Others saw it as an opportunity to draw attention to their plight, such as the gay and lesbian liberation movement. The gay and lesbian liberation movement, dating back to the 1800s, has been a long and tedious road for the currently estimated 22 million gay and lesbian citizens of the Unites States. The advent of the AIDS Quilt, and the myriad of marches and rallies in support of gay and lesbian liberation have all contributed to make the gay and lesbian social movement a success in the making. Many gay and lesbian activist groups are on the world wide web. This phenomenon started as soon as the world wide web was functional, and has served to help millions of gay and lesbians come out of the closet, stand firm in their beliefs, and also has provided a forum for them at which to meet and discuss important topics.
Age ranges for chat rooms vary, from young teenagers to elderly people.
Forums featuring questions and answers from everyday people across the globe are active for gays and lesbians to post upon. Medical doctors and nurses frankly speak about homosexual sex and other activities, to quell the fears of many. Communities have been set up to accommodate the millions of surfers looking for a comfortable place to discuss this part of their life. Sites dedicated to gay and lesbian magazines are also in operation, providing the same services they offer through snail mail to internet users. The internet has added a whole new sphere of communication for the movement, and has helped to spread word of activities, fund-raisers and other events to people who otherwise might not be informed.