I’ve come to learn over the years that biggest driving force behind homophobia is not irrational fear or ignorance, but irrational disgust. The most prevalent type of homophobia are the ones who genuinely believe that is something that’s disgusting, gross, and abnormal human behavior. They’re fully aware that it won’t affect them in any way and they’re fully aware that oppressing these people will cause them great harm, but they will pursue it anyway because they think it’s for the greater good. They think it’s something necessary to achieve a clean and healthy society that’s free of filth. This type of homophobia can’t be resolved with simply logical reasoning because often times, the underlying opposition isn’t even coherent, it’s just an emotional reaction.
I think there is a key part you are missing here, and that is not only they find it disgusting, but they are afraid they just might, could, maybe be interested or enjoy that “abnormal human behavior”. They’re afraid that the phone call is coming from inside the house.
I think that’s the difference between people who think it’s icky but don’t think it needs to be stopped (like gay men who find sex with women icky/unnatural), and people who not only think its icky but also want to wipe it and everyone who engages in it off the face of the earth.
Don’t like green bean casserole at the potluck? Don’t eat it. No need to comment on it’s existence. It’s not going to jump onto your plate. If someone says they love it, nod, say “glad you like it”, be happy for them, and move on.
I’ve come to learn over the years that biggest driving force behind homophobia is not irrational fear or ignorance, but irrational disgust. The most prevalent type of homophobia are the ones who genuinely believe that is something that’s disgusting, gross, and abnormal human behavior. They’re fully aware that it won’t affect them in any way and they’re fully aware that oppressing these people will cause them great harm, but they will pursue it anyway because they think it’s for the greater good. They think it’s something necessary to achieve a clean and healthy society that’s free of filth. This type of homophobia can’t be resolved with simply logical reasoning because often times, the underlying opposition isn’t even coherent, it’s just an emotional reaction.
It all boils down to them imagining the sex act. It’s always about sex for these repressed people.
I think there is a key part you are missing here, and that is not only they find it disgusting, but they are afraid they just might, could, maybe be interested or enjoy that “abnormal human behavior”. They’re afraid that the phone call is coming from inside the house.
I think that’s the difference between people who think it’s icky but don’t think it needs to be stopped (like gay men who find sex with women icky/unnatural), and people who not only think its icky but also want to wipe it and everyone who engages in it off the face of the earth.
Don’t like green bean casserole at the potluck? Don’t eat it. No need to comment on it’s existence. It’s not going to jump onto your plate. If someone says they love it, nod, say “glad you like it”, be happy for them, and move on.