And I Rambled

These are rather optimistic predictions, but I have a feeling that these are generally likely to happen between now and 2020. These are all U.S.-specific.

• It will become broadly acceptable for men to wear women’s clothing.

Not necessarily by every single person and in every single town, but broadly. Why do I think so? Men’s fashions have been getting more feminine at an alarming rate – not just runway fashion, but, more and more, what you actually see in department stores. This can only be the first step to finally accepting crossdressing by men.

• Gay marriage will be legalized nationwide.

Why do I think so? Several states already have legalized it. Several more seem close.

• Don’t Ask Don’t Tell will be repealed.

Why do I think so? It’s a major focus of the LGBT rights movement right now. I think this is likely to happen before or very soon after Prop 8 is repealed in California.

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (which my mother and sister both suffer from) will come to be recognized as the serious disease it is, rather than being “all in your head”.

Why do I think so? It’s been represented (tentatively) as such in the news lately, which has brought it under the public eye.

• By the end of the decade, gay rights will be less pressing and transgendered rights will take their place.

Why do I think so? The gay rights movement is just that – a movement. A very fast-moving movement. It can’t take more than 10 years – I hope it will take less – to do most of what needs to be done, and after that, I strongly suspect that TG rights will take the spotlight that LGB rights will leave open.

If any of those things happen, panel, you’ll read about them on And I Rambled.