However, tolerance is one thing, "normalization" is another.
This is an important point, and one that get glossed over too often.
Rather than "normalization," I tend to use "approval."
One can tolerate without approving. But most homosexuals don't want toleration; they want approval. They want people saying not only that they should be allowed to pursue their chosen lifestyle, but that their chosen lifestyle is just as good as anybody else's.
I don't think any person should be required, or even expected, to approve of any lifestyle they don't choose to approve of.
I tolerate men who get drunk every evening and yell at their wives, but I don't approve of their lifestyle. I tolerate hunters, but I don't approve of hunting. Toleration and approval are very different things, and should remain different things.
Of course, some people will instantly toss out the "homophobic" label, since they love labeling as a simple way of condemning people who don't share theirs. Which is, of course, silly. People can disapprove of marriage without being mariphobic. People can disapprove of politicians without being politifobic. Disapproval of something and irrational fear of it are vastly different things. Of course it suits the homosexual community to pretend that they aren't different, but intelligent people know better. |
