Ellie, my mom was raised very religiously and that is part of what bothers her- it's 'unnatural'. She's also had zero expousure to it in real-life situations and believes that all gay men are annoying flamer types who just make out. Had she ever any gay friends, I think she'd realize that they're just normal people.
My dad's really resistant to anything not white-bread America.
As for Rent, my mom liked the overall message and a few of the songs, but a lot of individual parts bothered her, like La Vie Boheme and all of the homosexuality.
ETA- The Day of Silence is ridiculous. It doesn't do anything. I can't think of anyone who became more aware of anything because a couple of kids thought it was cool to not talk for a day. Shouldn't they be doing the opposite? Speaking up so that people become more familiar with it rather than creating some exclusive little silent group? That is one thing that turns people off to the 'whole gay thing'.
Updated On: 8/25/05 at 10:03 PM