Acceptance, Tolerance, or Indifference
In his opinion piece, "Fan behavior not a laughing matter anymore", in the Lexington [KY] Herald-Leader, John Clay relates an incident wherein sports fans at the University of Kentucky, in a confrontation with "Florida" (no doubt "University of …" or "… State", but the rules for shorthand versions of names in the context of sports events has always eluded me), chanted "Walsh is gay!" as a taunt towards one of the Florida players.
Mr. Clay is informative and entertaining with his analysis about why, in his words,
"Walsh is gay!" is not funny.
Then, having been sensible and to the point for more than half his piece, he makes the embarrassing and offensive mistake of adding:
By the way, Matt Walsh has dated Playboy centerfold Lauren Anderson. Maybe the students are simply jealous.
The whole point is that whether Walsh is gay or not is not an issue. I'm sure Mr. Clay means well, and I thank him for coming out [as it were] on the right side, but I'd like him to pause for a moment and think a little further about the meaning behind his words, and see whether it really strengthens his case to defend Walsh's presumed sexual orientation by denying the alternative suggested by the over-enthusiastic fans.
I invite all my straight friends to try this test: If you should happen sometime to be "accused" of being gay, or if a friend of yours is "accused" of being gay, try as hard as you can not to respond by denying it and then claiming that it doesn't matter; instead, make no defense but do not accept that there is anything demeaning about the "accusation".
Indifference is a big step on the road from mere tolerance to acceptance, and it will make you a better person.