GfS- 14 Aug 13 - 01:41 AM- A brilliant analysis- I would also factor in the role of the media and entertainment industry, along with the politicians, to explain this phenomenon of perception.
(Dave, your logic is skewed. They ARE hyping it and that is what accounts for our inflated perception of their numbers).

Don't forget that the 5% is overrepresented in the entertainment industry compared with the general population and that plays into the hype as well, making what is a fairly unorthodox lifestyle seem ubiquitous and mainstream. It is being actively promoted to the population at large.

And when you see such a small percentage of the population exerting such a powerful sociopolitical influence, you realize that far from being a downtrodden minority, they are a special interest group with connections to the elite ($$$). Even when a majority votes down same sex marriage as in Proposition 8, it gets reversed by the courts. Somehow, it gets done.

GfS made another astute observation:

"a lot of the present political movements originated in the backlash to the industrial revolution, so that is their point of reference...and they are trying to belatedly apply it to today, is in a backlash to the technological revolution."

Modern feminism is a case in point. It is clearly a backlash of Victorianism which was the zenith of oppression for women. ..