I understand your point. I know there are few big misconception about homosexuality among muslim communities and probably other societies as well but it’s very hard to keep religion completely aside in such issues and on a forum where majority is muslim.
There are stronger feelings against homosexuals than alcoholics or smokers NOT only in muslim or desi communities but also in other people in rest of the world.
Btw, if you want to defend your point regarding homosexuality you can use religion if you’re fully aware of the Scripture and its teachings. In Islam, a homosexual person can even lead a prayer so that should be enough for those people, but the problem is most of us find it hard differentiating between sexuality and the sin.