I know someone who equates being a Liberal with being a “homo”. I find it fascinating that politics of any sort have any association with sexuality but they do. One needs to be cautious making broad statements. I guess I take issue with this person because they use an ignorant and broad stroke in painting Liberals as homosexual.  This person is clearly a bigot and working from memory small minded. I might also add that they appear to be homophobic. It is a fact that homophobia often involves the fear that others might think “you” are gay. I can only deduce that there resides in this person’s conscious or unconscious a basis for this fear. It may be insecurity (this person is middle-aged) but why would their masculinity be threatened by even the stereotypical femininity associated with gays? My partner is very feminine. In no way does this take away from or threaten my masculinity.

Why would you deny dignity to someone because of what naturally pleases and excites them? We all differ in what pleases and excites us. Frankly, I am not bothered by these variances unless it involves children.

The first few times I noticed this person’s views I was offended but ignored it and thought it best not to bother. I knew this person as a child and throughout high school. At those times there was nothing remarkable about this person; clearly the same still holds true. They are essentially a pre-teen male without the knowledge and or experience to find value in their own masculinity and identity without devaluing others. When you look down on others you are in no way above them!

I enjoy differing opinions and especially opposing political views for the balance they provide. It is dangerous however to write someone off because of their political views or sexuality. It creates a vacuum where you are in danger of believing only your own rhetoric. This vacuum only breeds further ignorance.

The homophobic fear this person has could be put to rest with knowledge. Read a book, it might be written by a gay person; enjoy it regardless. Watch a movie, it may have a gay actor in it; enjoy it regardless. Take a drive or walk down the street, meet someone new, they may be gay; enjoy them regardless. Despite your closed minded opinions your world is full of and enriched by people who are in fact gay. Most often you will be oblivious to this fact just as they are oblivious to what makes your blood flow. Expand your horizons and you may find qualities in those you belittle that you could only wish to have. Another quick exercise, which I must warn involves modern ways, is to Google famous gay people. You will be confronted with a never-ending list of people you will never hold a candle to. When the sneer is wiped from your face, take a look in the mirror and make peace with the fact that you will never make a list entailing quality despite what you do with your boner.