The Times they Have A-changed

Andrew Gelman is a quantitative social scientist whose blog I recommend if and only if you are a wonk. Anyway his latest post is really enlightening. This was an actual question in a 1969 Harris survey: 

Now let me ask you which, in your opinion, is worse, if you could only choose one: a) A homosexual or b) A doctor who refuses to make a house call to someone seriously ill?

I suppose the good news is that the doctor won (was worse) hands down, but about 20% chose the homosexual, and 10% or so weren't sure. I do remember a pediatrician coming  to our house once when my brother had a bad strep infection to give him a shot of penicillin, and that probably was around 1969. That was probably the second to last house call in recorded history. (Actually there have been some recent experiences in physician house calls to elderly people at risk for institutionalization but normally the only home care you're gonna get is from a nurse, and that's only for elderly people recently discharged from a nursing home or hospital.)

The American Psychiatric Association actually thought they were progressive by classifying homosexuality as a disease rather than a moral failing, but of course that meant they tried to cure it. They voted to stop classifying homosexuality as a disease in 1973. At least they never made house calls to try to cure it.