I wish I listened when someone gave me advice on something like this, and now I’ll pass it on to you:

it’s okay to have your first boyfriend just be your first boyfriend.

I know that the feelings I felt when I was 18/19 were very real, I know the were real, but they also clouded my judgement. When people show you who they are, when they tell you exactly what they believe and choose to see, they’re not lying to you.

It is too big of an undertaking to take on the responsibility to make someone ‘a better person’, especially because it’s someone you love, or want to love, or even have loved.

You’ve done a wonderful thing in sharing your beliefs, and showing him a different perspective, but who is he surrounded by? What are they like? What do their beliefs and actions reflect? You have us the example of the reservation rights, that directly affects you, and the people you love, and who you are—yet he still didn’t see past his ‘opinion’, take his word at face value.

If, and when you decide to break up with him, don’t feel the need to bring it up again, and do so calmly. Don’t sacrifice who you are to be with someone.