This is my #1 also. So many people “just asking questions”
I also hate the circlejerk of people going “I cannot possibly comprehend being gay/trans/disabled/whatever but I let them do what they want!” They’re not aliens, you can listen to them explain what they are going through and have empathy. It’s not very complicated.
I think it’s a good attitude to serve as a stepping stone away from bigotry, it appeals to the bigots by offering some common ground while giving them a path to becoming less outwardly bigoted. Social progress takes time, especially with attitudes engrained as much as homophobia used to be.
Agreed, I grew up in a very conservative area and was pretty homophobic when I started college.
“They can do whatever they want, just don’t ask me to like it” was an important stepping stone towards “oh shit, love is love” and finally actually listening to the experience of gay people.
Ultimately “live and let live” is all we can ask of anyone. If that is their attitude then they aren’t a bigot. People are expecting too much of other people now - not embracing someone does not make someone a bigot.
Your starting position to me is honestly enough but unfortunately many people are way away from that. As a gay guy, I’d be happy with people just saying “do whatever you want want, just don’t ask me to like it”. The problem is too many people claim that with words but then actually act differently.
This is my #1 also. So many people “just asking questions”
I also hate the circlejerk of people going “I cannot possibly comprehend being gay/trans/disabled/whatever but I let them do what they want!” They’re not aliens, you can listen to them explain what they are going through and have empathy. It’s not very complicated.
I think it’s a good attitude to serve as a stepping stone away from bigotry, it appeals to the bigots by offering some common ground while giving them a path to becoming less outwardly bigoted. Social progress takes time, especially with attitudes engrained as much as homophobia used to be.
Agreed, I grew up in a very conservative area and was pretty homophobic when I started college.
“They can do whatever they want, just don’t ask me to like it” was an important stepping stone towards “oh shit, love is love” and finally actually listening to the experience of gay people.
Ultimately “live and let live” is all we can ask of anyone. If that is their attitude then they aren’t a bigot. People are expecting too much of other people now - not embracing someone does not make someone a bigot.
Your starting position to me is honestly enough but unfortunately many people are way away from that. As a gay guy, I’d be happy with people just saying “do whatever you want want, just don’t ask me to like it”. The problem is too many people claim that with words but then actually act differently.