Your friend sounds like a reasonable, thinking man!
I actually do have a good male friend who is gay. He doesn't vote, as he thinks his vote won't count, but he told me if he did vote, he'd vote for President Bush. I have talked myself hoarse to him about that, but can't convince him. Good job you did!
What's funny is he keeps saying to me "There's a part of you that still doesn't believe it, but I did!"