I think this is a fine question, and I thank you Caretaker for posting it! However... I am only tolerant of your attitude, I'm not endorsing it. ;^)

First, I gotta say... Intolerance sure is fashionable these days! Why waste your time being supportive of the good things in the people around you when there there are at least 5-10 things they do that you could really have a good rowe about? And... everyone around you will snicker up a storm if you can put someone down hard with some sort of sneaky snipe snapped up off the 'talk radio'/'internet' laugh parade. Besides... dwelling on positive things that matter just makes people feel uncomfortable anyway... ;^)

Anyway... I think intolerance is 'way' overrated. It's not smart, it's not Christian, and it's definately not effective. Tolerance, however... means what, exactly? Not going ballistic when two women hold hands? Or does it mean that you can still enjoy their company, and disdain to be judgemental about them as people? No matter how much you disagree with their 'sexual preference'.

Tough call...

My take on it?

This society is not feeling very well. We all need healing, and we need it from each other. We've done enough 'bucking up' over the last few years to last a generation. If we're not 'ganging up', or gay, or struggling just to get by, or working all the time, or juggling credit, or addicted to sex, or hooked on pain killers, or gulping down prescription 'attitude adjustments', or eating too much, or just enjoying being mean 'cause it helps us forget...

...then we're probably aware of how sad this situation really is.

When we stop believing in intolerance, and start trusting ourselves and one another to really give it our best shot at seeing the good in the people around us... I think it's called 'Love', BTW... all this 'addictive behavior' that seems meaningful, but isn't, will start to subside.
ttr