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Reader question: Please explain “right side of history” in this sentence: Gay proponents claim to be on the right side of history. My comments: Supporters of gay rights believe they’re doing the right thing. That is, if history be the judge. In other words, they think posterity will judge their current position favorably. Simply put, they think future generations will take their side. As humans, we move by taking steps forward instead of backward. Likewise, we tend to believe that history is advancing in the same direction – forward instead of backward. Metaphorically speaking that means human societies are becoming more enlightened and less benighted, more peaceful and less violent, more democratic and less authoritarian and, in terms of dealing with gay and other people who are different from us in some way or other, more tolerant and less bigoted. Societies worldwide, in short, are becoming more civilized and less barbaric. Hence, if you do something to advance matters in this direction, then you’re on the right side of history. What you do may be controversial at this point in time, but in the long run, history will be on your side. Future generations will give you their approval. We humans move backward, of course when we are in face of danger or something. We sometimes take two steps forward, one step back. History, too, often takes a zigzagging route, sometimes moving backwards before turning forward again. Generally speaking, though, we humans move in the right direction, i.e. from darkness to light. | 
