Why are American men so homophobic?

Question

American men seem to be paranoid that others will think they are gay if they don't act "manly." Is it because America in general has a problem dealing with sexuality (Puritan roots)?

Answer 1

A lot of it is insecurity. Alot of people who make those comments and who are truly homophobic are closeted gays themselves.

As for the comment above...who are you to make judgments about gay people? Gay people have just as much of a right to be happy as straight people. Open your eyes and stop being ignorant to what people have told you your whole life.

Answer 2

I think they don't want to be called out as being gay. But not ALL American men are homophobic.
I don't have a problem dealing with sexuality and I'm American.

Answer 3

i agree that religious fear mongering is part of it.

i also think it has a lot to do with the fact that most people assume that what they have been taught is true, and this is one of the first times our culture has seen people who are "out" even in small towns like the one i grew up in. my best friend was a gay man, and he never would have dared tell anyone but his closest friends.

it's not like that now, i think in time people will get used to the idea and you will see homophobes become the minority - at least, i hope so!

kinda like how racism used to be just assumed and now bigots know they are the minority?

guess the real answer to your question, the real reason, i mean, is that america is plagued with a lot of slow learners.

Answer 4

You have it exactly right with the Puritan roots and it "being the root" of evil (or considered to be so). They took this view from Catholiscism, who consider the root sin of sex without marriage to be the "first" sin. However, the first thing God does in the Bible IS marry Adam and Eve, so that is impossible.

The first sin was failing to listen to God and choosing to listen to a serpent and Satan, thereby choosing "a new god" to follow, not Jehovah God. That is the first sin, putting Satan's wisdom (you WILL NOT die) above Gods word (I tell you today, you will die the same day you eat of that tree). So by listening to Satan they chose a new God.

Answer 5

Yes, a throw back to Elizabethan attitudes and Puritanical roots. Hell, in some ways I blame John Wayne. And he had such a walk I tell you.

Answer 6

Which American men do you mean? All American men? Even the gay American men?

Answer 7

Straight guys like to think that they are so macho and in control. Unfortunately they think of gay guys as weak. I happen to admire intelligence and I find gay guys seem to have lots of that!

Answer 8

Real American men should care about whether folks think they are effeminate sissy's. That means they aren't truly natural men that attract women. They don't want to attract the wrong sex since they know it's like the plague and they avoid it since they aren't interested. Puritans have their name from PURE! Not something the sodomite behavior patterns are.
No, Americans don't have the psychological problems with accepting their sexual roles God gave them but sodomites surely do!
Thank God for straight masculine American men who are truly MEN as faithful husbands, hardworking responsible fathers, brave soldiers, sons, brothers, faithful ministers, judges, and other great role models they fulfill for our young people!!

Answer 9

I'm an American man who pretty much has no guy friends because they all like to crack gay jokes. I don't get it. I would rather hang out with a gay man any day.

GLBTQ/A Pride :-)

Answer 10

Some people just think it's humorous, and others are insecure about it. It's one of those unsolved mysteries, I guess. =)