"If the tenth of the population that is gay became visible tomorrow, the panic of the majority of people would inspire repressive legislation of a sort that would shock even the pessimists among us"

This quote by Jane Rule suggests that if the tenth of the population that is gay ended up being noticeable tomorrow, most of people would be so worried that they would pass repressive legislation. This legislation would be so extreme that even the most pessimistic individuals would be stunned. This quote implies that the majority of people are declining of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood and that they would be so frightened of the exposure of the neighborhood that they would pass laws to attempt and quelch them. This quote is a warning to most of individuals to be more accepting of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood and to not be so terrified of them. It is also a cautioning to the LGBTQ+ community to be familiar with the potential risk they could deal with if they become too visible.