Reply #17: I grew up knowing someone who was gay, and my best friend since I was 13 is gay

[The Straight Story]

and I am 42 now.

A friend of my brother was gay as well, and out of the closet before it was the thing to do (in the late 70's, in Ohio).

While jokes abounded at the time (games like, 'Smear the Queer' as an example) no one I knew hated anyone who was gay or that we suspected were gay (it was not a good time back then to let it be known you were gay....).

We all just wanted to have fun and play those new video games :)

My best friend eventually came out of the closet, to open arms from me and my family (my X wife, a fundie, even taught him how to drive and had he and his lover over many times for cook outs).

Most the fundies and rw'ers (not all were fundies, most did not even go to church) I knew growing up didn't care what you were, their main beef was more sex stuff being taught in school - when it should be something you talk about at home. School was for the three R's.

Sad thing to me - when my best friend told me he thought I would not like him anymore because I was a Christian, I thought he knew me better than that. Told him I could care less and that I loved him no matter what.

Funny thing is - he is a conservative and never votes for dems, only independents and republicans :)