Does Homophobia Truly Exist...?

[warnpro]

You hear words like homophobia, and homophobic thrown around all the time these days.

I believe homophobia is largely a made up word (mostly by the media), to make it seem like the person who doesn't accept or endorse the homosexual lifestle suddenly has some sort of disease.
If anyone says anything remotely unaccepting of the homosexual lifestyle they are often categorized as being a "homophobe" and made out to have some type of condition.

I'm guessing that homophobia probably only exists in rare cirumstances where a person truly fears and is scared of a homosexual. I've never witnessed or even heard of someone with these symptons, although I'm sure a few must exist.

It's completely ridiculous and irresponsible to categorize all people as such.

Am I wrong? Or is there a near epidemic of people out there who truly fear a homosexual person...?

[Calliander]

It's completely ridiculous and irresponsible to fear/hate/dislike homosexuals. Might as well balance it out.

[Brisco Bold]

Yes, it does truly exist...

... and it's not fun.

[warnpro]

Originally posted by Calliander
It's completely ridiculous and irresponsible to fear/hate/dislike homosexuals. Might as well balance it out.

How about answering my question.

Do you believe there is a near epidemic of people out there who have a true fear of a homosexual person?

[sleeve]

Originally posted by warnpro
Am I wrong?

Yes. Very.

Do you believe there is a near epidemic of people out there who have a true fear of a homosexual person?

Not sure what more I can say, other than yes, there are millions of people in America who fear, hate, and commit violence upon homosexuals.

[Adrian]

I agree the word homophobe is pretty misleading. I think the media should use the word shithead instead as it`s far more descriptive of such shallow people.

[Mr-K]

I believe that homophobia exsists whole heartedly. I once knew a girl who was deathly afraid of cabbage. So yeah, I think the concept of someone fearing or being uncomfortable around a gay person is likely.

[PaCrappa]

You're wrong. Just visit any rural area and you'll find people who take it upon themselves to be actually frightened of gays and gayness. It goes far beyond being unaccepting of the lifestyle and into serious hate and again, fear. Phobia is irrational fear for no apparent reason and I've witnessed a huge cross section of folks that are without question homophobes. I suppose I have an interesting perspective in that my mother is lesbian and she lives in Idaho. I'm sure many other states have similar groups but I can think of several "religious" organizations in Idaho whose entire claim to fame is homophobia. Literally everything spewed forth by their various mouthpieces and figureheads is some would-be earth shattering expose on the homosexual community's latest "attack on traditional values" (everything's a war in this fine country) and what to do about wiping the godless heathens out for good.

Now that's homophobia in a big way.

Pa

[Brisco Bold]

Originally posted by PaCrappa
I suppose I have an interesting perspective in that my mother is lesbian and she lives in Idaho.
Pa

I find that cool for some reason.

[Jeremy]

I think homophobia does exist. People can fear just about anything, and quite a few folks out there fear what they don't understand. Often times, for whatever reason, homosexuality is one of those things they don't understand.