That may have been true in the past but not today. Stonewall etc. took place in a time when people had ben raised (previously) on the idea of civilized discussion, taught critical thinking/logic skills and so forth.
Today, the generations currently involved were raised/taught from preschool onward by 60s radicals and have a life of experience based on the words of MSNBC/HuffPo/Kos and DU. And with the internet, millions of blogs reinforcing leftist positions. Along with the college ‘educations’ that actively promote the idea that all things are acceptable to ‘win’. Everyone is a unique little snowflake and the most important person ever, thus the world must conform to their desire of the nanosecond.
And unfortunately, the desire to win/be ‘right’ leads many down the road they were taught to follow all the faster. the path of situational ethics. Today, nothing is off limits as long as one gets what they personally desire.
Which unfortunately we ALSO see making lots of headway on the right and right here on FR.
It’s just as true today. Probably even more so. In the age of confrontation based television the people who can actually stay calm are the ones that influence people. The shout down might be entertaining for the people that agree with you, but it doesn’t sway the masses. Impressing the choir doesn’t get you anything... well OK maybe some ratings. But if you want to effect change you’ve got to talk to (talk not shout, and to not at) the mushy middle that really decide how this country is going to do stuff.