Current research and data suggests that there is a shift in society's attitudes towards sexual issues, including  same sex partners, premarital sex and the number of sexual partners

I feel as though there is a combination of things with have lead to a more open idea about sexuality. You can see a trend as you move down the generations in regards to views on a variety of topics and overall acceptingness. Of course the cultural influences are quite impactful, because the more you see of something, the less shock value it has. It only takes on instance to get the ball rolling, then others can follow to build on the movement. By adding same sex couples in movies, television, and general media, it becomes a much more "normal" thing to see. A more openness in religion also has changed how people view others. Often times the interpretations of the teachings were so rigid, those who practiced didn't leave themselves and room for new ideas about how someone lives their life. Now that people have been taking a moment to see someone for who they are as a person, not just their sexual identity and personal life choices, we can become closer to one another without judgment. We live in an age were social media is quite prevalent, and we need to build our individuality amongst the rest of the world. We tend to form our own opinions on subjects instead of accepting what we're told or taught by others who have already formed their own thoughts and views.