I was chatting with a few guys in the pub the other day (I'm a bisexual female) and the topic of gay marriage rights, homosexuality, etc. came up. I don't mind talking about this, even with people who have a different view than me, because I think open and honest conversation, sharing your experiences and education is a great antidote to prejudice.

Anyway, here are some of the interesting points from the conversation:

• One guy said he was accepting of gays, but he just "didn't get it". He said, "I've never felt myself attracted to another guy and I just can't imagine that. How can they feel that way?"

I said, "Okay, so you are straight. That's your experience. But that's not everyone else's experience. Not everyone has the same attractions as you do."

He followed up by saying, "But like, I see a girl I am attracted to I just feel this strong, natural urge. I just can't help thinking dirty thoughts about her and I really want to fuck her and do naughty things to her. It just feels natural."

I said, "Me too. It's the same thing."

• One guy looked visibly uncomfortable and said he "didn't want to talk about it" because he didn't want to "start a fight."

I said, "It's not a fight, it's just an honest, open, friendly conversation. I won't get angry or offended, we can just discuss your points rationally." However, he still didn't get involved so I was like, "Okay, you don't have to."

It's a shame that people find it difficult to talk about important issues because they get too upset/uncomfortable, but I wasn't going to force him into a conversation he didn't want to have.

• Another guy was trying to make the point about how sex is about making babies, so he couldn't understand why homosexuality was a thing.

I said, "So every time you see a hot girl, you want to make babies with her? You were trying to conceive every time you had sex?"

He said no, and I said, "Exactly. Sex is about much more than procreation. It's about pleasure and a connection between two people. Saying that gay sex is somehow less because it doesn't create offspring is forgetting about all of the other aspects of sexuality."

Also, if anyone tries to tell you that homosexuality is a choice, ask them when they "decided" to be straight. They will look at you confused and tell you that they never "decided", they just hit puberty and started to think of the opposite sex in a sexual way. Then you can say, "Don't you think it's the same for gay people?"

What about you guys? What perspectives have you heard from others when talking about this - and how do you respond to it?

EDIT: On a more positive note, there was another guy in the conversation that seemed to really get it. Someone said the whole, "Well, it's fine that they are gay but why do they have to make such a big deal about it with all of this activitism?" thing.

He said, "I can understand why. I don't know about you man, but if it was the reverse and I was in love with a girl - and everyone kept telling me that it was wrong and gross and I couldn't marry her, I'd be pretty pissed off too."