Why the hate?

This is on the long side today.  I usually try to keep it light and fun around here but this issue is weighing heavy on my heart and I just needed to write it out:

People are all up in a tizzy this week about Michael Sam kissing his boyfriend during the NFL draft.  I've heard everything from "I just don't want it pushed in my face" or "I don't think we should have to be subjected to that" or "I don't want my kids to see that".  Gay marriage has obviously been a hot button issue recently and everyone seems to have an opinion on it.

I don't think it's a secret around here that I was born and raised in West Texas.  We lived and died by Permian football scores and for the most part, we were all pretty straight laced and 'normal'.  Growing up, it was a town where you went to church and minded your business even though it felt like the whole town was up in yours a lot.  The idea of a family was a mom, a dad, and a couple of kids. Divorce wasn't super common which sometimes made me the odd man out being that my parent separated when I was a baby.  Gay or homosexual were definitely not words that were said in everyday conversation and you certainly never saw 2 guys or 2 girls kissing.  That being said, I don't ever remember giving the word gay a second thought. I never thought it was bad or shameful. It was just something that some people were.

I guess my first exposure was probably like many of my friends, Season 3 of the Real World: San Francisco. I remember watching this show and being in awe of all of the different characters.  There was Rachel, the cool and pretty girl, Puck, the nasty scum, and Pedro, the gay man. I never remember giving a second thought to the fact that he was gay or that he had a boyfriend. 'Oh you have a boyfriend named Sean?  Cool bro, just don't leave your peanut butter out around Puck!'  (If anyone remembers that reference, we can be best friends.  If not, just ignore the old lady who totally just dated herself).

When I was on tour I formed some incredible bonds with the guys in our show. I met my gay husband, lived with my gay roommate, and learned so much about the world through their eyes.  I can honestly say that those men are some of THE best men I have ever had the honor of meeting.  They are damn well better men than some of the idiots I've dated for goodness sake!

I'm writing this post out of sincere confusion. I continue to be so baffled by people who have such an issue with gay relationships and gay people. I have friends and family members that are gay and I have friends and family members that are straight. I have never given a second though to who those people love or who they choose to spend their lives with.

I have been to hundreds of weddings and watched hundreds of my friends be in great relationships but not once have I ever seen a more loving relationship than this one.

I came across this video of a Dallas morning show where they were talking about this exact topic.  It's on the long side but does make some good points.  While Courtney Kerr continues to use the wrong word for this situation, I agree with her.

I guess my point to all of this is, why the hate and the refusal to try and understand? A person saying that they should have the right to speak out against gay relationships because they don't agree with them, is exactly like saying it is ok to speak negatively about a race because you don't agree with their lifestyle either.  It's complete bullshit (sorry mom) and I am so shocked and appalled that in this day and age this way of thinking still exists.

So this post was a little all over the place but I can't seem to wrap my mind or my brain around this one y'all.