You could choose not to be offended by peaceful protest too.
When did you choose to be heterosexual? Was that a tough choice for you?
I was born hetersexual, there was no choice involved.

Your friends must be brave to choose to be second class citizens that are often the victims of violence. Thst must have been a hard choice to make, probably much harder than your choice to be heterosexual and not subject to legal discrimination and violence  for your choice.