Quote:
Originally Posted by Dove
And I like you too! And I really, in all honesty, am not trying to offend anyone.
When I say "lifestyle" I mean engaging in a romantic relationship with a man. I understand that aside from your romantic preferences, we are basically the same when it comes to how we live our common lives. We have hobbies, we eat, we have friends, and we have our own beliefs we pursue.
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It doesn't always matter whether you are
trying to offend anyone. But my offence is pretty inconsequential at the end of the day. Romantic preferences are a huge part of adult life and they are something that I am demonstrably unable to change. When you say you don't agree with my lifestyle, what I hear is that you don't agree with my
entire life. "Lifestyle" is a misleading term, because it implies that I am actually doing something. But no matter what I do, I will always have a "gay lifestyle", because I am gay. And when people have a problem with that, it permeates into my relationships and interactions with them. How I am treated at work by colleagues who do not wish to recognize the most important moments of my life, as an example. People's opinions are not just opinions when they affect
me every day. And that is why people get "hate" for stating such opinions.
I do not think I will change your mind on this, but I am trying to paint a fuller picture for you.
And I just want to emphasize a point made in several previous posts, that it is not unconstitutional for a citizen of the US to get suspended from his job for statements made in the press. That happens every day. The constitution only protects them from being arrested for such statements. An elementary school teacher who releases a press statement saying he thinks children are basically stupid and annoying would be very likely to lose his job. And a reality star who's career is entirely based on being liked and makes controversial statements that may make many people like him a whole lot less faces similar trouble.