2007-11-09 16:56:32 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"One of the benefits of education is tolerance." - Helen Keller
2007-11-09 16:57:17 · update #1
The irrational fear of any stimulus which presents no immediate or present danger is a diagnosable phobia.
However, homophobia is applied to far too many things. If someone doesn't like homosexuals just because of the 'ew' factor, but could work with one without making a fuss, that's not homophobia -- in fact, that's good, solid tolerance.
Only someone who makes it a reason for hate or outright revulsion to the exclusion of healthy interpresonal relationships, ability to cope, etc would be diagnosably 'homophobic'.
2007-11-09 17:03:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Technically speaking it probably is, but as the word is commonly used, no. In common usage, homophobia simply refers to the opinion that heterosexuality is more desirable, that marriage is only between opposite sexes, or perhaps that homosexual behavior is sinful.
Homophobia in the sense of irrational fear or dread of members of the same sex, would indeed be a psychiatric condition. But it has little if anything to do with one's opinions. After all, people who have an irrational fear of heights do not seek to restrict climbing by others.
2007-11-10 01:23:36 · answer #2 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No! It is not a psychiatric term either. It is just something that was made up by homosexual that do not understand as much as they think they do.
Years ago i answered a question about homosexuality and got the response that i am homophobic. Nothing farther from the truth. I have no fear of homosexuals either rational or irrational. As a matter of fact i do support their right to be homosexuals if that what they choose.
The term is frequently used in academic and scientific journals, but homophobia is not a clinical phobia insofar as it is not listed in the DSM-IV or ICD-10.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophobia
If i wasn't so tired i'd write more about this.
2007-11-10 01:08:51 · answer #3 · answered by gdc 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
In schools in Australia we are taught homophobia and being racist towards any persons religion, beliefs, colour, race and sexual orientation or physical or mentally challenged disability is wrong and is discrimination. It's ashame this isn't taught in any US schools if it was the US would be a nice place to visit for all overseas tourists. This is why many overseas tourists turn there backs on ever visiting the US, or why US ex pats like myself who have been taught undiscriminating values never want to return back to our xenophobic country.
2007-11-10 01:17:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, it is a disease. Violent homophobic murderers usually stab the victim 70-80 times, long after the victim is dead. That's sign of mental disease.
2007-11-10 01:05:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I believe it is environmental conditioning or upbringing. Ignorance is not a medical disease. Have a good night.
2007-11-10 01:05:43 · answer #6 · answered by feeona 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes. But it it is used more broadly by the average person than it should be used. Most people in our society who are called "Homophobic" by the average person should simply be called "heterosexist."
2007-11-10 01:10:46 · answer #7 · answered by Kris 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Is homophonobia a disease, too? I have noticed that there is homophone abuse among religous folks and atheists.
Your/you're and their/they're/there are some of the worst.
2007-11-10 01:05:37 · answer #8 · answered by batgirl2good 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No. Phobias are psychological disorders namely Anxiety disorders.
2007-11-10 01:01:13 · answer #9 · answered by weisse 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
must be i guess that we find acts of what you do to be vile , filthy and evil . We must have some disease , at least it aint AIDS
2007-11-10 01:16:03 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋