Next is my supposed homophobia. Granted, I don't choose to spend time with random homosexuals. On the other hand, I don't avoid them, either (beyond the ones who make unwanted sexual advances toward me, but I think that reluctance is understandable). At the risk of sounding trite and self-delusional, I have a few very good friends who are homosexual, or at least bisexual. I won't go beyond that description, because it's not up to me to talk about their sexual preferences and tendencies. Please accept that I'm not lying to you. I've got nothing against gays and lesbians.
To support that last proclamation, let me make this statement: I support civil unions, providing they're defined in a certain way. If a civil union is effectively marriage, the only difference being the sexes of the couple, I can't buy into that. But I'm a strong supporter of the rights of same sex couples for survivorship, the rights of family members and other social constructs. There's no reason society should prohibit anyone from designating their closest partner to share ownership of assets, share the rights of survivorship, rights for hospital visitation, and the disposition of assets in the case of death. You love who you love, and society has no business interfering in that, whether it's for your sexual preferences, your races or your societal classes.
