😂 it's strange and I guess we will need to agree to disagree, I recognise your name from other posts and you seem really reasonable and lovely. I just don't see your argument.
My cult/religion was Mormonism. It told me what to think and feel, what to wear, who to love, what to eat, etc etc, it's massively difficult to leave because it's all I knew, our families are all Mormon and our friends were all Mormon. Leaving me at literally leaving everything o ever knew and relearning what to think and feel. I am still adjusting and learning and that's one or the reasons I love Mumsnet because people openly express opinions that challenge me and give me perspective.
You friend leaving at her age would be difficult but that doesn't mean she gets a free reign to treat people differently or tell them how to live based on their sexual preferences.
I did challenge my nana, often, and as a result her opinions did slowly change. I remember both my grandparents hating Germans and it just so happened I had a good friend who was German and so I introduced her and slowly they accepted that Germans weren't nazis. They were very wrong and offensive in their thinking but that challenging of their prejudices helped them see that things weren't as they see.
But, despite challenging, they were still daily mail readers so picked up lots of aspects of racism from there.
As I say, I don't think we are going to see this from each other's perspective. I think it's funny that you defend her because she's in a cult when I have literally escaped one. I have a post somewhere, a AMA about it. Although it may not be under this username. There is quite a big group of ex Mormons and JWS. We mix a lot as our experiences as so similar and the control is the same, although Mormons in many ways live a much stricter life, our food is much more controlled and our money. JW also openly shun whereas Mormons don't openly although as told we are things like lazy learners and las disciples and members shouldn't talk to us about doubts or talk about issues etc.
I'm sorry if my opinion offends you, I find her opinion offensive and your defence of that difficult, but I can tell you are a really caring person and I'm sure from your upset, a lovely friend who just wants to defend your friends honour.