#1
Posted: 11/11/08 at 8:11pm
I live in an unusually conservative area of Southern California, and the passage of 8 has really thrown a wrench into one of my friendships. See, 80% of my friends are right-wing Christian zealots who were huge supporters of 8 and have made that very vocal. I've always tried to accept their beliefs, partially because of that whole "do unto others as you'd have them do unto you" thing, and also because they really are good people - I just disagree with them on a few fundamental issues.
However, in the past week or so, one of my best friends has started to become more and more intense in her vocalization against gay rights. My boyfriend thinks she's being insufferable, my mom thinks she has every right to do so, and I'm torn between their reactions as to how to react to this. I've built my entire friendship with this girl primarily on the fact that we're polar opposites, yet still enjoy many of the same pastimes/interests (including, of all things, musical theatre). But it's getting to the point where the things that she's saying are just escalating higher and higher. She's saying, in no uncertain terms, that 10% of our population - including my friends and people who I look up to, people who have really influenced my life - should be treated as second-class citizens, and that hurts.
So I'm asking for advice from you guys. I'm sure you've had a friend or two or twenty who have held these kind of beliefs. What did you do? What WOULD you do? Did you stick it out and deal with it and accept their ideology, or does there simply come a time where you have to back away? Because I've been trying to be as accepting as I can with this girl, I really have, but I'm just tired of listening to her use the Bible as an excuse to practice injustice and hate toward a bunch of people who have never done her any harm.
What would you recommend I do? I'm just confused.
Thanks.
However, in the past week or so, one of my best friends has started to become more and more intense in her vocalization against gay rights. My boyfriend thinks she's being insufferable, my mom thinks she has every right to do so, and I'm torn between their reactions as to how to react to this. I've built my entire friendship with this girl primarily on the fact that we're polar opposites, yet still enjoy many of the same pastimes/interests (including, of all things, musical theatre). But it's getting to the point where the things that she's saying are just escalating higher and higher. She's saying, in no uncertain terms, that 10% of our population - including my friends and people who I look up to, people who have really influenced my life - should be treated as second-class citizens, and that hurts.
So I'm asking for advice from you guys. I'm sure you've had a friend or two or twenty who have held these kind of beliefs. What did you do? What WOULD you do? Did you stick it out and deal with it and accept their ideology, or does there simply come a time where you have to back away? Because I've been trying to be as accepting as I can with this girl, I really have, but I'm just tired of listening to her use the Bible as an excuse to practice injustice and hate toward a bunch of people who have never done her any harm.
What would you recommend I do? I'm just confused.
Thanks.
