Young people are becoming more liberal - and at an earlier age - as demonstrated by the survey. Some believe this is one key to eliminating homophobia, at least on school and college campuses.

It’s definitely easier to express concerns about homosexuality or to come out than it was 10 years ago. More students on our own campus identify as allies or have friends or family members as part of a gay-straight alliance.

But while numbers in polls and surveys might illustrate a growing change in society, tolerance still often means something different in practice.

During pride week, signs and posters are still defaced with hateful ideas or mockeries of the messages they convey. You will still find ignorant people in restaurants, bars or even the classroom griping about “those gay kids” they seem to find so distasteful. And every once in a while, you can still open up a newspaper or magazine and find an article citing homosexuality as a terrible blight on society.

Some members of the LBGT community are still afraid to speak out in society, in class or at work. Each has their own reasons, but it shows that there isn’t enough support - even in our diverse university community - to make everyone comfortable enough to share who they are with the rest of the world.

Too often, reactions to a gay couple walking down the street aren’t warm and empathetic feelings of romance and togetherness, but a more dulled or surprised recognition.

The idea of tolerance, itself, has recently become more politicized in its use. Anyone can say that they ”tolerate” someone, but that doesn’t mean as much as that person might want it to.

Merriam-Webster defines tolerance as “sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one’s own.” While that’s a good start for people who have grown-up in a more close-minded community, tolerance really means little more than “putting up” with a behavior or idea. And it’s hard to have a truly functional and cooperative society when people merely “put up” with each other.

What really needs to happen now is not simply tolerance, but acceptance.

If we can look at each other as equals, and not as different categories of social backgrounds, we would all be better off. It’s not that hard to look at someone eye-to-eye and see them solely as a person, and not “gay” or “straight” or “bi” or anything else that might come to mind.

It’s a powerful gesture in this age to cast aside differences and accept people for who they are. But it’s one that everyone needs to strive for.

After all, tolerance and equality are two different things. People need to accept everyone as equals, through their words as well as deeds.

And not just for a survey.