--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Gays and lesbians began to gain civil…" description: "\"Gays and lesbians began to gain civil rights when Americans realized that their brothers, cousins, daughters were gay.\" — Nicholas Kristof" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/364/nicholas-kristof-6723_brothers_gays-and-lesbians-began-to-gain-civil-ri_642287.jpg" --- # Gays and lesbians began to gain civil rights when… ![“Gays and lesbians began to gain civil rights when Americans realized that their brothers, cousins, daughters were gay.” quote by Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/364/nicholas-kristof-6723_brothers_gays-and-lesbians-began-to-gain-civil-ri_642287.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/364/nicholas-kristof-6723_brothers_gays-and-lesbians-began-to-gain-civil-ri_642287.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/364/nicholas-kristof-6723_brothers_gays-and-lesbians-began-to-gain-civil-ri_642287.jpg) > “Gays and lesbians began to gain civil rights when Americans realized that their brothers, cousins, daughters were gay.” [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Society advances civil rights when people recognize LGBTQ+ individuals as family members, fostering empathy and equality. **In simple terms:** People support rights when they see LGBTQ+ loved ones. Key Takeaway Recognize LGBTQ+ people in your own circle. Themes equality empathy civil rights Mood hopeful determined Type inspirational advocacy When to use this quote - family discussions - policy advocacy - educational workshops - media campaigns Key Concepts Human rights social change Questions to Reflect On - How does personal connection change your view on LGBTQ+ rights? - What actions can you take to support LGBTQ+ equality? A Different Perspective Resistance may persist due to entrenched prejudice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brothers/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Civil Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-right/) [Civil rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civil-rights/) [Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cousins/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) ## Related quotes > [And Americans realized that native people are still here, that they have a moral standing, a legal standing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-banks/and-americans-realized-that-native-people-are-still-here-that-they/) [Dennis Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-banks/) > [It is time that all Americans realized that the place of labor is side by side with the businessman and with the farmer, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/it-is-time-that-all-americans-realized-that-the-place-of-labor-is/) [Harry S. 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Americans who are deeply ambivalent about abortion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/pro-choice-supporters-are-often-heard-using-the-cool-language-of-the/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [We must always embrace individual liberty and enforce the constitutional rights of all Americans-rich and poor, immigrant and native, black and white.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-must-always-embrace-individual-liberty-and-enforce-the/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We've won wars before and we've certainly retained our rights as Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/we-ve-won-wars-before-and-we-ve-certainly-retained-our-rights-as/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [I do think that the success, although still not complete... in the recognition of equal rights... to all Americans, regardless of color, creed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/i-do-think-that-the-success-although-still-not-complete-in-the/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) ## More by Nicholas Kristof > [I have a one-question language test that people who have lived abroad do better on than those who studied in a classroom. Try my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/i-have-a-one-question-language-test-that-people-who-have-lived-abroad/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [There's something to be said for CEOs' entering politics: In theory, they have management expertise and financial savvy. Then again, it didn't work so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/there-s-something-to-be-said-for-ceos-entering-politics-in-theory/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [A basic element of the American dream is equal access to education as the lubricant of social and economic mobility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/a-basic-element-of-the-american-dream-is-equal-access-to-education-as/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [Every high school and college graduate in America should, I think, have some familiarity with statistics, economics and a foreign language such as Spanish.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/every-high-school-and-college-graduate-in-america-should-i-think-have/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [However imperfectly, subsidies for the poor do actually reduce hunger, ease suffering and create opportunity, while subsidies for the rich result in more private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/however-imperfectly-subsidies-for-the-poor-do-actually-reduce-hunger/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [One of the aims of higher education is to broaden perspectives, and what better way than by a home stay in a really different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/one-of-the-aims-of-higher-education-is-to-broaden-perspectives-and/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [I suspect unconscious bias has been far more of a factor for President Obama than overt racism and will also be a challenge for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/i-suspect-unconscious-bias-has-been-far-more-of-a-factor-for/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [Utah may well be the most cosmopolitan state in America. Vast numbers of young Mormons - increasingly women as well as men - spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/utah-may-well-be-the-most-cosmopolitan-state-in-america-vast-numbers/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [Most of the time in the 21st century, we dominate our surroundings: We tweak the thermostat, and the temperature falls one degree. We push…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/most-of-the-time-in-the-21st-century-we-dominate-our-surroundings-we/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [My take is that the optimal approach to food, for health and ethical reasons, may be vegetarianism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/my-take-is-that-the-optimal-approach-to-food-for-health-and-ethical/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [Our world is enriched when coders and marketers dazzle us with smartphones and tablets, but, by themselves, they are just slabs. It is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/our-world-is-enriched-when-coders-and-marketers-dazzle-us-with/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [One of the most crucial kinds of intervention is in advocacy. We can think about charities in the context of delivering services, and indeed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/one-of-the-most-crucial-kinds-of-intervention-is-in-advocacy-we-can/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [There are very few things I've done just twice in my life, 40 years apart, and one is to backpack on the Pacific Crest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/there-are-very-few-things-i-ve-done-just-twice-in-my-life-40-years/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [We journalists are a bit like vultures, feasting on war, scandal and disaster. Turn on the news, and you see Syrian refugees, Volkswagen corruption,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/we-journalists-are-a-bit-like-vultures-feasting-on-war-scandal-and/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) > [Girls' education is no silver bullet. Iran and Saudi Arabia have both educated girls but refused to empower them, so both remain mired in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-kristof/girls-education-is-no-silver-bullet-iran-and-saudi-arabia-have-both/) [Nicholas Kristof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) [Explore all 98 Nicholas Kristof quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-kristof/) ## More Brothers quotes > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [Holy shadows of the dead, I'm not to blame for your cruel and bitter fate, but the accursed rivalry which brought sister nations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-the-great/holy-shadows-of-the-dead-i-m-not-to-blame-for-your-cruel-and-bitter/) [Alexander the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-the-great/) > [“Zed and Sky had stayed behind and were chatting with Will, Sky sitting on Zed's knee as if nothing was going to get them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-stirling/zed-and-sky-had-stayed-behind-and-were-chatting-with-will-sky-sitting/) [Joss Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-stirling/) > [“But if I had to pick another person for her, I'd have to say you, Jess, since I hold you in such high regard.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-brendan/but-if-i-had-to-pick-another-person-for-her-i-d-have-to-say-you-jess/) Maggie Brendan > [Brothers all In honour, as in one community, Scholars and gentlemen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wordsworth/brothers-all-in-honour-as-in-one-community-scholars-and-gentlemen/) [William Wordsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wordsworth/) > [I would love 'Aankhen 2' to happen. I would have Govinda and I play these two brothers and having kids who can take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chunky-pandey/i-would-love-aankhen-2-to-happen-i-would-have-govinda-and-i-play/) [Chunky Pandey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chunky-pandey/) > [The Jonas Brothers are all sweet. Theyre so amazing to me. Theyve become really good friends of mine, but Im not dating any of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/the-jonas-brothers-are-all-sweet-theyre-so-amazing-to-me-theyve/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [Please be slow to judge ‘brothers’ who have a different calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/please-be-slow-to-judge-brothers-who-have-a-different-calling/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) > [I began with small roles in successful movies like 'No Country For Old Men' by the Coen brothers; but it was 'The Last Exorcism'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb-landry-jones/i-began-with-small-roles-in-successful-movies-like-no-country-for-old/) [Caleb Landry Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb-landry-jones/) > [My brothers and sister and me grew up making fun of each other, the way we'd speak or move. 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