SEXUALITY.
Sex and sexuality is a concept that throughout history has constantly been surrounded by culture, stigma and industry, and modern sexuality is no different. If we look at the views on sexuality from the liberal perspective of the youth of today, we can see a lot of general acceptance, opposing the controversy that some of the elder generations pose surrounding sex and homosexuality in particular. Modern youths have a more celebratory attitude towards sexual liberation, supporting events of gay rights recognition such as Pride, allying with people of varying sexual orientations, and spreading messages of benevolence and equality through media platforms. Over the past few years, due to the millennials endeavouring fight discrimination, the LGBT movement has secured legal equality across a growing number of countries, allowing same-sex couples to marry. Legalisations such as the Gender Recognition Act in 2004 acknowledge a person's right to change their legal gender status without undergoing biological reconstruction surgery, engaging with the idea that sex is determined by more than just biology, but by personal identification as well.
Similarly, the idea of a ‘sexuality spectrum’ arose to prevent the limitations of basic labels and explore sexuality as more than just binary ideas. Alongside this concept, a new language of names and practises have been created to allow for wider discussion on the subject of sexuality. Languages such as Polari and Innuendo no longer have to be used due to the removal of censorships, the removal of the taboo. Today’s youth are openly talking about sexuality removing stigmas and taboos and instead encouraging awareness and understanding. The LGBT community have many platforms in which to communicate including magazines such as ‘OUT’, radio stations such as ‘Gaydio’, Pride events, homosexual-only dating apps, LGBT cinema, gay clubs and bars and so on. There are also several helplines and charities set up to help struggling closeted people to accept themselves and ‘come out’, and also to aid LBGT people who have been outcast, bullied or thrown out by their families and are in desperate situations.
Millennials.