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What is with the new trend of homophobic bigots not wanting to admit to being hateful, prejudiced, or intolerant of homosexuals? I'm really baffled. You can tell by their behavior that they are prejudiced and hateful yet they will never admit it or discuss it. In fact they use the excuse that "a lot of their friends and co-workers are gay."
Gay sounds like the new black . Remember the old saying "A lot of my friends are black". Suuuuure they are.
I think one common misconception that I have seen flouted all too frequently is the confusion of homophobia and a simple disagreement with homosexuality. Just because someone disagrees with the lifestyle, or thinks it is morally wrong, believes it is a learned or adopted lifestyle as opposed to genetic or is against gay marriage, does not mean that they are homophobic. Phobia = fear. The word homophobia is used to dismiss a wide variety of objections to homosexuality. Legitimacy of arguments aside, the word is grossly overused and frequently misused to oppose an illusive anti-gay argument.
I think one common misconception that I have seen flouted all too frequently is the confusion of homophobia and a simple disagreement with homosexuality.
How about this: I disagree with left-handedness. That's just as rational, really.
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Just because someone disagrees with the lifestyle
Ah, yes. The "lifestyle". Tell me - what's the lifestyle of a bigot like? I've always wondered.
How about this: I disagree with left-handedness. That's just as rational, really.
So you support the genetic link? Some people don't. That is their perogative. It doesn't make them fearful of homosexuals.
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Originally Posted by AnUnidentifiedMale
Ah, yes. The "lifestyle". Tell me - what's the lifestyle of a bigot like? I've always wondered.
Actually you sound like you have the understanding down pat - you sound like one - it works both ways you know - you sound as anti-anti-gay as some anti-gay people are towards gays.
Already, because I have presented a sound lexicological argument for the mis-use of the word "homophobic" you are assuming I am somehow anti-gay. Aren't you?
I think one common misconception that I have seen flouted all too frequently is the confusion of homophobia and a simple disagreement with homosexuality. Just because someone disagrees with the lifestyle, or thinks it is morally wrong, believes it is a learned or adopted lifestyle as opposed to genetic or is against gay marriage, does not mean that they are homophobic. Phobia = fear. The word homophobia is used to dismiss a wide variety of objections to homosexuality. Legitimacy of arguments aside, the word is grossly overused and frequently misused to oppose an illusive anti-gay argument.
I can agree with this.
But when it comes to laws (such as marriage), this type of disagreement shouldn't take place. Let gays marry, but no one has to "approve" of gay people or what they do. I think it's a bit on the ignorant side, but who cares? I don't need a lot of people to like me. I just want to be able to live my life.
I can agree with this.
But when it comes to laws (such as marriage), this type of disagreement shouldn't take place. Let gays marry, but no one has to "approve" of gay people or what they do. I think it's a bit on the ignorant side, but who cares? I don't need a lot of people to like me. I just want to be able to live my life.
Which 'disagreement'? That the word homophobic is overused? That was the point I was making in my post. Simply that disagreement does not equal fear.*
My daughter is gay and if someday she wants to get married then she should certainly have the same rights as anyone else. Fortunately she lives in Canada and can do so.
I agree with you that it is not up to anyone to approve of someone else's lifestyle. In my opinion, as long as no one is being emotionally or physically abused or breaking the law, then people should mind their own business, worry about their own lives and seek their own happiness.
From what I understand, a lot of the controversy in the USA concerning gay rights, marriage, etc., has to do with the financial cost of extending healthcare benefits, pensions, etc. Each individual should have the right to decide which other individual gets their benefits, regardless of sex. It is also quite horrible that states can repeal laws and declare marriage null after the fact.
* Just reread your post h0tmess and realise that you meant "disagreement with gay rights" should not affect laws. It took a while in Canada and in the UK, but in the end, many people come around to recognise that their personal beliefs on the "rightness or wrongness" of something is not an adequate or legitimate reason to deny other people their right to live their lives with someone of the same sex. In both of these countries it is pretty much a non-issue and a "you live your life I'll live mine" attitude, which is incredibly freeing to all, regardless of which side of the fence they sit on.
Last edited by sunshineleith; 03-02-2010 at 02:41 PM..
Already, because I have presented a sound lexicological argument for the mis-use of the word "homophobic" you are assuming I am somehow anti-gay. Aren't you?
Untwist your knickers and grow a brain.
I think anyone who talks about homosexuality as a "lifestyle" is lacking in brain power or is purposefully trying to portray homosexuals as some sort of foreign creatures that can't or shouldn't be accepted by "normal" (read: heterosexual) people.
I think anyone who talks about homosexuality as a "lifestyle" is lacking in brain power or is purposefully trying to portray homosexuals as some sort of foreign creatures that can't or shouldn't be accepted by "normal" (read: heterosexual) people.
From what I understand, a lot of the controversy in the USA concerning gay rights, marriage, etc., has to do with the financial cost of extending healthcare benefits, pensions, etc.
The majority of opposition is based in old-fashioned prejudice. Costs are occasionally mentioned, but it's such a flimsy excuse, almost no one buys into it.
I think one common misconception that I have seen flouted all too frequently is the confusion of homophobia and a simple disagreement with homosexuality. Just because someone disagrees with the lifestyle, or thinks it is morally wrong, believes it is a learned or adopted lifestyle as opposed to genetic or is against gay marriage, does not mean that they are homophobic. Phobia = fear. The word homophobia is used to dismiss a wide variety of objections to homosexuality. Legitimacy of arguments aside, the word is grossly overused and frequently misused to oppose an illusive anti-gay argument.
If you think homosexuality is morally wrong, if you disagree with people living a homosexual "lifestyle" (as if it's actually a lifestyle ) and then you actively fight against its acceptance (campaigning/voting against equal civil rights, trying to convince homosexuals to seek a "cure") that means you FEAR it. You FEAR the acceptance of homosexuality and believe that accepting it will cause some harm. You might feel it will lead to the moral decay of society, you might fear that God will smite a society that accepts it and that Hell will open up and consume us all, you might fear for the eternal damnation of the homosexual, you might fear your own weakness to succumb to homosexuality if it were widespread, you might fear that if accepted AIDS and other disease will spread the land etc, etc, etc. If you had no fear of homosexuality, then you'd have no reason to reject its being accepted.
If you don't accept homosexuality - if you "don't agree" with homosexuality - then you are homophobic. That's not the question - it's a given. The question is whether your fear is rational and justified.
Yes, I have been. It's just strange that you have a gay daughter who you accept, but that you still refer to homosexuality as a "lifestyle".
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That was the point I was making in my post. Simply that disagreement does not equal fear.*
) and then you actively fight against its acceptance (campaigning/voting against equal civil rights, trying to convince homosexuals to seek a "cure") that means you FEAR it. You FEAR the acceptance of homosexuality and believe that accepting it will cause some harm. You might feel it will lead to the moral decay of society, you might fear that God will smite a society that accepts it and that Hell will open up and consume us all, you might fear for the eternal damnation of the homosexual, you might fear your own weakness to succumb to homosexuality if it were widespread, you might fear that if accepted AIDS and other disease will spread the land etc, etc, etc. If you had no fear of homosexuality, then you'd have no reason to reject its being accepted. 
