Was it Homophobic?

[Sentox6]

You know what I hate the most? How the meaning of the word has become so corrupted. Homophobia, in the strictest sense, should be fear of homosexuality. In modern usage, though... well, I'll let Wikipedia do the talking:

Homophobia is a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, and in some cases transgender and intersex people. Definitions refer variably to antipathy, contempt, prejudice, aversion, and irrational fear.

Hell, I want gay to mean happy again. You know why I dislike you, homosexuals? I'll tell you why. Because you're messing up my language >_<

 

[kouriichi]

Just because its something you must put up with doesnt mean they can flaunt it :/
I find nothing wrong with homosexuals. Infact, i have a few friends who are, and theyer some of the nicest people i know.
But the moment they ask me to join them in bed, im done. And they know that.

Theres nothing wrong with hating something. Infact, im all for hate. Aslong as you arnt doing weekly "fag-drags" or running around, preaching who homosexuals are the devil, your doing absolutely nothing wrong.

 

[GBlair88]

Wouldn't call it homophobic myself, as your friend is just uncomfortable at seeing something he's unfamiliar with. Many people are uncomfortable around people they've just met whether they are different to them or not. It's just down to unfamiliarity rather than hatred.

 

[starkiller212]

I think it's kind of natural to be uncomfortable or repulsed by something sexual if it doesn't appeal to what you find attractive. For example, a posted of 2 people in animal costumes making out would make me at least as uncomfortable, as would such a poster featuring an elderly couple. On the other hand, 2 women kissing each other might not elicit the same reaction if they are both attractive to me. So, for me at least, it's not that I'm homophobic or furryphobic, just the... imagery associated with that isn't appealing to me. Accepting that someone else likes something doesn't mean having to like it yourself.

I generally disagree with "in-your-face" messages of any kind, including ones that I personally agree with, but that's another discussion.

 

[Wyane380]

Homosexuality isn't a disease, homophobia isn't a disease. Being BiGayLes is not a choice, but being homophobic is hardly a choice either. Acting out on homophobic feelings in a destructive way is foolish and has in the past martyred and added steam to the equality train. Homophobia is something people can get over with actual social interaction with gay people. They aren't different, they're just gay.

 

[Doug]

The poster said "Homophobia is a social disease".When I saw it I thought to myself " fuck you, just because a person isn't down with who you are does not make them socially diseased."

Re: This part: I think it depends on the definition of homophobia - if its simply thinking/feeling uncomfortable with homosexuality, I say you're right to say 'fuck you' to the poster. If its act or actively acting against homosexuals, or even saying 'homosexuality is wrong', then thats not acceptable to me either. But anyways, I think we both agree that if someone is gay, that's who they are, and so long as they don't want us to take part in it, it should have no effect on us.

 

[The Unworthy Gentleman]

You just need to tolerate homosexuality, you don't have to like it.

I don't like homosexuality but I won't treat a gay any different because of it. So long as who he is isn't based entirely around his sexuality, I'm cool with him. If the poster makes you feel uncomfortable then that's okay, you just need to accept others for differences they can't control, you can hate on them entirely for an attitude you deem to be that of an asshole.

 

[ultimateownage]

A friend of mine saw a very provocative gay rights poster in our school. He was two gay men dressed as hockey players making out. He asked me if was homophobic if he felt uncomfortable with it . I told him " It's fine to be uncomfortable with it, you're not a gay basher so I don't see a problem". I knew which poster he was talking about. I told him " It pissed me off, but for a different reason". The poster said "Homophobia is a social disease".When I saw it I thought to myself " fuck you, just because a person isn't down with who you are does not make them socially diseased."

That poster just really bothers me in general. It's really in your face. I understand the fact that the homosexual community hasn't had it easy, but I don't think you need to be all up in peoples face about it. You're homosexual, big fucking deal ( i'm in Canada).I almost want to rip that poster down. Your part of the human fucking race, you sexuality in meaningless and none of my concern.

In short; Is okay to be uncomfortable with homosexuality. I say yes.

I'm most likely wrong somewhere in here. I do enjoy other peoples perspective in such things, and love expanding my own perspective.

I think your opinion is fine and not at all homophobic, but only on one condition. Would you be annoyed if there was a poster of a heterosexual couple kissing, and being 'all up in your face about it'? If not, yes, you ARE being homophobic. If not, you just don't like people making out in public which is fine.
That's pretty much my opinion, it's not okay to only hate it because it's a homosexual couple. But if you just hate the act in general, in this case being making out in public, then there's nothing wrong.

 

[Blitzwarp]

I think I'd be off-put if a guy and a girl were furiously making out on that poster. Equal rights to gay people and all, but it's sort of rude to be that egregious then insinuate someone is homophobic for being uncomfortable with it.

There are valid, non-homophobic reasons to be put off by that poster. Get a room, people.

I agree.

Also, OP, do you know who put the poster up? Was it the school, or a student? I only ask because things like this weren't allowed in my school (anything, from sexuality to gender issues to religion) in case anybody sued, and props to your school at least for allowing its students to be open-minded, even with such a silly poster.

 

[s0denone]

I always propose this thought exercise when homophobia comes up: Imagine it's racism and change "homosexuals" for "blacks" in whatever you just said.

Let's try it out, shall we?

"You just need to tolerate black people, you don't have to like them.

I don't like black people, but I won't treat a black person any different because of it. So long as who he is isn't based entirely around his race, I'm cool with him."

Yeeeeah. Not as neutral as you intended, probably.

Are you telling me that people I don't like, I have a phobia of?
I agree entirely with your quote there, with the "black people" in it.

There isn't anything remotely racist in it at all.
People shouldn't be defined by (or "based around") their race at all, they should be defined by their actions.

EDIT: I should note, though, that I don't agree with the "I don't like black people[...]", but that I agree with the reasoning that follows it.

 

[superbatranger]

I never did understand that whole notion of openly projecting one's sexuality in such a way that's akin to going around shouting, "Hey, I'm ____!" Shouldn't something like that be kept toned down in a moderate way? I mean, you don't have to tell me your sexuality right off the bat. It won't change my opinion of you.

 

[Lord Kloo]

This reminds me of a poster in my college:

It shows a picture of three normal sized brains and one small one, they are all labeled as different races but the small one is labeled racist, which in itself is racism assuming that just because one doesn't like other colored people they are stupid..

Anyway OT: It shouldn't be in your face like that because they insult people who disagree with them over an issue of a subjective concept.. people who hate meat, X-bros or anything else don't have to put up with that abuse neither should homophobic people.. but also people shouldn't voice their opinions if they are insulting others..

If you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all..

 

[Beryl77]

You can tolerate something but you don't have to like it.
I don't have anything against gay people because it's their right to do whatever they want with their sexual life and it's none of my concern. I don't get why so many people care about what gay people are doing. If they're not having sex right in front of you, simply ignore them if you don't like it.
Someone in my class really likes to watch "how I met you mother" and his favourite charakter is Barney Stinson and when he found out that his actor, Neil Patrick Harris, is gay he said that he couldn't believe it and that he doesn't like him anymore. That's Homophobic but if you're feeling unconfortable when a gay couple makes out it's not really homophobic (maybe a slight bit?). I also don't like to look at two gay people when they're kissing in public but I don't mind what they do in private. It's just unusual for some straight people to see that and it's normal for humans not to like something unusual.

 

[Unspeakable]

I think we're all missing the point here. It's not the content that matters; what's of moral relevance is whether or not it is ok to hang posters. And I say no, no it isn't.

 

[CoL0sS]

That hardly makes you a homophobe. Although I do agree that "in your face" attitude that some of the people who feel different (or were mistreated through course of history) have these days is getting pretty tiring. I don't really care about your sexuality,color of your skin, clothes or social status as long as you act like a decent human being. Yeah perhaps you have it rough, but these days who doesn't, and shoving your beliefs down my throat sure isn't gonna make it better.

 

[guntotingtomcat]

To be honest, I'n not down with PDA at all.

Unless it's in a night club, which is kinda hot.