How many homophobic people are there actually?

[JochemHippie]

In Perth, Australia, i find people around my age - 17 - say they are homosexual (Or more commonly, Bisexual) as it is fashionable. Its like that Kony thing; People say that they are "X" to be with the "in" crowd.

I have met two homos in my life so far; Both gay, both in a relationship.

In the hundreds of people ive met, only two were gay. Most were people saying "IM BI COZ ITS FINE" or something.

It is from this that stems my Homo"Phobia"

On a related note, i hate that word. "Homophobia"..

I was under the impression that "Phobia" meant "Morbid Fear" Or "Irrational Fear".
I dont fear homosexuality. I just hate it.

Or am i reading that wrong?

Just wondering here, do you hate the thought of homosexuality or the hipster elements that have unfortunately became a part of LGBT communities?

 

[Lord_Gremlin]

A lot of people do have a problem with it. In my country (Russia) it's the majority. Actually because of president Yeltsin (first Russian president) homosexuality is no longer a criminal offense/felony here, but it's not like society started to look at it differently.
Although, I would question term "homophobic". People do despise gay people, even propose killing them (and that even I don't approve) but I've only seen children who are actually afraid of them.
A better poll would be - how many people accept homosexuality as norm.

 

[ShadowStar42]

Most of the world, majority of China, India, Africa, South America, The Southern states of the USA, etc etc. The people who support gays are in the minority.

Ok, being from the NW US I just want to come out in defense of the 'middle' states and the South which seem to be getting a lot of hate here. There are a lot of homophobes in Washington, Oregon, California as well as New York and Maine. The populations might be a little more quite, a little less aggressive but they're here. And there are a lot of good, decent people in the South and Midwest US.

 

[Lieju]

Somehow I doubt that 50% of the girls you know are bisexual. Maybe 50% of the girls you know are saying they're bisexual because it's considered hot or whatever but I doubt 50% really are. Just saying.

A lot of teenagers aren't yet sure what they are. It's just now that they know bisexuality (or asexuality)is a thing, that they suppose they should call themselves that because they kinda like both sexes and haven't figured out yet what they are, and what sexual feelings are like.

As for homophobia, depends a lot on where you are. I'm Finnish, and there's certainly it.
Overall, I think it's lessening, but people who are homophobic are being more vocal about it, partly as a response to gay people being openly gay. Before, it was just sort of accepted as a 'fact' that everyone is straight, and if someone was gay, they'd hide it.

For example, we had the presidential elections just recently, and a gay candidate Pekka Haavisto got to the second round. He lost (with quite a margin), but still, it's a sign of the change that he could get that far. But according the polls, many people voted the other candidate just because he wasn't gay.

And even people who I know and who aren't bad people (mostly older ones) were opposed to him just for being gay, and said things like "They should be satisfied with all the rights they have, why do they need more?". So basically it brought all the homophobia on the surface, a lot of what they probably didn't even think was anti-gay.

Also, I have been attacked with pepper-spray for being a part of the gay-pride.

Mostly, the sentiment among the older people seems to be that being gay is ok as long as you hide it. And they say things like "I have no problem with gays, but I don't like it how they flaunt it on my face"
At which point I like to tell them I am gay (It's not a secret, but unless it comes up, I'm not going to mention it) and hilariously, the response usually is "Why didn't you tell me?".

So I'd guess those people are kinda uneasy about gays, but try to rationalise their uneasiness in a way that they don't sound homohobic, because they probably don't want to think of themselves as that.

Even some people who know I'm gay will sometimes say something anti-gay, and then quickly add that they don't mean ME, just those other gay people.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

Maybe this is just the case for me, but now-a-days whenever I see someone saying that they are a "proud homosexual/bisexual whatevs'" I always think "so? Is that still the rage these days?". I have rarely, if ever, seen any homophobic activity where I live, so I'm always confused as to why there still are so many that feel so proud in announcing their sexuality. I'm 17, and I think that about 50% of all the girls I've met are bisexual.

But once again, this may just be me. How is it where you people live?

Let me you in a little secret a bi girl is nothing new. (and they could very well be faking just to look cool) Two girls making out has been accepted for decades. Lesbians are "hot". Its 2 guys making out that piss people off.

Gays have been tortured and killed in America for being who they are, that alone is enough to be impressed by any guy who public displays his sexual orientation.

 

[Lieju]

Nope. The word tranny may be offensive to some people but is is most certainly not a pejorative in itself. It is simply a contraction of Transsexual/Trangender/Tran-whatever-fucking-title-they-want-to-be-known-as-this-week as I am not learning a whole assload of terms for a bunch of people who can not even decide themselves what is the correct word this week. And they always get so goddamn pissy if you use the wrong one.

A while ago I was discussion these issues with a transexual and used the word 'tranny' to refer to them. She politely informed me it's considered offensive, and I told her I didn't know and it was not my intention to be offensive. No-one getting pissy.
I suspect it's your overall demeanor that makes people 'pissy' as you put it, and judging from your posts, that what you want.

Generally speaking, words are just words, it's the intent that matters, and I have doubts about your intent...

Fortunately for me the escapist head mod agrees with me as I got a warning over turned because he agreed with my definition.
Some people may view the word Jap as offensive but to most it is simply a contraction of Japanese. Same with Yank, auzzie, brit, etc. All these words by themselves are fine. They would only be offensive if used offensively.

True.'******' in itself is just a word. But it's generally considered to be offensive, and so people who want to be offensive use it, while other use some other word. If you are aware that the people you are talking to will view the word as offensive, it is your attempt to be offensive.

How it has changed in centuries past is not my concern. Its definition within my life time is my only concern. And that definition is a union of a man and a woman which has legal benefits/responsibilities and strong religious overtones.
I have no problem at all with homosexual/lesbian couples getting all the legal rights and responsibilities to it under a different heading. Of course, my ultimate solution[footnote]Which will never happen because it would require both sides to get their heads outta their asses and compromise. Which lets be honest, both sides are too fucking stupid to do.[/footnote] would be for a countries president/prime minister/ruling warlord to go the whole separation of church and state way, thus declaring that they, as a representative of the government, have no right to judge on religious matters. So the title of Marriage becomes a issue of the church. So therefore, under the law, all marriage type unions carry the same name regardless of the sex of both parties. So legally speaking its civil unions all round. Leave the "marriage" issue to the church.
And I would be happy with that compromise simply because it would stop all the whining and wasting of tax payer money on something that is totally unimportant.

You seem to be mistaken about the nature of the debate.
I agree with you, marriage should have the legal side and the religious side, separated, and this already is the case in the US. The thing most homosexual organisations want is the legal recognition.

But even if you say that the religious matter should be left to the church, the church is made of people who disagree on this matter as well. There are religious homosexuals who believe their God is okay with gays marrying, there are heterosexuals who agree with them.
The churches are divided on matters such as these. They are divided on a lot of things, and change over time anyway.

And there's the freedom of religion. People who believe gay-marriage is OK are totally free to have their own churches or try to change the ones they're a part of, just as those who oppose it are free to do so as well.

But this whole thing is not simply a matter of non-religious gays VS religious homophobes.

 

[Jimmybobjr]

In Perth, Australia, i find people around my age - 17 - say they are homosexual (Or more commonly, Bisexual) as it is fashionable. Its like that Kony thing; People say that they are "X" to be with the "in" crowd.

I have met two homos in my life so far; Both gay, both in a relationship.

In the hundreds of people ive met, only two were gay. Most were people saying "IM BI COZ ITS FINE" or something.

It is from this that stems my Homo"Phobia"

On a related note, i hate that word. "Homophobia"..

I was under the impression that "Phobia" meant "Morbid Fear" Or "Irrational Fear".
I dont fear homosexuality. I just hate it.

Or am i reading that wrong?

Just wondering here, do you hate the thought of homosexuality or the hipster elements that have unfortunately became a part of LGBT communities?

To be fair, i view them as one and the same; Hipsters are gay, and gay are hipsters. I view them like this because they are one and the same (Synonymous?) at least, in my area. What i really mean is i hate it when they all get up and go around screaming "GEY LOVE IS K, ARIGHT?!" In... everywhere. Im sick of people standing up and yelling about human rights whenever someone is accused of being gay, or whenever someone posts a link to a new article of someone being bullied in America or whatever. I have three on my wall right now. And i have 17 friends. These are not nice things; But i dont need to keep seeing it..

Basically, i operate on a "Dont Ask Dont Tell" basic. Go ahead and do whatever it is you do; just dont keep friggin shoving it in my face.

Ill draw comparison to the Kony thing again; I hate Kony because people keep shoving him at me. I hate Homosexuality because people keep shoving it at me.

And me viewing Homosexuality as just another Sexual Deviancy doesn't help either.

FakeEdit: after thinking for a moment, i realised that the people of the LGBT community i hate the most are the Bisexuals. Simply because they seem to join together in one of three groups;

"People are all great, and i love them all for it" (Arse!) "I just love sex, and will get it anywhere" (Creepy and hopeless) and "Hipsters" (GEY LUV IS GUD MAAAAN)

 

[Extragorey]

I think that about 50% of all the girls I've met are bisexual.

I think you seriously need to check your personal definition of "bisexual", "gay", "homosexual", etc.

It doesn't mean you're really really good mates with another guy/girl. It means you literally want to have sex with them. Very very few people are truly "bisexual" or "gay"; it's more of a fashion just to say that you are nowadays.

 

[Lieju]

In Perth, Australia, i find people around my age - 17 - say they are homosexual (Or more commonly, Bisexual) as it is fashionable. Its like that Kony thing; People say that they are "X" to be with the "in" crowd.

I have met two homos in my life so far; Both gay, both in a relationship.

In the hundreds of people ive met, only two were gay. Most were people saying "IM BI COZ ITS FINE" or something.

It is from this that stems my Homo"Phobia"

On a related note, i hate that word. "Homophobia"..

I was under the impression that "Phobia" meant "Morbid Fear" Or "Irrational Fear".
I dont fear homosexuality. I just hate it.

Or am i reading that wrong?

So, you hate gay people because you have only met two and they were in a relationship. You hate relationships? I don't understand you.

And hate usually stems from fear. A lot of people who are against homosexual rights are so because they have some illogical fears about them. But maybe you should be called heterosexist, then.

First of all; people who report me for voicing my opinion? You suck. DX

Secondly; I find that being against homosexuality is actually in a minority here. By reporting me for being against "Me bashing Minority" means that you are in fact, bashing my Minority.

No, homosexuals are still a minority. (Although I think you shouldn't bash anyone)

But in any case, people who think blatant racism is not ok are a minority. So is a person who is a white supremacist who is voicing their opinion about how all black people and Jews should be killed then protected from any reporting?
Then again, I read some of your posts, and you kinda are just trolling, not just voicing your opinion in a polite manner.

Also, you and other people who have a problem with 'gay people showing their gayness on your face'. Think. Would you have a problem with a heterosexual doing the same thing. Telling you they are straight, kissing in public, saying they want to get married?

If you say 'no', then you are a homophobe because you don't want gays to have the same rights straight people do. Behaviour that you think is okay for straight people is suddenly not okay for gays. It's like saying "I'm not racist, but I just don't like it when black people eat in the same restaurants I do"

If you answer 'yes', then you just have issues with sexuality. I personally think it's inproper to talk about your sex-life in public.

 

[LilithSlave]

Nah, political correctness is mostly a stupid excuse thrown around by people with unpopular opinions who don't like that other people have opinions that condemn their bigotry.

Well put, it's often a pathetic way of silencing people.

Blaming "political correctness" of being censorship and the like. But then turning around and using the label to tell other people what they're saying is stupid and pointless. A cheap way of telling others not to disagree with them.

And yeah, avoiding offending people is a social skill. And whining at people for being offended when you do or say something offensive, doesn't help.

Also, perhaps the term "homophobia" IS overused. A far more accurate description of the social construct that treats heterosexuals as superior to homosexuals, is heterosexism.

it is and always has been the "sacred bond between a man and a woman"

No, it hasn't.

And you're also making far too big of a deal out of a word.

 

[PhantomEcho]

How many people are 'Homophobic'?

Well, if you were actually talking about people who were bigoted or prejudiced or discriminating towards homosexuals, then I guess there's probably quite a lot of them still out there. Not as many as there were, of course, now that places here in America are becoming more and more tolerant.

But the trouble is, Homophobic doesn't mean bigoted or prejudiced or discriminating.

It means irrationally and uncontrollably fearful of homosexuality. And that's an ENTIRELY different question. Homophobia =/= Bigot or Prejudiced or Discriminating against. That's just a corruption of the word.

Now, don't get me wrong, sometimes the two DO cross over. But that certainly doesn't mean that they're therefore one and the same.

And the bastardization of the word, which is a legitimate condition, to mean someone or something detestable and/or hateful is just sad and ironic. To be honest, I'm more offended by the misuse of the word Homophobia by those championing equality and fairness than I am by some of the most 'common' accusations of anti-gay hate of the current day.

I think that's probably a good sign, though.

It means we're making progress. But I do worry we'll slip too far the other way, just as we did on the issue of race.



It's okay to champion equality.

It's not okay to beat other people over the head with your race, religion, or sexual preference in order to get your way.

I hope we'll do better this time around, and maybe put this whole 'Unequal Equality' thing behind us once and for all. On all fronts.

 

[Vault101]

In snip.

how much do you "hate" homosexuality?

because if you just find flamboyant gay people somwhat annoying, or dont like people who make a big deal out of it then thats not homophobic, in fact alot of gay people feel the same way

but please dont tell me your saying based on a couple of people youve met that ALL gay people are like that...but because THAT, is pure unfiltered bullshit

 

[Jimmybobjr]

-Snip-

Read my other post; i relate to all the issues you raise point out finer points in my arguement.

 

[PhantomEcho]

Fair point. People have a terrible tendency to latch onto the 'phobia' part and ignore that the meaning has expanded beyond that.

That's because the meaning hasn't expanded. It has been forcibly violated, just as so many other words have been raped and abused by those championing some cause or another. It's far simpler, and wiser, to NOT apply unintended meanings to words.

Particularly when the group in question has been victimized by such unintended attachments to words for such a very, very long time.


There are people who are legitimately, irrationally, uncontrollably afraid of homosexuals and homosexuality.

Why? Hell if I know. Could be trauma, could be abuse, could be some underlying weakness in their personality complex which causes them to unwillingly question and compare themselves against all forms of differentialization, and therefore they might fear 'absorbing' that complex into themselves.

A trained psychologist and several years of therapy and potentially medication might be able to get to the bottom of it.

In the meanwhile, these same folks would get lumped in with the rest of our day's "morally reprehensible bigots" through no fault of their own.


However, let's get ONE thing straight: There is NO acceptable cause for bigotry and hate. There is NO acceptable cause for prejudice. There is NO acceptable cause to inflict harm or malice upon others for any difference, perceived or real.

And that's all there is to it.

 

[Jimmybobjr]

In snip.

how much do you "hate" homosexuality?

because if you just find flamboyant gay people somwhat annoying, or dont like people who make a big deal out of it then thats not homophobic, in fact alot of gay people feel the same way

but please dont tell me your saying based on a couple of people youve met that ALL gay people are like that...but because THAT, is pure unfiltered bullshit

I have another post somehwere above in which i detail my beliefs.


But yes, i have only met two (ACTIUAL) Homosexual guys. I only know one of them.

What im rally going on about is explained in my other post.

 

[Thaluikhain]

What makes someone homophobic?

Does not supporting gay marriage make you homophobic? If you support gay marriage but don't support the right for gays to adopt, does that make you homophobic? If you run into a gay person and have to run home and shower right away because you're afraid you're going to catch the gay (OK, maybe we can all agree that THAT makes you homophobic)?

Yeah, this is a sticky issue.

There are various people who commit hate crimes, who use the "gay panic" defense, who publically call for the extermination of gays. That's clearly prejudiced, but concentrating on that gives the impression that you have to be that bad to count.

What about the people who are against gay marriage? They might acknowledge the rights of gay people to exist, just not have the same rights.

What about the people who use "gay" as an insult? But not gay gay, they just mean stupid or whatever, they don't have anything against gays, really, they just use the word for them as an insult.

What about the people who don't want gay characters in kids books? Again, their existence might be ok, but not if kids find out about them.

What about the people who don't want gay characters in their adult TV shows? Adult in the sense that there's swearing and violence and maybe sex, not porn.

Now, I don't mean the people who only choose to watch stuff with no gay people (though that's voting with their money and that can lead to gay people being swept under the rug as it were, which has consequences), I mean the people who band together, form concerned parents groups and write angry letters.

Sure, they aren't themselves physically harming anyone, they are just doing what they can to maintain a culture where gay isn't really acceptable. There is an awful (literally) lot of that.

 

[Evil Smurf]

I am apprehensive when it comes to gay people, I just don't know what to do. However, I don't hate them, nor do I hate anyone

Why are you apprehensive, if I may ask? As far as I can tell, most people in the not-straight community are pretty much the same as those in the straight community, just that they like to have sex with different things.

Just so you know, I'm not saying this condescendingly, or Xly or Yly or Zly, I'm actually just curious.

Well to be honest, I have only just within this year seen actual gay people face to face, so you could say I am sheltered. The result being I don't understand how you could be a gay male, I don't understand the lifestyle choice. Interestingly enough I understand lesbians is that sexist? I don't mean to sound offensive and do understand how this makes me out to be a tool but I think I am a *tiny* bit homophobic.

I just don't understand gay people, however this does not mean I hate them. I hate no one!

 

[Kinokohatake]

I worked with a guy who had a lesbian mom but supports Rick Santorum wanting to add an ammendmant to the Constitution defining marriage as between a man and a woman.