# Anti-gay bullying is "healthy peer pressure." **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 1, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479 "2011-07-01T04:46:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/1 "2011-07-01T04:46:31Z")
I don’t have the words to adequately express my reaction to [this garbage](http://www.redcounty.com/content/bullying-peer-pressure-and-gulf-coast-gives). It goes beyond most homophobic rhetoric, into the deep end of sociopathic irrational ranting. But there are some great “Comments” following the article. And of course, how long will it take for this guy to be caught having gay sex? ---
**Author:** ![humanafterall](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/humanafterall/32/19654_2.png) [@humanafterall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/humanafterall)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/2 "2011-07-01T05:17:02Z")
Words. Fucking. Escape me. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/3 "2011-07-01T05:40:19Z")
Link’s not working for me. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/4 "2011-07-01T05:48:54Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Link’s not working for me. Me neither. I think [this](http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2011/06/tea-party-leader-says-anti-gay-bullying-is-%E2%80%98healthy-peer-pressure%E2%80%99/) might be the story. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/5 "2011-07-01T05:52:17Z")
Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/6 "2011-07-01T06:06:36Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > And of course, how long will it take for this guy to be caught having gay sex? That’s a bit homophobic, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/7 "2011-07-01T06:09:31Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > That’s a bit homophobic, isn’t it? No, observant. The most rabid homophobes seem to have a tendency to be hypocritical/suppressed homosexuals. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/8 "2011-07-01T06:13:07Z")
Be that as it may, this sort of gloating comment leads people to the erroneous assumption that homophobia is limited strictly to closeted gays which is not helpful. What the doctor said is offensive enough. I don’t really want him on my team as well. You straights are more than welcome to keep him. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/9 "2011-07-01T06:30:46Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Be that as it may, this sort of gloating comment leads people to the erroneous assumption that homophobia is limited strictly to closeted gays which is not helpful. What the doctor said is offensive enough. I don’t really want him on my team as well. You straights are more than welcome to keep him. “The most rabid homophobes seem to have a tendency to be hypocritical/suppressed homosexuals.”…If people assume homophobia is limited strictly to closeted gays due to reading this quote then it is not the fault of the quoted, it is the fault of the misreading people. He said THE MOST RABID homophobes…not all homophobes. I agree with this quote 100%. They (the suppressed/hypocritical homosexual) are so angst-ridden by their OWN demons that they must project this out onto the gay community. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/10 "2011-07-01T07:06:09Z")
I tried to post a comment, but it was rejected as SPAM for some reason (FTR, it didn’t include any profanity) ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/11 "2011-07-01T07:14:24Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > No, observant. The most rabid homophobes seem to have a tendency to be hypocritical/suppressed homosexuals. I hear that a lot, but have yet to actually see that IRL. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/12 "2011-07-01T07:19:31Z")
Same thing happened to me. I was encouraging him to accept and find peace with his own sexual orientation. It was politely worded, but got “spam filtered.” There aren’t that many comments, so I think they might be blocking everything. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/13 "2011-07-01T07:23:50Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > I hear that a lot, but have yet to actually see that IRL. There are scientific studies backing it up. Men who express the most homophobic attitudes become sexually excited when viewing gay erotica. The real dead giveaway, though, is when they think that homosexuality is a “choice,” or a “behavior.” Basically, that shows that they think same sex attractions are something that all males have. They get turned on by men, therefore they assume all other men must get turned on by men as well. When they use words like “temptation,” you know they’re projecting. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/14 "2011-07-01T08:25:31Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > The real dead giveaway, though, is when they think that homosexuality is a “choice,” or a “behavior.” Basically, that shows that they think same sex attractions are something that all males have. They get turned on by men, therefore they assume all other men must get turned on by men as well. When they use words like “temptation,” you know they’re projecting. Yes. That’s just not a comment that makes sense from a straight perspective. I’m straight, and you can’t “tempt” me with homosexuality any more than you can tempt me to drink a glass full of crude oil. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/15 "2011-07-01T08:42:27Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Yes. That’s just not a comment that makes sense from a straight perspective. I’m straight, and you can’t “tempt” me with homosexuality any more than you can tempt me to drink a glass full of crude oil. What do you think it signifies when you feel you need to use hyperbole to underline your masculinity? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/16 "2011-07-01T09:02:50Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > I hear that a lot, but have yet to actually see that IRL. I used not to buy it, either. And I still think that it probably doesn’t apply to most actively homophobic people. However, as mentioned by **Diogenes** and **Der Trhis** I read a number of strong statements against homosexuality that only make sense with the assumption that men naturally have a sexual attraction for other men. Clearly hinting at the author having felt such an attraction and assuming that everybody else is like him. I wouldn’t say it applies to anybody denying that homosexuality isn’t a choice, though. There are always plenty of people thinking that almost everything they think you shouldn’t do you would be perfectly able not to do if you really wanted to (say, you’re in full depression mode, and they think that you just need to get over yourself or something. Or you’re unemployed, and they think it would be trivially easy to find a job. You just don’t want to work). In this case, it’s at the contrary more a lack of imagination/knowledge (“I’m perfectly fine fucking girls, why won’t those perverts do the same?” “Fucking men is disgusting, how depraved do you have to be to do that?” ) (Plus, as I’ve already noted occasionally, over here, stating that homosexuality is inborn might get you some strong reactions _from homosexuals_, since this idea hasn’t been well received originally, and is still apparently hotly disputed) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/17 "2011-07-01T09:54:08Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Yes. That’s just not a comment that makes sense from a straight perspective. I’m straight, and you can’t “tempt” me with homosexuality any more than you can tempt me to drink a glass full of crude oil. Yeah DT, we all know where that crude oil came from, working on the rigs with your overalls tied around your waist and your hard-hat on, and we know it is going to spill down your front and you are going to have to take you shirt off and get cleaned up. I know where this is going, we all know the pictures you are trying to paint for us. Get thee behind me! But yes, I’m of the same opinion. No, not everyone who makes a homophobic comment is in the closet. But being so vocal and graphic about it suggests, at the very least, a degree of confusion over sexual preference and how to deal with it. If you are comfortable with what you are then you really don’t care what others get up to. ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/18 "2011-07-01T11:06:25Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > I hear that a lot, but have yet to actually see that IRL. Have you missed how many Republican politicians and fundie Christian preachers have been caught and exposed having sex with men? I think the most recent case was the old politician from Florida caught flying with a good-looking young man to “carry his luggage” although the guy had been hired through a website offering male prostitutes. Before that there was a guy caught “playing footsies” with a cop in an airport toilet; a very prominent Preacher who was divorced by his wife because of his gay sex … ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/19 "2011-07-01T11:10:00Z")
Fun comment: > [@](#): > > **I’m with the good Doctor on this one.** > > Peer pressure helped me. When the bullies caught me in school at lunchtime and called me “fatty fat fat” and stuffed the food that I was stuffing in my face into my face, but faster, complete with jeering and laughter from friend and foe alike, chased me all the way home after school while throwing rocks at me, or left messages on my parents’ answering machine (vis-a-vis, the relationship between the shape of the Earth and my own outline), it really helped me focus on what what was holding me back. Tight clothing. I’m all about elastic waistbands now. I’m thinking of moving on to muumuus. > Thank you, Doctor, for promoting good discipline, no matter the price to the disciplined. > And remember, kids, after you turn eighteen, “peer pressure” becomes “assault”. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2011, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479/20 "2011-07-01T11:31:32Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > Have you missed how many Republican politicians and fundie Christian preachers have been caught and exposed having sex with men? I think the most recent case was the old politician from Florida caught flying with a good-looking young man to “carry his luggage” although the guy had been hired through a website offering male prostitutes. [George Rekers](http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2010-05-06/news/christian-right-leader-george-rekers-takes-vacation-with-rent-boy/), co-founder of the Family Research Council, a seriously anti-gay Christian lobbying group. He’s also published a bunch of books and papers about how bad homosexuality is, plus was at the time on the board of a research group dedicated to finding methods to “cure” homosexuality. And he went on a vacation with a guy from the [Rentboy.com](http://Rentboy.com) website, whose ad praised his ass and “perfectly built 8 inch cock (uncut),” because Mr. Rekers needed help ‘lifting his luggage’ due to medical problems. Yet Rekers was pushing the luggage cart in the airport, not “Lucien.” Talk about living in denial. I’d feel sorry for him if he hadn’t done so much to demonize and pathologize homosexuality, and make so many people miserable. His research studies have even been suspected to cause emotional harm to their subjects, [according to at least one family](http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/06/07/sissy.boy.experiment/index.html?hpt=hp_c1). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anti-gay-bullying-is-healthy-peer-pressure/587479.md?page=2)