# Homophobic hatred
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [January 4, 2000, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215 "2000-01-04T00:44:00Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Bucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bucky)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2000, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/1 "2000-01-04T00:44:00Z")
Just curious. Can anyone think of a reason why someone would hate gays and lesbians other than “the Bible says it’s wrong”? I’m trying to introduce ethical reasoning on this subject to a class.
Bucky
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### Author:  [@fuzzy-wuzzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzy-wuzzy)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2000, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/2 "2000-01-04T01:04:00Z")
well Bucky…you shouldn’t hate gays and lesbians just because the Bible says it is wrong…it is the act that you should hate…and not the people themselves…
There are just some people in the world that hate anyone that is considered “different” as society defines it. It has always been in the eyes of society that if a male takes a mate it will be female…and the female will take a male. You don’t rock the boat.
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“Do or do not, there is no try” - Yoda
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### Author:  [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2000, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/3 "2000-01-04T01:11:00Z")
People hate gay people because they are _different._ Face it, you are either repulsed or intrigued by the idea of two people of the same sex getting it on. Regardless, it’s an uncomfortable feeling b/c we’ve been conditioned to believe that same sex attraction is an abhorration.
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### Author:  [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2000, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/4 "2000-01-04T01:13:00Z")
It’s been noted before that gay bashers may actually have some homoerotic feelings themselves, but feel that homosexuality is wrong and “compensate” by bashing gays. I doubt that covers all who hold extreme negative feelings towards homosexuals. Manny people have difficulty with entertaining more than one rigid perspective on the world and feel the need to reinforce the perspective they can understand by actively denigrating any alternate view. That personality is hardly confined to the ranks of the gay bashers - they’re all over the socio-political spectrum.
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### Author:  [@special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/special)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2000, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/5 "2000-01-04T01:15:00Z")
people generally fear that which they don’t understand. it’s a better front to show hate than to show fear.
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The purpose of life is to matter, to count, to have it make a difference you lived at all.
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### Author:  [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2000, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/6 "2000-01-04T01:16:00Z")
## IIRC, homosexuality was despised in Ancient Greece because it was seen as an ‘affectation of the aristocracy.’ I’ll have to dig out my copy of “Lies and Myths in World History” when I get home for the full details.
JMCJ
“John C., it looks like you have blended in very nicely.”
-UncleBeer
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### Author:  [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2000, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/7 "2000-01-04T04:27:00Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Face it, you are either repulsed or intrigued by the idea of two people of the same sex getting it on.
Speak for yourself, please. Doesn’t do anything for me one way or the other.
-Melin
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### Author:  [@Surgoshan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surgoshan)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2000, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/8 "2000-01-04T04:35:00Z")
Homosexuality was despised in Ancient Greece? That’s news to me! I thought that it was trendy for men to play with little boys in Ancient Greece. Hence the joke “How did you separate the men from the boys in Ancient Greece? With a crowbar.”
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### Author:  [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2000, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/9 "2000-01-04T05:59:00Z")
Er-herm. To quote from “Legends, Lies & Cherished Myths of World History”, c. 1993 by Richard Shenkman, pp. 81-82:
> [@](#):
>
> … [Homosexuality’s] decline in Greece began around the fifth century B.C., but not because moralists decided it was bad. It declined because it was associated with the aristocracy and by the fifth century (the Age of Democracy), the aristocracy was on the run.
Unfortunately, no cite is given, so I can’t tell you Shenkman’s source for this one.
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JMCJ
“John C., it looks like you have blended in very nicely.”
-UncleBeer
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### Author:  [@Navigator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Navigator)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2000, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/10 "2000-01-04T07:00:00Z")
I don’t know the acronym IIRC…
Illicit Illogical Ramblings Contained?
Imigination Imagery Rebellious Contraband?
probably neither…
{scratching head}
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† Jon †
Phillipians 4:13
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### Author:  [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2000, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/11 "2000-01-04T07:23:00Z")
If I Recall Correctly.
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### Author:  [@Giant\_Squid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giant_Squid)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2000, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/12 "2000-01-04T07:37:00Z")
From what I’ve heard, because either, “it’s not natural”, “it’s not normal”, or “the can’t have any children”. Of course, at least one of these is totally and the other 2 can be argued against successfully by a 5 year old child, but oh well. If you actually persistently question the people who say this, they often admit that the Bible says it’s wrong so they’re just justifying it to themselves or others.
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Farewell, farewell, but this I tell
To thee, thou Wedding-Guest
He prayeth well who loveth well
Both man and bird and beast
He prayeth best who loveth best
All things both great and small
For the dear God who loveth us
He made and loveth all
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Rime of the Ancient Mariner
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### Author:  [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2000, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/13 "2000-01-04T15:11:00Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Can anyone think of a reason why someone would hate gays and lesbians other than “the Bible says it’s wrong”?
Why do some hate because of skin color? Or because of religious beliefs? Or ethnic background? Or any number of other factors outside the control of the target group? Because it is human nature to want to be superior to others. If one cannot be superior on his own merit, he will often turn to a group (strength in numbers). And why claim to be superior to only one person when you can claim to be superior to a whole group? Simply assign the target group certain identifying characteristics, some real (like skin color or sexual preference), some based, however loosely, in fact (big nose, kinky hair, effeminate/masculine, etc.), and some totally made up (dumb, lazy, cheating, thieving, etc.). Voila! Instant superiority! Now you can feel better about your miserable existance, 'cause at least you’re better than _them_.
Why hide behind the Bible? Because even the most demented hatemonger likes to rationalize his hatred. The Bible is widely known and respected, can be interpreted in different ways, carries an air of authority to a great many people, and is poorly understood by the masses - what better place to ground your rationalization? Some gay bashers claim Biblical authority, but so do some white supremacy groups, militias, dictators, and end times “prophets”. The Bible lists many things as sin, but I don’t see many folks rallying against the liars, cheaters, adulterers, etc, etc, ad nauseum. Perhaps the Bible says it best when it says, paraphrased, “Before you remove the speck of dust from my eye, take the 2X4 out of your own”.
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The overwhelming majority of people have more than the average (mean) number of legs. – E. Grebenik
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### Author:  [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2000, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/14 "2000-01-04T15:16:00Z")
Do you think its because they are not familiar with any? Like back in the 60’s,there were not many blacks in my school,if any.If someone never grows up around or hangs with blacks,homosexuals,whatever,they seem like space aliens.That didn’t come out right,but I trust you get my point.
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### Author:  [@Stefu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stefu)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2000, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/15 "2000-01-04T15:41:00Z")
Squid: You forgot the all-time low gay basher comment: “I can’t stand the fact that I might have to watch two men kissing each other” by certain malicious Magyar we both know so well. I mean, really!
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### Author:  [@Mr.Zambezi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Zambezi)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2000, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/16 "2000-01-04T15:44:00Z")
Society sets rules of behavior. These rules do not always make logical sense in a modern context.
OF the mores that many hold most dear are those involving sex. Bestiality, incest, sleeping with massive numbers of people indiscriminately, etc all illicit pretty strong reactions. Homosexuals break mores.
Breaking social mores challenges them and makes people feel insecure and unsure of the rules. People get furious over people who break seemingly minor rules, such as the dress code at work, or leaving the toilet seat up (not that I would EVER do anything that rude ;-). Is it any suprise that hoosexuality is met with anger?
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### Author:  [@Phaedrus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phaedrus)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2000, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/17 "2000-01-04T16:02:00Z")
Mr.Zambezi: Another really insightful post from you. I would add that some people are afraid of those with DOS (different sexual orientations) because they feel they might get hit on and it would make them feel VERY uncomfortable. By slamming those unlike themselves they hope to beat them back into the closet where they won’t have to deal with things like that or their own insecurities. Some of it is protection. I see pedophilia in the same way, only with it people are protecting their children or children in general who are seen as unable to defend or protect themselves. Which is why people more readily condemn pedophilia than they do other dso’s. I believe that dso’s are not following God but that doesn’t make me hate them. We all have sin and someone told us not to cast the first stone. They need our love and compassion, and that is ALL dso’s, pedophiliacs included. I have had many friends who were of a dso, even my best man at my wedding in 1975 which was pretty outrageous at the time. The reception was a riot. It was a Jesus Freak wedding with a LOT of Christians. LOL
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### Author:  [@Mr.Zambezi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Zambezi)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2000, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/18 "2000-01-04T16:15:00Z")
Phaedrus, I am not sure if you were being sarcastic about my last post or not. I wasn’t taking a pro-gay bashing stance. quite the opposite, it doesn’t make sense to me to hate or even dislike gays. I just want to make that clear.
Rather, I can understand why it would make some people feel uncomfortable. Donm’t hate the haters either.
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### Author:  [@Phaedrus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phaedrus)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2000, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/19 "2000-01-04T16:55:00Z")
Mr.Zambezi: Let me assure you I was NOT being sarcastic. I find you to be insightful, wise, and well-spoken. This is quite natural because you agree with me. 😉 Let’s see if I continue to think that when you are wrong i.e. disagree with me. 😉 Just kidding about the last part. Great posting, keep up the good work!
Yours Sincerely,
Phaedrus
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### Author:  [@Phaedrus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phaedrus)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2000, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/20 "2000-01-04T16:57:00Z")
Oh and the last line of your last post makes YOU a rare bird, and a good one I might add!
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