A phobia is an irrational fear, usually considered a form of mental illness. Most irrational fear has it's root in ignorance. Using the term homophobe for someone who is not for gay marriage is like like replacing the word "rape" with "make love" in a rape trial. It may be understood to refer to the same thing but there is and extreme difference in the connotation. Controlling the semantics of a debate controls the debate and the fact that gays have successfully labeled anyone who doesn't support them as homophobic helps to sway anyone who chooses a side but is happy to remain ignorant of the actual issues. As for gay marriage, it is a notion that changes the meaning of marriage as a legal entity. If the government allows sexual relationships outside of marriage and paternity is enforced by law, marriage actually serves no purpose, gay or straight. If marriage is just a legal acceptance of a nonexclusive, impermanent coupling what public good does it serve. In terms of court and legal costs for marriage and divorce the amount is astounding. When paternity was guess work virginity and monogamy were important for proving legal liability. Now all of that is too rare to consider and paternity can be proven so why should marriage continue to exist in legal form. Health insurance is another issue but there really is no pandemic of gay couples where one can get insurance while the other cannot. It happens but again it is really to rare to consider a basis for public policy. Please make sure your opinions are informed and well thought out before going on another witch hunt based on popular opinion.
