I'm something of a wannabe editor, so forgive me if I'm a bit of a jerk here.
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I also take mild offense to the Day of Silence event because it demonstrates a total lack of respect for the beliefs of others. I do not believe this, but to many, homosexuality is a sin for which one is sentenced to divine punishment in the form of Hell. To many, homosexuality is offensive. It goes against their religious or ideological beliefs (again, the “taboo/opinion topics” arise) and those people have every right to be affronted by this event. It shoves a message/belief in their face that goes directly against their core values, and this IS what I believe is a problem. I personally do not care if you are gay, but don’t “wave” it in front of my face and try to shove it down my throat. That is exactly what the Day of Silence does.
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In your previous paragraphs, if I understood right, you take issue with how the LGBT community can have an entire day to honor their controversial struggles in society, but expressing other controversial views are liable to get you called out, suspended etc. We can be as vocal as we want about homosexuality, but guns or religion must be shut up immediately! It's a good point...but it doesn't seem to be much of an argument for your decision not to participate.
I have a very hard time believing that anyone will take the "homosexuality offends some people" argument seriously. Alas, poor bigot! It almost sounds like a parody, considering that the existence of these sorts of people is a huge reason non-heterosexuals have faced discrimination. You come across as shooting down a movement with arguements from their greatest enemy.
If anything, that just digs you deeper into looking homophobic.
You are basically arguing that an LGBT pride demonstration would be offensive to someone's beliefs - okay, what about every holiday ever that doesn't match everyone's beliefs, and every other political demonstration that draws detractors? Hell, even that pistol shirt you mentioned. Those are also "putting someone else's beliefs in your face". You can't argue this for gay pride unless you're going to argue it for everything else.
You also mention constitutional rights: yes, you absolutely have a right to your own beliefs. So do they. Others have a right to assemble peacefully and honor/celebrate/discuss something you don't give a flying purple **** about. They actually do have a right to criticize you (and you, them), but your problem is you're focusing too little on yourself. This is personal defense, and bringing rights into it gets complicated, since it's a two-way street. You're trying to demonstrate hypocrisy, and...kinda failing. Same with values: actually, if you live in a multicultural, liberal, secular society, yes, you are going to encounter things that are contrary to your beliefs. That's literally part of life. The "we shouldn't have things we don't agree with 'shoved in our faces'" argument isn't going to work, partly because it applies to everyone else, and people have sucha variety of beliefs, it's impossible to please everyone. Tolerance is necessary in a society like ours.
Real advice:
You should not be forced to participate in anything political; opting-out should be allowed and accepted, provided the individual remains respectful. I understand you're trying to defend your decision not to participate. Try this on for size: where do people get off assuming you're homophobic because you don't want to participate in a demonstration? Try throwing that angle in there. Currently, you come across as slamming Day of Silence and gay rights rather than defending your choice not to participate. You'll do much better slamming his crappy excuse for reasoning. You don't want to participate; it's not that important an issue to you, or you don't agree that it's necessary, what have you.
That does not at all equal homophobia.
Okay, I've been *****y enough and probably repeated myself a dozen times.