Why are some people so afraid of homosexuals?

Question

Every time I turn around I hear "gay agenda" this and "brainwashing our children" that. I don't know about you guys, but I've got lots of gay friends and as far as I know they have no agenda (other than getting equal rights, which they deserve) and really don't care one way or the other about the sexual orentation of other people's children. It's not like anyone could "make" someone gay anyway.

Why do people seem downright scared of homosexuals? What, exactly, are they afraid gay people are going to do to them? Infect them with the gay virus?

antit104, that dosn't explain why you're afraid of them. Just why you think they don't deserve rights.

People, the question wasn't "Why does your religion think homosexuals are going to hell," it was "Why are people AFRAID of homosexuals." Please stop quoting the bible at me.

I'm agnostic. I'm one of those uber scary people who don't believe in Jesus, the Bible, or Hell. Your Christian scare tactics will not work on me. Really.

Answer 1

1. People don't like/ are afraid of gays because They Are Gay but are too scared to admit it. So they go on, pretending to hate/bash gays to hide their homoness. 2. There's no such thing as "gays go to hell", any stupid b*tch would at least have enough common sense to know that the Catholic that made it up was a homophobic.

Answer 2

Kinsey believed that sexual orientation was more of a spectrum going from pure homosexuality through bisexuality to pure heterosexuality. This can be taken to mean that someone may be heterosexual yet still occasionally take a speculative look at someone of the same sex. This speculation doesn't mean that the person is homosexual in posse, just that they're not at the peg point of the scale.

Many faith system vilify homosexuality as being against the will of the deity. True believers will probably then see homosexuality as being sinful or evil even though the orientation is only one aspect of the person.

Another potential is that many people are more comfortable when they can identify who they are dealing with. For example, African-Americans whose skin color is much darker than usual are identified as such. Historically, those people whose skin color approximated that of the white Caucasian majority were often disliked because they were not readily identifiable.

Short of those homosexuals who flaunt their orientation, there is little way to tell who is one and who isn't. This inability to tell makes a lot of people nervous. Anecdotal evidence of this will probably be the result of Lance Bass' disclosure of his orientation. How many women (and men) are going to be very uncomfortable about admiring this person who has admitted to an orientation that the people finding questionable, if not downright sinful?

There's also the point of what causes or results in homosexuality. It's likely a combination of nature and nurture. Look to the period of polio in the 20th century. People were afraid for their children because they didn't know what caused the disease or what were the risk factors. Oddly enough, one of the risk factors ended up being the improved sanitation of the general environment.

Answer 3

People are afraid of what they don't understand. It is just like peoples fear of other races. I find it wrong, stupid, and downright ignorant, but some are still so racist they cannot see beyond the color of someone's skin. Instead, all people should take the time to embrace everyone's thoughts, feelings, and companionship (think that is a word). While I am a Christian and don't necessarily approve of homosexuality, I also feel it is not my right to judge anyone! Many of my friends are gay/lesbian as well.

Answer 4

People are scared of that which they don't understand.

Sometimes they try to hide behind the Bible or what they percieve as "right." A great friend of mine tried to explain to me why he thought gay marriage was wrong and the best he could come up with was "well, it's weird."

Mostly it's just ignorance, some political motives, and the idea that fear can drive people to do irrational and completely idiotic things.

I mean, remember 1930's Germany? Why did everyone hate the Jews? -sigh-

I guess what I'm saying is that everyone deserves equality and if you have to suck it up and deal with your homophobia, tough.

Oh, and Christian guy above me? I'm atheist. God has no bearing over me. =P

Answer 5

I have no idea. I'd love to tell every homophobe, "Hey, look at it this way, they're reducing your competition!"

Although I have to say my favorite argument to refute is the one about the species dying out because they're not having their own children. Two things:

1. We seem to have a severe overpopulation problem at the moment, so I don't see this being a problem ever, even if 75% of the world's population were gay
2. (And this is for the pro-lifers, too) Who do you think is adopting all those children from unwanted pregnancies, giving them a better life than their birth parents could? It's not just heterosexuals!

Answer 6

Since a very early age, people are being given instructions and examples of what is "normal" or "good", at home, school, work, in religious and political communities, etc. Society in general has been labeling homosexual and bisexual orientation as "wrong" for centuries. Homophobia, as well as racism, religious extremism and gender discrimination, is a big problem exactly because its supporters aggressively claim to be "right".

Extreme intolerance towards homo- and bisexual behaviour or certain cultures, racial and religious backgrounds often hides a person's own abnormal conduct. How about someone who takes pride in heterosexual orientation but also in alcohol abuse, in mistreating women and children, or in explicit hate for other races and religions? I have gay friends who are obviously better persons than so many of the "straight" people I happen to know.

Please, don't get me wrong! I am an absolutely heterosexual woman myself, and I would never go to the other extreme of negatively generalising about straight man and women. I'm just trying to say that being good or bad doesn't depend on what sex you date. It's about showing love and kindness to oneself and to others. The Bible quote of Jesus on adultery means more to me than a simple "don't you be lusty". It teaches us to see in the other people we meet persons worthy of love and respect, and not only objects of blind sexual desire. We are weak, so we look and act with lust at times. What we can try every day is this: use our natural instincts as a motive to truly get to know ourselves and the people who attract us. By appreciating this connection, we can acknowledge our nature and learn to transform and lift our primal urges into true love. This bright emotional awareness and freedom of choice lets us grow as human beings.

It may sound complicated at first. I believe, however, that Jesus wants us to be kind and sincere instead of judgemental and hypocrite. And I believe we can do it.

Answer 7

Lots of these religious types are told what to believe by their religion.

They are told to believe in Jesus or they'll burn in hell, so they believe Jesus.

They are told homosexuality is a sin, so they believe it.
If they are told eating meat is bad, they don't do that.

Really, the church frowns on homosexuality because Gay people can not have children who are then brought up (and donate to) the religion.

Now, if they started exploring things on their own, they may actually find out they are gay, or like meat, or would be nice anyways.

That's why the church frowns on open and thoughtful reflection. And so we have armies of "believers" who get to hate gay people "in the name of god", rather than as just plain hate mongers.

Answer 8

Because they are narrow minded a$$ holes and live life according to what they think is right and wrong becasue they were raised that way. Their parents teach their children at a small age to be like that.

I'm not homophobic...my mom taught me to love my neighboor no matter what. I really don;t care. Love has no boundaries!!!
And I don't know why people make such a big issue out of it. It's sad. It's like being a racist.

I agree witht he person above me...they are scared of what they don't understand and it's just pure ignorance from society.

Answer 9

Ignorance, pure ignorance.

Nature made homosexual people the way they are, it was nature. Something to do with the egg and in boys they end up with more oestrogen and girls more testosterone. I watched a programme on it in England UK many years ago.

Laugh - can you believe that some people actually believe that because someone is gay they may fancy them or come on to them??? Makes me laugh.

I wish the programme would come on again and that it was widely advertised so that it would help educate more ignorant people.

Answer 10

I am not afriad of homosexuals at all. I think what they are doing is wrong. I think that if they want to be gay to should do it in their private lives, but wanting to get married is a different story. I believe marriage is between a woman and a man only.