In retrospect it changed America but not the way they think (i.e. about gay rights). It was a test case that proved that the MSM could lie and make up any kind of story they wanted, sweeping the actual facts under the carpet, and get away with it. Rather than reporting what was true (drug deal gone bad) they turned it into gay martyrdom.
In that respect it was the beginning of Fake News.
"...drug deal gone bad into gay martyrdom..."