# Homophobic hatred **URL:** \ **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:** 3
**Author:** ![Studi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Studi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Studi)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2000, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/41 "2000-01-04T21:16:00Z")
Well, I’m anti-homosexual, but often incorrectly branded as a “homophobe.” I am not homophobic, which I guess would mean “fear of homosexuals.” I don’t fear gay people, as I don’t think there is anything to fear. When people ask me why I am anti-homosexual, I often give them the science bit…that two males or two females can not reproduce, and all that survival of the fittest stuff…you all know it. I’ll also often give them the personal bit, that it just seems like a disgusting concept to me. * * * “What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch?” --W.C. Fields ---
**Author:** ![byteoart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@byteoart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/byteoart)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2000, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/42 "2000-01-04T21:18:00Z")
Mr. Z? I’ve respect for your raquetball partner, because she didn’t throw it in your face. I know the people here are more interested in treating me with scorn because I speak from the experiences I have had (ie: my Uncle, about 20 or so people in the Art Department when I was an art student years ago, my theatre group (hell, I’ve never seen someone come on as hard as one of those people, who practically slammed it in my face, because he ASSUMED I’d hate him) and more. But they focus on what I said about the homosexuals who do rub it in your face, and keep pushing and pushing and pushing, and never talk about anything else. Did they notice that I also spoke up against the people who do the gay bashing? About how they are wrong? No. You see, the thing I’m finding is this is no better than the Left Behind board situation. I’ve an opinion. Rather than saying “I disagree,” they feel the need to say “You’re wrong.” Well, in MY experiences, I’m right. I disagree with them, and for that, they have barraged my comments with insults. I’m not going to discuss this any further. It’s obvious that those who posted in the beginning no longer are interested in a friendly discussion or debate, and the only ones left are those who feel the need to flame anyone who disagrees…even if they only HALF disagree. How fortunate for them that the only gays they’ve ever known are the nice ones. How fortunate for them that they never met the one I met in College, back in 88, who came up to me in class one day and said, in these words, “You’ll never be as good an artist as I am, because I’m gay.” Granted, I wasn’t as good an artist as he. And I know that full well, and don’t feel bad about him being better. (far better, if you ask me. His work WAS good.) But hell, it’s not because he was gay, and that WASN’T a “friendly” thing to do. Nor is it “friendly” to have EVERY conversation with your uncle be about his homosexuality. No exceptions. Oh, his second daughter’s getting married, and he’s gay. He’s quit his job, and he’s gay. He’s going on vacation, and he’s gay. And then there’s a dear friend of mine. D. worked with me, in fact, I was the Supervisor at the restaurant at the time. We’d go out after work, get something to eat (we got sick of “our food,”) and talk. We’d laugh about which waiter had the best butt. And then, we’d go home. It wasn’t too long before he started telling me about his affairs. Now, it’s one thing to tell a friend about the boyfriend. But when you start giving the gorey details? That’s just not right. But when I said, “Please. I really don’t want to hear that much detail.” He got offended and told me that I didn’t want to hear it because he was gay. Which wasn’t true. I wouldn’t want to hear about it from any of my heterosexual friends, either. Some things are SUPPOSED to be private and tender. Bringing sexual (yes, I’ll use the word preference, because it is. I prefer men. So do many men. It’s not a disease. It’s a preference.) preference into public discussion on a regular basis is, to me, cheapening the tenderness of the moment. It’s not just about sex, after all. There’s three examples, alone, that stick out in my mind. Oh, follow-up? That friend at the restaurant? About 7 months after he told me I didn’t want to hear about the gorey details of his sexual act because he was gay…he was attacked in our restaurant. I found my fist in the attacker’s face before two of the other employees…both men…pinned down the perp. I called the police, and stood as witness at the trial. The guy was put in jail. That’s how much I hated him for being gay. Of course, those who want a fight will tell me that I did that because I didn’t think a “fairy” would be able to defend himself. Guess what, folks? I’m 5’1" tall. Not exactly the epitome of strong. I just was ANGRY that a FRIEND was being hurt. Who gives a fuck what his sex life is? ---
**Author:** ![Studi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Studi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Studi)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2000, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/43 "2000-01-04T21:18:00Z")
Oh, and I don’t hate gay people, and I would never harm a homosexual. * * * “What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch?” --W.C. Fields ---
**Author:** ![FORMERAGENT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a3d4f5/32.png) [@FORMERAGENT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FORMERAGENT)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2000, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/44 "2000-01-04T21:26:00Z")
THANK YOU STUDI… THERE ARE HONEST PEOPLE YET LEFT IN THE U.S. THAT DONT PLACATE THE MASSES… ---
**Author:** ![Studi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Studi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Studi)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2000, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/45 "2000-01-04T22:37:00Z")
Yes, very good, now turn off caps lock. And I’m not in the US ---
**Author:** ![FORMERAGENT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a3d4f5/32.png) [@FORMERAGENT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FORMERAGENT)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2000, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/46 "2000-01-04T22:38:00Z")
I did… about an hour ago LOL mike ---
**Author:** ![Phaedrus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@Phaedrus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phaedrus)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2000, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/47 "2000-01-04T22:41:00Z")
FORMERAGENT: I noticed you left my comments alone and I thank you for that. I take you might agree with addendums. However, allow me to make a slight correction in your post. I am not trying to be insulting and I see where you are coming from. Your idea that God condemned Sodom and Gomorrah for sexual sin is a false one. God destroyed the two cities because they wouldn’t help the poor. Quote: “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food, and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.” Ezekiel 16:49 As far as sexual sin goes, Lot’s daughters were guilty of incest immediately after God spared them from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrrah. They got their father drunk and each had sex with him. Genesis 19:30-36 We have dso members here and we enjoy their company. mahattan for one and SqrlCub for another (both favs of mine) If you don’t enjoy that or enjoy that we enjoy them, I suggest you leave. I am suggesting it because what you see here might upset you. And there is no need to shout. 🙂 Thank you for your post. HUGS Ken ---
**Author:** ![Gilligan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Gilligan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gilligan)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2000, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/48 "2000-01-04T23:26:00Z")
Just a couple of comments: I have no respect for gay bashers, including those who try to justify it with “Well I don’t hate them personally, but what they’re doing is wrong.” Or the ever-popular “It doesn’t bother me, but I think they should keep it to themselves.” But whatever their reasons are for their narrow minds, I don’t think we need to invent new ones. When you say, beatle, “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.” I’m hoping you doubt that it covers _any_ such homophobes. This seems to be the only type of intolerance that this comment is said about. You don’t hear that “X is really anti-communist, I bet he secretly wants to be a commie.” (and I’ll bet that nobody thinks that Homer secretly wants to be Mexican) I would rather fight prejudice by eliminating the real reasons for it, not make up imaginary ones. I can’t help noticing that many people who claim to have no problem with homosexuality will follow up their statements with “by the way, I’m not gay.” (haven’t seen it here) I find it amusing, it’s like they’re saying, “Not that there’s anything wrong with it, but I just want to make sure you know I’m not one of _them_.” ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2000, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/49 "2000-01-04T23:31:00Z")
“dso members”? ---
**Author:** ![FORMERAGENT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a3d4f5/32.png) [@FORMERAGENT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FORMERAGENT)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2000, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/50 "2000-01-04T23:32:00Z")
Was I to see that correctly… First Ken you embrace my comments, even to some extent one in error, then you ask me to leave if I dont want to be gay friendly (which i will be cordial and amicable, but by no means Friends), and then give me the cheesy line… hugs Ken? Wow… you have just given me more reason to say to the rest of the country… Look what you have all come to? Have you no self respect? or any REAL dignity? anyways… i fight on so that my children may know what the good the world has, before you all get ahold of it. Mike ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2000, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/51 "2000-01-05T00:03:00Z")
**formeragentorange** : Because I’m such a sweet and loving kinda guy (right, Ken?), I’ll refrain from saying exactly what I think of your peurile diatribe. But I couldn’t let this one go: > [@](#): > > CAN I GET AN AMEN FROM ANYONE WHO LIVES IN SODOM OR GAMORA?? Gamora? Didn’t he get his butt kicked by Godzilla? (aw, shoot. That was Gamera. What was I thinking?) -andros- ---
**Author:** ![Bucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Bucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bucky)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2000, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/52 "2000-01-05T00:09:00Z")
Okay, Studi and formeragent–WHY don’t you like gays (or actually dislike them)? I’m trying to go beyond “I just don’t.” If it’s not being able to have kids, are you anti-masturbation? What about sterile couples? What about those past child-bearing age or men who’ve had vasectomies? Does a baby have to be possible? (We’ll leave out some positions that can’t lead to kids.) What I’m trying to discover is if rational people can have ratoional arguments which can be explored. Some posters have made very cogent points about fearing/hating the other, but that doesn’t get me (or us) any closer to solving the problem. Tangent: If I can’t choose to be Irish/Gay/African-American etc., just how can I be proud of it and have a pride parade? Always kind of bugged me. (Of course, I hate parades themselves, but that’s another issue.) Bucky ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2000, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/53 "2000-01-05T00:10:00Z")
**Mr. Z** : > [@](#): > > Most gays aren’t sure how you are going to react to them. (They) aren’t sure if you are going to hate them or be OK with them, so they treat you a little stand-offish. This can come across as being a little hostile or aloof. IT is merely caution created by some bad experiences. Well, damn! It’s been so long since I’ve lived in an intolerant area that I’ve forgotten that. Thanks for the reminder and the insight. **byteoart** : > [@](#): > > …because she didn’t throw it in your face. Arrrgh! This is exactly what I’m trying to convince you rarely happens, your direct experiences to the contrary. Heck, I live in Greenwich Village and I have acquaintances whom I didn’t know were gay until I met a lover. Please Please Please do not expand the specific to the general or the universal. > [@](#): > > Did they notice that I also spoke up against the people who do the gay bashing? About how they are wrong? No. Actually, we did. And I, for one, appreciated it. You have to understand that this board is a little more, uh, rough and tumble than most others. When there are points in need of correction or debate, it’s pretty rare that people are going to go out of their way with hosannas for the other parts of a post. Try not to take it personally. That said, I did state “I’m pleased that you don’t find homosexuality to be a sin (I’ll also admit to being a touch surprised. We all have our prejudices to work on, I suppose.)” and " Regarding gay-bashing, I was in no way implying that you support or even tolerate it." > [@](#): > > It’s not a disease. It’s a preference. Aha. I think we’re on the same side here but using different terms. When **GLWasteful** objected to your use of the word “preference,” he wasn’t saying that’s homosexuality is a disease, but rather that it is an _orientation_. I thank you for making the distinction and objecting to “disease.” Just so you know, most people of good will prefer (heh) the word “orientation” because “preference” implies a choice. Gay men people don’t “prefer” men over women like hockey over basketball, any more than you “prefer” men in such a trivial way. See the distinction? Welcome to the board, by the way. I for one think you’ll make a lot of good contributions here. * * * Jesus saves… Gretzky grabs the rebound… He Scores! ---
**Author:** ![FORMERAGENT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a3d4f5/32.png) [@FORMERAGENT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FORMERAGENT)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2000, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/54 "2000-01-05T00:22:00Z")
i’ll have to finish this, or answer this tomorrow, sorry till then guys… 🙂 Mike ---
**Author:** ![Studi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Studi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Studi)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2000, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/55 "2000-01-05T00:39:00Z")
I know several people who are homosexuals, and they’re nice people. They’re intelligent, humourous, and so forth…that is, they have good qualities. I never said I didn’t like gays. I’m against the _concept_ of homosexuality (whether it be in humans or other animals), not homosexuals themselves. They are (usually) nice people. * * * “What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch?” --W.C. Fields ---
**Author:** ![aviddiva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aviddiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aviddiva)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2000, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/56 "2000-01-05T01:11:00Z")
Bucky: > [@](#): > > 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. For a “true” Christian, even that (the Bible saying it’s wrong) shouldn’t be enough to make them “hate gays and lesbians”: hate is unChristian (my understanding as a non-Christian). I agree that the fear and ignorance others here cite are to blame. However: Many straight people who seek to broadcast their “tolerance” or, only slightly better, their “acceptance” of gays and lesbians demonstrate at the same time their assumption that everyone who is listening is straight: PunditLisa: > [@](#): > > 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. byteoart: [quote] If they, as someone suggested, spent time with some gay people, the ignorance would vanish. They’d not have to BE gay, just learn that they’re just like **you** and me, but choose a partner of the same gender. [QUOTE] [my emphasis] These quotations share the assumption that their readers are het. The first one claims that, not only is everyone het, but that it is normal to be homophobic (note: I don’t say that PunditLisa is advocating homophobia. I don’t think he/she is). These assumptions, while not neccesarily indicating anti-gay attitudes, are linked to homophobia (really not the best word, but it’s all we got so far), as they keep homosexuality invisible and discourage gays and lesbians (byteoart’s claims notwithstanding) from declaring their orientation, or even sharing the name of their lover. This is why Pride parades, etc are necessary. orangecakes: > [@](#): > > 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. Again, they assume they don’t know any. It would be impossible to prove, but I doubt that anyone knows absolutely no gay or lesbian people. They just don’t know that their sister, son’s teacher, city councillor, garbage man, coffee shop clerk, accountant, etc is gay. byteoart (following quotations from various postings): > [@](#): > > Take a tiger and corner it. The tiger’s done nothing to deserve being cornered, save be afraid of the human coming toward it. The human might have the best of intentions. The human might want just to give the tiger some meat. But the tiger’s started out afraid. The stigma IS there, that humans kill. So he’s afraid. He’s backed into a corner. If the human comes closer, it will jump and attack. > [@](#): > > This makes the tiger wrong for attacking, because the tiger didn’t know if THAT human was going to kill them. The tiger assumed that the human would kill him. > [@](#): > > But the human could have been wiser, could have backed off, dropping a little meat. The next night, there’s more meat to be left. Day after day, more and more meat, until finally, the tiger sits by the human’s side, without lashing out. So… gays and lesbians are the humans of whom the poor homophobic tiger is afraid because it knows that “humans kill”?? > [@](#): > > Gay pride parades, for one, and other “affirmation” displays (I don’t mean parties, clubs, or events. I mean displays, when it’s a march, or a demonstration) are like the human walking right up to the cornered tiger without setting the meat out first. > [@](#): > > That’s why the parades are counter-productive. They’re rubbing the fear into the scared person’s faces. So the frightened person lashes out. If a girl wears a short skirt on a date and is raped, was it her fault? > [@](#): > > The only way that homophobe will ever learn NOT to be a homophobe is if the person meets homosexual people, gets to know them as PEOPLE first and not as a category. Eventually, when they’re friends, the homosexual tells them the preference. By then, the homophobe is forced to see that the person’s NOT trying to come on to them. You require that gays and lesbians have patience with intolerance, and slowly and inoffensively allow intolerant people to “get to know them” before blasting them with their homosexuality, a feature of their lives that the poor misunderstood intolerant are inequipped to adjust to without the use of extreme caution. Gays and lesbians do not owe intolerant people education in nonprejudicial behaviour. > [@](#): > > The very fact that they have to have parades to announce to the masses, “I’m gay” is in my opinion, wrong. I don’t care what your sexual preference is. It’s YOUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE. Exactly. It is everyone’s right to choose (or, more to the point, it is no one’s right to object). However, gay and lesbian people face opposition and intolerance every day (including requirements that they be invisible: “Don’t ask; don’t tell”). Pride parades are a reminder that there are gay and lesbian people in YOUR city/province/state/country, and what’s more, they are happy, functioning, working, taxpaying citizens. What’s more, such exhibitions are not counterproductive. Conditions for gays and lesbians have improved immeasurably in the last 30 years, due in great part to efforts like Pride parades to increase visibility. If all they’d done since 1970 was to sit back, not rock the boat, and wait for het society to “get to know” them, nothing would have changed. > [@](#): > > Most gay and lesbian people aren’t innocent in the cause of hatred towards homosexuals. A great deal of them carry a major chip on their shoulders, and tend to be very anti-heterosexual. They assume that a person who’s not gay doesn’t understand. While manhattan’s first reply did sound a little flippant, his/her criticism was valid. That is a hefty generalisation and it cannot be supported anecdotally (unless you can prove that you have experience with most gay and lesbian people). Contrary to PunditLisa’s claim, I am neither repulsed nor intrigued by the thought of two people of the same sex getting it on. As a child of a lesbian mother, I have seen too much loving affection among people of the same sex to think of it as anything other than “natural” and beautiful, as is the expression of any mutually satisfactory, unexploitative affection. ---
**Author:** ![aviddiva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aviddiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aviddiva)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2000, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/57 "2000-01-05T01:15:00Z")
## Some of those quotations didn’t transfer the way I wanted them to. That’s me between PunditLisa and byteoart at the beginning. Heterosexuality isn’t “natural”; it’s just common. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2000, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/58 "2000-01-05T01:27:00Z")
My dad is homophobic. The idea of two guys having sex together causes him some pretty big anxiety. He seems to be afraid that he’s going to get someone’s weenie shoved up his butt, or something. Maybe it’s because he spent a few years in the U.S. Air Force, which, like other branches of the military, has its contingent of tough macho guys constantly trying to belittle one another. It may also stem from a more primal social fear: In some other species of apes and monkeys (macacques come to mind), males will “mount” other males briefly to show dominance. There is nothing erotic in this behavior, and the male on the “bottom” will quickly run away once he realizes what’s going on. Homophobia, among males, may be an ancestral fear of showing weakness to other males, or an ancestral disgust at those males that _choose_ to be on the bottom. (Homosexual males were accepted in ancient Rome, but only if they were the one “on top”.) ---
**Author:** ![Phaedrus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@Phaedrus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phaedrus)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2000, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/59 "2000-01-05T04:28:00Z")
tracer: dso=different sexual orientation(s) FORMERAGENT: No, I didn’t exactly embrace your comments, just you. I understand what you said and could if I had to see things from your perpective. I wasn’t asking you to leave if you couldn’t be gay friendly. I was suggesting that YOU might be more comfortable elsewhere. Now that you have started the Political Correction thread I REALLY hope you DON’T leave. When I said, “HUGS” I was referring to the close by an incredible classical guitarist that posts here who is of a dso. SqrlCub, uses it as a farewell in most of his posts. -androgynous- Hiya, Buddy!!! long time no see! How’s the wife? Since Phaedrus “the old man persona” is gone I can at last be myself with you. Whew!I’m glad. Boy, we sure had a tussle or two. Hope you can forgive me for being such an ass during the flat earth days. If you can’t I understand and I’ll chalk it up to experience. I mean you no harm in anyway, and I hope this doesn’t disappoint too much but you can’t “get to me” like you could the “old man”. Sorry. BTW, Mike is for real, so don’t pee him off. Guys like that are trained to play nice nice and then lower the boom. Even if they are asked not to play around here anymore. If Mike wanted to, all the moderators in the world couldn’t stop him from, well, you know what I mean. Don’t play with the man. Just some friendly advice. HUGS… 🙂 Ken ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2000, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215/60 "2000-01-05T05:15:00Z")
Gay men make the best of friends for straight women! My best friend for the last twenty-three years or so (since college) is a gay man. -Melin [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-hatred/17215.md?page=4)