What exactly is homophobia?
It is a common misconception that “phobia” means “fear”. The Oxford English definition of “phobia” is: n. lasting abnormal fear or great dislike Therefore the world homophobia provides an accurate description of the phenomenon. Homophobia is an irrational fear or hatred of gay people. More commonly directed at gay men by men who don’t necessarily identify themselves as gay. This term is not at all misleading but this straw man argument is trotted out time and time again – “I’m not homophobic. I’m not scared of homos, I just hate ’em”. Look up the meaning of the word “phobia” in a reputable dictionary and you will have your answer. It’s probable that much of the hatred actually does come from fear. Whether the fear caused by internalised and repressed homosexual urges , the fear from retribution from some god – as detailed in religious scripture, or the fear that gay men are predatory “no means yes”/”you were asking for it” sex monsters – which says more about the mind set of the homoph
