Homophobia..

"Ew!" you will yell and wrinkle your nose every time you see a gay person. You will look at me like you expect me to agree with you. I don't.
"There is nothing wrong with gay people. They're just like you and me. You're so homophobic," I say to you. I hate that you are like this. I know you are my best friend but if you know if you say things like that, I feel embarrassed to be seen with you.
"I'm not homophobic. I just find gay people disgusting! " You say coldly.
"Thinking that they are disgusting is homophobic."
"So what if I AM homophobic? Why does it matter if I AM?" you question me.
I shrug my shoulders. I know that if I say something wrong, you will get mad at me and yell. I've put up with a lot from you, but not this time.

"Exactly. Why do you even care anyways? The things that I say don't apply to you anyways, do they?" You look at me strangely.
I care because it's hurtful. Not to me, but to other people. Some of my friends happen to be gay. They cheer me up and make me laugh like GOOD friends should do. They don't say I'm an idiot just because I have opinions that they don't necessarily agree with.

Too often, we hear on the news that a person has committed suicide. Many of those people are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. They are bullied for who they like or what gender they are. Bullied… by people like you. You can think that gay people are disgusting (which they aren't) if you want to, but you don't have to say things out loud against them. Think of how they must feel…

"No. I'm not gay so they don't apply to me, but still, I don't think it's okay for you to call them disgusting and point at them and say there is something wrong with them."
"Whatever. I'm not changing my opinions for you."
I look down and mess with my necklace. I guess I lost the argument.

I know that I can't really change you. You are close-minded. A bigot. A homophobe. But the next time you wrinkle your little nose at them, or say "You stupid fag", or say "That's so gay" like it's a bad thing to be gay, just think of how you are making other people feel.


I need new friends.