You have a right to live your life your own way. You don't have a right to expect others to accept it.

The same is true if someone chooses to be a Christian, a stripper, a smoker, a drug or alcohol user, a pedophile, a communist, or a thief.

I can cite many people who are gay or lesbian, who have families that accept them despite their gay lifestyle and their discomfort with it. Two are members of my own family, and no one in my family (myself included) has shunned them because of it.

As for the violence you mention, there are idiots everywhere. People can be attacked for being gay, having long hair, being women, being black, being asian, or being white. Being gay doesn't put one in a category that is solely exposed to harassment and violence.