Reply #23: I have a similar perspective.

[Duncan Grant]

"Sorry this didn't work out for you but I went into the situation with good faith."

Nail meet hammer.

If my co-worker tells me something (or someone) in the office is anti-gay, I don't get to rationalize or reinterpret their experience. I don't get to respond by saying, "Oh no co-worker, that's not anti-gay at all. You're misinterpreting events. This incident was simply people joking around. They didn't mean anything by it. You're too sensitive." Furthermore, I couldn't possibly look my co-worker in the eye and say something like -- the mission of our workplace is not limited to supporting your civil rights struggle (and management is comfortable being complicit regarding anti-gay actions and activities in the workplace).

I suppose I could summon up some contempt and ask my co-worker what they intend to do -- vote for the republicans? :sarcasm:

The correct response when your co-worker says something is anti-gay looks something like this, imho: Yes, I trust what you're telling me. How can we ally together? Is my own privilege and entitlement preventing me from seeing what your seeing?