Dear person who made another homophobic joke,

I get it. Being politically correct is hard work, and it feels like your language is being policed constantly. You want to have the freedom of expression. But the problem is that you don’t want to deal with the repercussions when you’re called out for saying something that’s offensive to someone else.

I’m trying to understand where you’re coming from. I’m trying to see the world through your eyes–to see what prevails upon you to make the joke you just made about someone whose struggles and experiences you can’t even begin to understand.

But honestly, it’s not funny anymore.

What IS funny is how you want to have the freedom to say what you want, but I don’t have that same freedom without backlash.

What’s funny is that you don’t want to be politically correct, because you don’t want to feel responsible for the hurt you cause with your words.

What’s funny is that you claim to follow a God of love, but you do not love.

You preach grace, but you are not gracious. You preach kindness, but you are not kind.

What’s funny is that I used to laugh with you even though I was the brunt of your jokes. You didn’t know that. I’m not so convinced you would stop, even if you did know. And, it’s not funny. It’s not even close.

If I screamed out in pain every time you said something hurtful, would you get the message?

Words matter. Words have weight to them. Words can heal or they can hurt. They can pierce through someone’s heart like a dagger. Just because there’s no visible evidence like you’d see if someone is physically hurt, doesn’t mean it hurts any less.

Next time you make a joke at my expense, I may not sit there silently uncomfortable so that you can enjoy the privilege that you are not someone like me.