George Bernard Shaw once said, "All censorships exist to prevent any one from challenging current conceptions and existing institutions. All progress is initiated by challenging current conceptions, and executed by supplanting existing institutions. Consequently the first condition of progress is the removal of censorships." It is believed that some of the key functions of art are to inspire, to provoke, and to challenge existing assumptions. (This comes from the book Censorship in America) I agree …showed first 75 words of 926 total…

…showed last 75 words of 926 total…sexuality, gender or religion in novel ways. Because such art is passed over for more mainstream works, I believe that the expression of certain viewpoints in the arts community is being repressed. If art is truly meant to inspire, provoke, and challenge existing assumptions these so called "standards of decency" must be removed. Government funding is to ensure that a variety of creative viewpoints are seen and heard, in the true spirit of free expression.