She winced when I told her that I supported and voted for President Donald J. Trump.

"Why? How does that happen?" she asked.

And I told her the truth: it happens when social justice is shoved down the throats of free thinking Americans, and when political correctness trumps common sense in fiscal and national security situations.

That was a recent conversation with another adjunct faculty instructor in my area, suburban Essex County, New Jersey.

For most of 2016, I vocalized my support for the president and got involved in social media campaigning — unofficially — to help the cause to elect President Trump. I've been banned from Facebook consistently, called hateful names, had my photo circulated online with nasty captions, and I've even been cyber stalked over my political choice.

I am white and I am male, from the suburbs of New Jersey, which forfeits my free speech in the eyes of leftists, but I haven't played my ace just yet.

I'm also a gay Christian and a registered Democrat (for now). But above all, I am American.

I feel compelled to speak up and speak out because I've been on the receiving end of so much hate over the last year or so that I am starting to hear the voices of my friends diminish, replaced with hashtag activism and talking points about Russia, bridges not walls and impeachment.

My rhetoric on illegal immigration, my pro-life stance and my faith in Christ has branded me with a scarlet letter of sorts: I'm no longer accepted in the LGBT community because I do no align with every piece of their agenda.

Gay conservatives are being vilified and neutralized by the liberal agenda. They are being systematically silenced on social media, called names via traditional media and just plain neglected. It's all leading to a marginalization of right-leaning gay men.

Tolerance is conditional to LGBT leftists. And that's why I have no problem revoking my affiliations with LGBT groups and causes, which includes financial support.

For me, LGBT stands for "Let's Get Behind Trump," and I did, and we won.

James Merse is a healthcare communications professional from Northern New Jersey and teaches communication courses at community colleges

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