In this day and age, it's so crazy to hate gays... [Spirituality & Religion]

I keep hearing variations on this a lot: "Why do they have to push it in front of us? Why can't there just be a mention of it; instead, I have to see it all the time. Enough already."

There are a lot of simple responses to that but the real answer is far more complex, I think. Some of it has to do with the difference -- subtle but crucial -- between tolerance and acceptance.

A lot of it, too has to do with where we are a as society. This is an emerging issue and we're feeling our way in the dark. Issues on TV and in film are typically about "coming out," "raising a family," or "being different." This is where we are; it won't last forever and characters will get more subtle and faceted.

Then there's the fallacy that the gayness is being shoved down throats. Is it? It stands out when tow men kiss or two women mention dating. It stands out when a guy wears a hi-vis hoodie as a theme park.

But aren't gay people exposed literally every waking hour to the influence of heterosexuality? Kissing, dating, school relationships, marriage, getting pregnant, the amusing dichotomy of men and women in couples, breaking up, raising grandkids, discovering sex...and on and on. It's everywhere. Print, social media, TV and film, music, popular culture and religion. So the next time the mention of a gay "situation" comes up on TV, maybe stop to consider whether it's really all that ubiquitous.

As for the religion platform, there is no good evidence behind that.

I think the only non-religious arguments that I heard that can be semi-convincing is that 1) it's either gratuitous pandering that adds nothing of substance to the plot or the character, or 2) that it relies on stereotypes to distinguish the gay character from the straight ones. Sexuality isn't something worn on your sleeves in reality, and to have a character that does is really just enforcing and idea of what gay people are supposed to be like. I've known a lot of gay and lesbian people in my life, and unless they spoke up about it, you probably wouldn't be able to tell

That's what people do. They are suspicious of, or hateful of people who are different from them. The 'gay bashers' who seriously lash out against gays, are battling their own latent homosexual tendencies because they've been conditioned a certain way. I think all the Abrahamic religious doctrine has contributed also. In ancient times there were actual 'gay armies', and most native American tribes would simply let the 'gay' guys hang with the women and do what they did, or they would become Shamans.

Where does the hate originate? Is it right to hate anyone for any reason? If one is allowed to hate "gays" then why should the person next to that person not be allowed to hate Blacks, Jews or people in wheel chairs?

I don't have kids, but I would leave that, or any kind of adult relationship discussion up to when the parents feel that discussion is appropriate.