Why does society treat homosexual men with fervent stigma?

Question

Even many who have no problem with lesbians have a real issue with openly homosexual men.

Answer 1

Please keep in mind that not all societies treat gay men in such a villified manner. It just so happens that we are living in an age of fundamentalism and consumerism = Christian and Islamic fundamentalism are fanning the flames of homophobia and consumerism makes us numb to injustice because we are so busy collecting things and drowning ouselves in media that we cannot see beyond our little worlds to know that bad things are happening to other people.

Fundamentalism thrives on pointing the blame finger at a small but noticeable group. (Jews, Gays, Illegal Immigrants, etc.) Consumerism thrives in us being so focused on ourselves that we forget how important the individual is to sustaining life - it stiffles creativity and begs us to become sedated and passive.

Both fundamentalism and consumerism only work if the many give power to the few. In fundamentalism, a religious elite decides what is right and wrong and directs the masses in what to think. In short we become spiritual and mental slaves. In consumerism, we become slaves to fashion, keeping up with the Joneses and having things that are bigger, shinnier and faster than the next person. In short, we give power to those who decide what is cool and what is not, and we give power to credit card companies and other forces that feed our habit of spending.

In consumerism the many pay tribute to the few (movie stars, athletes and other celebrities) by paying for admission, buying CDs and DVD's by cartload and paying attention to the lives of those people more than we often pay to members of our own family. In fundamentalism, the many pay tribute to the invisible (God) and to the leader of the sect, and more importantly to leader's vision of what the great Invisible Force is and how one can have access to it (through the leaders of course, who chart the only true path.).

We need both of these factors to be entrenched to persuade an otherwise free-thinking democracy to become the haven of hatred. Utlimately people choose what they buy and they choose who to vote for. And they are likely to buy and vote for those things that perpetuate their inflated sense of self.

Whatever can make them feel better about themselves, and give them a sense that they are getting ahead in life, this will win everytime.

Unfortunatley right now, more than 40% of Americans are fundamentalist Christians when it comes to the issue of homosexuality. (They may not be when it comes to the issue of Divorce or feeding the homeless or stopping war (killing which last time I checked was prohibited by Moses in the 10 Commandments). Hypocrisy is something Jesus fought and died fighting and it is something we will fight and die fighting.

Right now people are spending more money than ever on gas. More Americans are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan, than died in the World Trade Center attack. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. The world is getting hotter and the President doesn't seem to think that is of any concern to us. Once in a while a kid brings a gun to school - a school which is overcrowded with teachers that are under appreciated. The elderly have poor access to affordable medicine and housing. I can go on and on.

Rather than actually focus on solving a problem - any one of these problems - those in power (those in control) have chosen to focus on preventing 5% of the population from having the same rights as everyone else.

In order to be effective at this, you have to turn these people - who are most often outstanding citizens and models of giving, volunteerism and morality - and you need to make the rest of the peple (or at least 50.1% of them) believe that these people are actually scum and a menace to society.

how do you do that? Scapegoating!!!! Tell a lie enough times over a long period of time and people will believe it. There are wepons of mass destruction in Iraq and Saddam Hussein was a part of the 9/11 conspiracy. Sound familiar? Homosexuals are pedophiles and sinners and will burn in Hell. Sound familiar? The ***** is an inferior animal that will rape your women and steal from you. Sound familiar? Women are not able to do the same things as men and therefore should be content to be obediant servants to their husbands. Sound familiar? Illegal immigrants are responsible for rising crime, higher unemployment and for raping our women. Sound familiar? We are good at telling lies and even better at believing in them.

Get enough people to believe this and the result is we are demonized and dehumanized which results in how we are treated. The result is we are not treated equally. The result is, we are treated with fervent stigma as you say.

The reality is not what matters. It is the perception of reality that is most important. As long as we let people repeat these lies... people will keep repeating them and people will keep believeing in them.

What matters most though, is that each of us must recognize what is really going on - challenge it and stand up for others who also experience injustice (like illegal immigrants for instance).

We cannot accept this definition of who we are but demand that our own definition of ourselves be recognized. Likewise, we must respect the definitions that others place upon themselves, even if we disagree. It is our place to live our own lives, not to judge others as they judge us. By doing so, we insult the indignity that is their bigotry. By not paying respect to their definitions of us while at the same time respecting their right to define who they are, we prevent their hatred from peircing the skin of our souls and that, is the best armour we have against the stigma of their dissatisfaction.

Answer 2

The problem with society is we like to put people into social groups. The fact is people share characteristics but that does not make everyone the same. Men, traditionally have been regarded as strong, bread winners with a role to procreate and protect the household. There fore stereotypical gay men seem not to conform to this notion therefore making some people think it must be abnormal or somehow wrong. To further this if you are openly gay then you are forcing the issue, being a constant reminder to these sectors of society with those belief systems that they hold dear. Whether that is a right or wrong attitude - is another argument.

Answer 3

To stullberry: you are an bigoted idiot. You say you hate homosexuality..I can only assume you tried it enough to know it wasn't for you. And, from your comments, I can only assume that the only time you have sex is for procreation...what a pitiful statement.

Perhaps in some areas this is true. I personally have not found this ... but I have lived in big cities where general intelligence is somewhat higher than down on the farm. Those who have real issues are usually dealing with their own devils, not mine. Perhaps I am big enough that no one is going to get up in my face about whatever...on occasion, when those I have been with were heckled, I have stepped in and I can assure you, the hecklers would think twice before ever making that mistake again. If you want to see change in attitude, the only way it is going to happen is if Gays become aggressively militant, period. It takes very few poundings, gun shots, etc., before the world sits up and takes notice. As long as Gays remain milquetoasts, they will be picked, as the world is full of bullies. Those who cannot be bullied earn respect quickly. good luck

Answer 4

Because homosexuality, male or female, is prohibited in the Bible. I myself, can not abide it. The main purpose of sex is reproduction, and how many homo's do you know that can reproduce with each other?

They say they can't help it, that they were born that way. They are just as guilty as the sex predators, the child moestors, the rapists or any other sex crimes. They could claim the same excuse that the homosexuals do. It is choice, not chance.

Answer 5

I believe that the reason straight men have such a problem with gay men is because.. Instead of looking at them as 2 people, they look at them and automatically think what they do in the bedroom and they are disgusted by that! and they shouldnt even be thinking of that!

Answer 6

You've got to be taught
To hate and fear,
You've got to be taught
From year to year,
It's got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade,
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught before it's too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You've got to be carefully taught!

(lyrics from 'South Pacific')

To Skullberry: you'll just have to 'abide it', dear. Or eat it.
Oh ... by the way ... how old were you when you chose to be straight?

Answer 7

Society as a whole doesn't ...but the lovely bigots do


Don't worry pet the right man can change it all for you ....lol

Answer 8

because we are straight and don't understand why,men are attracted to men if you want to play with a dick play with your own, if you like loOKing at men look in mirror,women are pretty even to straight women,ok i said that but I'm OK with gay people it their choice,just don't understand it.

Answer 9

Because they have been watching womyn on porn for years. And they call us perverts. Someday, things get better everyday.