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To those that think one shouldn’t ever converse w/ “bigots,” there’s science to say that’s bullshit:
More friends and family than ever are openly gay
Few things have more fundamentally altered public opinion on same-sex marriage than the increasing presence of openly gay and lesbian people in America’s social networks. In 1993, only 22 percent of Americans reported that they had a close friend or family member who was gay or lesbian. By 2009, the proportion had risen to roughly half (49 percent). Today, about two-thirds (65 percent) of Americans have a close friend or family member who identifies as gay or lesbian.
This matters because research dating to the 1950s has consistently shown that social contact with members of particular communities eases prejudice and distrust. Social contact has been shown to reduce racial animus, religious prejudice and, more recently, antipathy toward gay and lesbian people. One reason negative stereotypes and discomfort with homosexuality endured so long was that relatively few people formed close relationships with those who were openly gay.
