I didn't know that about you Zak and unfortunately, I am. I'm in England and I'm still scared of if people are gonna hit me just because I'm gay. Hell - my own father almost threw me out for it, so I'm not truly in a position where I feel safe. Especially after Brexit.
Moreover, I've had multiple gay friends in America, many of whom have told me about the shit they've had to go through living in more southern areas. I unfortunately lost a friend who lived in Texas with one of those crazy bible-fearing families that tortured him until he killed himself. All I see now that Trump is president and these crazy people are even more empowered than before is more people like my friend killing themselves because they get tortured every day for who they like.
I'm going to be more real with you right now then this entire topic really deserves. I think Trump is just as corrupt as Hilary and will be terrible for the country. But the thing here is neither one of them would really be good and that I feel is a much larger issue. At the end of the day the DNC shot themselves in the foot by taking down their only chance of beating Trump and as much as I dislike the orange who will be our commander and chief even I gotta admit he managed to kick the republican party so hard that they were remembering the last time their own candidate pulled off rocking them (I think it was Abe Lincoln who did it but I am tired and old and cranky atm so I could be wrong.)
I will say I am genuinely sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. That's shitty however to compare Trump being the potus towards whatever drove your friend to do that is a real stretch. His own party hates him and democrats aren't really jumping for joy so my guess is he'll be on a fine line and unable to deliver on a lot of the promises he made during his campaign much like how Obama wasn't able to do much and he had both the house and senate under democrat control for ages when he was first elected. But the people who say that in particular are really one of three things.
1. Being apart of the fear mongering
2. Really young and naive enough to think there is an actual connection between the two.
3. People playing the victim card preemptively
The unfortunately truth is. It's society in some parts that's the problem with old age thinking that ends up hurting others and make no mistake if I could make that go away I would in a heart beat to leave this mortal coil a bit better of a place for my spawn whose going to be a teenager in a couple of years. But unless Trump is giving pardons to gaybashers or making some sort of super secret branch of the FBI to hunt down gay people there really isn't a connection towards him actually empowering anti-gays. The reality is the LBGT movement/community has become a force to be reckoned with and they're not worried about Donald being the potus the only way they would lose standing is if they outright packed their shit and left and they won't do that.
In the end that doesn't excuse society and the shit they pull. I actually picture in ten years or so even faster if it keeps growing like it is the country will be a much more accepting place even though it will likely never go away completely as people tend to shun those who live outside of their norms and religion (sometimes, violently too.) and we've never really bread that out of human nature.
So even though I said some stuff against your point. I do want to really that I am sorry to hear about your friend. No kid should have to go through hate like he had to experience.
