What makes someone a homophobe?

[BCRanger10]

What makes someone a homophobe? What are the criteria? How and why do they make someone a homophobe?

[musicbrain5]

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines homophobia as such:

"Irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or gay people"

But that seems like a very clinical, basic definition. To me, individuals or institutions are homophobic when they discourage or actively prohibit LGBT people from enjoying the same privileges that heterosexual people can typically engage in without judgment. That can range from holding hands in public all the way up to marriage. They will often say these things are "unnatural". Well, marriage in general isn't a natural phenomenon and wasn't a thing until we had governments and religions telling us how to live our lives.

One can also be homophobic when they are uncomfortable being in the presence of someone who is openly gay or lesbian, even when that person is minding their own business and not doing anything to make people uneasy. When that discomfort is made public, like when a person openly judges or disparages someone for being gay/lesbian, that's when the label of "homophobe" is applied. If you keep it to yourself and not publicize your anti-gay thoughts or feelings, either directly or indirectly, nobody is going to know and therefore they really can't label you as a homophobic person.

This topic can easily turn into a deep and complex rabbit hole, so I'm going to end it here.

[BCRanger10]

Thanks for your answer. So my next question then would be what makes marriage "unnatural"?

[musicbrain5]

I'm really only hypothesizing with that statement, forgive me - I wrote this whole thing last night with zero thinking energy! I think it stems from the theory that monogamy in general never came naturally to early humans, our ancestors. We still aren't inclined towards it - that's why divorce and break-ups happen, cheating/affairs happen, etc. This is not to say that couples aren't capable of remaining together for the remainder of their natural lives ('til death do us part, if you will), because obviously many are.

I am not a sociologist or a psychologist by any means, by the way. But I highly doubt that our early human ancestors and Neanderthals were signing binding legal documents to unify two people in matrimony. Marriage is not, and has never been, a requirement for reproduction, which is really the ultimate goal of our species.

[BCRanger10]

Sorry for the delay. Crazy week for me.

So my response to that would be that if what you say is true, someone eventually would have looked around and thought "hey, this isn't working. We need to try something different here". Then other societies would have to have seen that they were getting different and noticeably better results in terms of cultural stability, economic production, and so forth. Because think about it. What is the building block of a society?

[jennifer_bloom]

I don't think homosexuality is part of the traditional nature relationship but I don't hate them. I accept them as friends and I want them to know they are loved by God.

[Cubus]

I would say not agreeing with the left wing agenda.

This word devaluated in recent years, the same as "Nazi" or "Fascist". Now everyone who is right of the center is "Fascist", the same with "homophobe".

[worldscolide]

A homophobe is someone who hates gays at least thats what i understand. Whats sad is the left sees any disagreement, any criticism, anything that isn't absolute acceptance as homophobia. When it is not.

[DizzyDesii]

Now a days just not supporting a certain lifestyle is apparently considered that. I know how to disagree/disapprove without spreading hate. They can do whatever. I just won't be standing by watching

[Dargil]

Being called that by any LBGTQRSTUVWXIZ123456789.

[joeldalton]

If you disagree with the alphabet crybullies you are a homophobe.

[OddBeMe]

Hating them simply because of their sexual orientation. You know, like you hate blacks.

[BCRanger10]

Okay. So what are the criteria?

[OddBeMe]

I said it already.

[BCRanger10]

What I'm looking for is the application. What specifically is hating someone because of sexual orientation and how?

[OddBeMe]

Ok so you’re looking for incidental actions based on hate. That could be a long list. I’m sure you could Imagine. The key is consistency I guess. Because you hate gays simply because theyre gay. Don’t know how else to put it.

[AngryCarl2]

Cringeing and standing with their back to the wall when they find out a co-worker is gay.

[Anonymous]

Poor upbringing and bad parenting.

[BCRanger10]

I'm more asking "what", rather than "how".

[NathanDavis]

denial...