago."

That should be a good sign for equal rights, particularly as teenagers hit the voting age. But beyond just LGBT relationships, the study shows that young folks today value diversity in all shapes and sizes, perhaps moreso than at any other time in history. Nearly 60 percent of those surveyed said that they think it's "very important" to be around people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds.

So there ya' have it. When that crotchedly relative starts talking trash about today's generation over dinner during this holiday season, fire back with the Girl Scouts of America. Because as this survey shows, hearts and minds are changing. And intolerance is heading the way of Milli Vanilli.

(Photo courtesy of www.phila.k12.pa.us)

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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