Tolerate.
Here's the thing about the world 'tolerant' when regarding homophobes. I still use it, but not to say 'they are tolerant of me'. People should accept me. People HAVE to accept me, period.
When I use the word 'tolerant', I use it because I'm tolerant of them. When I say someone's tolerant, someone who by all means should be labeled an homophobe, it means 'well, yeah, they are, but I can tolerate their presence in my life'.
For example. I use 'tolerant' when dealing with my ninety years old grandmother, because she is one of the sweetest persons ever and she would never wish me any harm and she DOES want me to be happy, but at the same time I'm aware that if I ever brought a girlfriend to meet her, she'd probably cry and grandmother wouldn't like her. But since my grandmother is so very old, and since she's so very sweet and kind and she would never, ever, EVER say or wish something violent on another human being, I 'tolerate' this, so I don't talk about my bisexuality with her, and when I've had a girlfriend instead of a boyfriend and my grandmother asked, I just said 'I'm seeing someone'. It's not nice, and it's akward, and it hurts, but it's something that, for my grandmother, I'm willing to put up with.
However, please, make notice of this: This is my choice. And it's MY right whether I decide to tolerate someone not accepting me or my love and sexual preferences.
But no, I don't have to tolerate everyone. I don't have to take homophobe's feelings into consideration. I don't and I won't feel bad because I'm calling someone a homophobe if that person says how 'awkward gay people make her feel' or 'I think homosexuality is wrong'.
I DON'T HAVE TO TOLERATE ANYONE'S IGNORANCE OR HATE. When I do, it's my choice, and it's due to special circumstances and my own will. I don't hurt anyone, I am not a sexual predator, and I am not wrong for liking both men and women. The people I want around me SHOULD AND HAVE to accept me.
You tolerate a disgusting habit. You tolerate an awkward situation. You tolerate your best friend's awful boyfriend while crossing your fingers for them to break up as soon as they can. That is what tolerate means. To put up with, to endure, to keep counting one hundred times a zillion until whatever is bothering is done.
But someone you care about, someone you like?
You accept them. You don't tolerate them
When I use the word 'tolerant', I use it because I'm tolerant of them. When I say someone's tolerant, someone who by all means should be labeled an homophobe, it means 'well, yeah, they are, but I can tolerate their presence in my life'.
For example. I use 'tolerant' when dealing with my ninety years old grandmother, because she is one of the sweetest persons ever and she would never wish me any harm and she DOES want me to be happy, but at the same time I'm aware that if I ever brought a girlfriend to meet her, she'd probably cry and grandmother wouldn't like her. But since my grandmother is so very old, and since she's so very sweet and kind and she would never, ever, EVER say or wish something violent on another human being, I 'tolerate' this, so I don't talk about my bisexuality with her, and when I've had a girlfriend instead of a boyfriend and my grandmother asked, I just said 'I'm seeing someone'. It's not nice, and it's akward, and it hurts, but it's something that, for my grandmother, I'm willing to put up with.
However, please, make notice of this: This is my choice. And it's MY right whether I decide to tolerate someone not accepting me or my love and sexual preferences.
But no, I don't have to tolerate everyone. I don't have to take homophobe's feelings into consideration. I don't and I won't feel bad because I'm calling someone a homophobe if that person says how 'awkward gay people make her feel' or 'I think homosexuality is wrong'.
I DON'T HAVE TO TOLERATE ANYONE'S IGNORANCE OR HATE. When I do, it's my choice, and it's due to special circumstances and my own will. I don't hurt anyone, I am not a sexual predator, and I am not wrong for liking both men and women. The people I want around me SHOULD AND HAVE to accept me.
You tolerate a disgusting habit. You tolerate an awkward situation. You tolerate your best friend's awful boyfriend while crossing your fingers for them to break up as soon as they can. That is what tolerate means. To put up with, to endure, to keep counting one hundred times a zillion until whatever is bothering is done.
But someone you care about, someone you like?
You accept them. You don't tolerate them