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Not everyone is this openminded--but it might not be because they're blindly hating. | Source: Shutterstock
Homophobia is a fear that’s pretty scary in itself. The irrational hatred and fear of homosexuality and gay and lesbian people is a frightening phenomenon: it manifests itself into bullying, name calling, and sometimes even hate crimes and violence towards homosexuals. Those behaviors aren’t cool at all against anyone for any reason, but gay and lesbian people have a tough time especially, considering homophobic attitudes can actually infringe on their rights.
Here’s what’s interesting, though: You know a lot of the politicians and religious leaders you hear about preaching about how bad it is to be gay? A lot of them have been exposed as being secretly gay themselves. And now science has some evidence that says the theory that homophobia stems from one’s own homosexuality may hold some water. That’s right. SCIENCE!
Some crafty scientists did six separate studies of 784 college students. They had the students rate their own sexuality on a 1-10 scale–1 being gay and 10 being super straight (could you imagine how tough that rating has to be to give yourself?!). The students then took a test on a computer where they had to sort images associated with homosexuality and heterosexuality, but there was a twist: the scientists put in subliminal messages. (Those are the kind that you don’t consciously see but still somewhat register in your brain–like back in the day when theaters used to splice split-second pictures of popcorn and soda on the screens in the middle of your movie to encourage you to buy snacks.) The subliminal images used in the study were “me” and “other,” and the study showed that if the word “me” was shown before the category you didn’t lump yourself into (for example, if you labeled yourself as straight, “me” would come before a homosexual image), you sorted it out more quickly.
Kurt was bullied on Glee... By a guy who later tried to kiss him! | Source: Shutterstock
That was generally the trend, except for one group of students who participated. The researchers found that around one in five students who labeled themselves as super straight linked “gay” images with the word “me” faster than they associated themselves with “straight” images–meaning that they may be secretly gay. Those same people were also the most likely to favor anti-gay policies and opinions. Interesting!
The scientists reported their findings and noted that students in the study who were raised with supportive and open minded parents were the least likely to be homophobic and were more in touch with their implicit sexual orientation–the kind that they don’t talk about or may even realize, but that’s there. (That’s where all those subliminal images come to play!)
The study showed that many of the most homophobic participants are probably struggling with some sexual identity issues of their own and may have been victims of intolerance themselves. And really? That’s just sad.
People often oppose things they don't understand or that they hate in themselves. Homophobes may well be jealous of these two gals acceptance and happiness! | Source: Shutterstock
This sheds a lot of light on bullying, homophobia, and intolerance, doesn’t it? When a bully picks on someone else, it’s often because they have a deep-rooted insecurity within themselves, and knocking someone down is their own way of building themselves up. (And newsflash? It doesn’t work!) Similarly, when someone says horrible things about gay and lesbian people, it may be their own way of trying to suppress their own homosexual urges.
The study is both enlightening and a little heartbreaking. It’s so sad that so many people feel the need to bring others down just because of their own problems, but now that we have evidence that this may be why, it may be easier for everyone to approach the issue. Compassion and understanding are crucial for everyone involved, as difficult as it can seem in the moment when they’re acting ignorant and cruel.
You know that whole “love your enemy” thing? It may just work in cases like this, because it might just be that the enemy’s problem is that they don’t love themselves enough to be honest about who they really are.
Have you ever dealt with homophobia? Do you struggle with your own sexual identity? Do you think homophobia stems from people being secretly gay? Tell us in the comments!
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Most Homophobes never badge anyone who is openly gay—but they will badger a man who is not gay that does not care one bit about any type of stereotype of what it takes to be a man or(a human)
I have noticed(in my Opinion) that most homo phobics, who are openly aggressive about using the word gay, to describe another man sexual status —use this word on men who are not gay ,but if you do not conform to their narrow minded view point on hyper masculinity they will brand you with their malignant B.S.
I love seeing these posts supporting gays & lesbians & bisexuals. I don’t see a difference between them and anyone else; they’re just people like every straight person out there. I’m secretly bisexual, and three of my friends that are girls have girlfriends. I support all of them completely, even before I realized I was attracted to girls
I wish people could just forget about others religion and skin tone and gender and sexuality, and just judge people based on who they really are. It kinda sucks sometimes, listening to my dad say that he doesn’t believe in gay marriage.
Thank you everyone, again
I am Catholic and I definately support gay rights and believe that people should have the right to be with whoever they want. Gay people should also have the respect of their classmates or colleagues. I do not understand why people are so upset about this issue! If people are aware that someone they know is gay how does that effect THEM? It doesn’t. If gay marriage was legalized and you disagree it does not mean you have to go out and marry someone who is the same sex as you. In the Bible if Jesus was to say that people could be with whoever they want the people would not take jesus seriously and he would probably be stoned and killed. Jesus spoke in metaphors so one day we would understand his true message. Which is to love everyone no matter what. Do you really think that God would send a kind gay person to hell and a mean straight person to heaven? The Bible was written 2000 years ago and people need to realize that fact. I just hope that one day the human species will evolve enough as to accept everyone for who they are without judgement.
OK I’M SICK AND TIRED OF THIS CRAP!iF YOUR GAY,LESBIAN,HOMOSEXUAL,OR BISEXUAL THEN BE PROUD OF IT.I PERSONALLY THINK THAT IF YOUR GAY,LESBIAN,OR BISEXUAL THEN YOU CAN STILL BE MY FRIEND!I REALLY DON’T CARE IF YOUR ON DRUGS OR SOMETHING.IDON’T JUDGE PEOPLE BY THEIR SEXUALITY OR ANYTHING.IF I LUV U I LUV U!
What if it wasn’t a decision? And you’re Christian & know it’s “wrong”, but had a female relative a few years older then you when you were very young touch you? So you’re kind of attracted to girls to? Would you still consider that wrong?
Well that’s called molestation and is illegal, but besides that IF it’s from a experience and you think it’s wrong try therapy? If it’s just built into you that you like girls as well as guys or just girls. You like girls.
i agree nonya because thats what my parents have taught me and i would still feel that way even if they didnt.
I’m not a homophobe. A phobia is a fear. I’m not afraid of them. I am against them. God states in the bible that love is between a man and a woman. Why do you thing we have different parts that combined reproduce? Men and woman were made for eachother. Please don’t overreact to this comment but you have to at least consider this.
Question, if a waiter you believed to be gay (lisp, gay hair, everything) said “I will be your server for this evening”, and you knew he would be handling your food, would you be disgusted?
You’re over thinking this WAY too much! The bible says NOTHING against gay people, he’s talking about you shouldn’t treat a man the way they treated women, if a man raped a virgin he would have to marry her and pay her father. Also if a man died and he was married his wife would have to marry his brother and submit to him sexually. Women who were slaves that were owned by a woman and that woman became married that female slave would have to submit to the husband sexually. My point is nothing in the bible is black in white, THINK about stuff, look it up, you have to realize that most of the stuff written in the bible was wrote WAY back and that things were different at that time. So please, even you won’t accept this please love the gay people no matter what, God said to love EVERYONE even satanists and gays. Please be kind and don’t judge. God bless you all.
As for the Bible, you have to look at the context and the meaning behind the words. Leviticus was all about putting things into categories; as you know, categories tend to not mix. So, technically, you’re breaking God’s law if you wear clothes that are a blend of two different fibers. Divorce is also condemned but you don’t see us forbidding people to divorce. Also, it’s frowned upon to touch a woman within 7 days of her period. What Leviticus really, truly meant in”Man shall not lie with man as he does with a woman” means a man should not treat a fellow man as his inferior as he would with a woman, because treating a man like a woman was wrong. Back in those times, every woman belonged to some man whether they liked it or not, and it was either her father or her husband, Having sexual intercourse after the wedding was the man claiming ownership of his woman. If you have sex with a virgin, you have damaged another man’s property. So, in essence, Leviticus was property law, and when people say “God said no!” their argument is invalid. Nowadays, the Bible is used as a weapon. Unless you take guns a knives out to kill all unmarried, non-virginal women, divorcees and people who wear cotton-poly blends, you can stop preaching.
My dad is totally a homophobe, and it pisses me off. If you’re a nice, decent person, who cares what your sexualtiy is??? It makes me so sad to see this kind of stuff.
As a former Christian… it makes me very sad and disappointed to see that religion in general is so unaccepting of homosexuals. Even if the people themselves are nice to gays lots of them believe in their hearts that being gay is a sin because of some holy book. I don’t see what’s wrong with being in love, even if it’s with someone of the same gender. As long as two people are willing adults then people should have to respect what they do in the bedroom.
I believe in 90% of the cases this is true. But not everywhere. In countries like Saudi, where I currently live for the next couple of months, people like my aunt are extrememly anti-gay, and it’s not because she’s gay herself, but because in this society, to be openly gay is actually going to be the cause for your death (I believe its a hanging they will do for you) because in all major religions homosexuality is a “no”, this is not any different in Islam. People like my aunt strongly believe it’s a life choice to be gay and therefore has said things like, “If I were a shop owner and a gay couple tried to come in my shop I wouldn’t let them.” I don’t agree with her views, because who would openely choose to be gay, and deal with all that crap? (There are few, but the majority? No) I know I won’t wake up one day sexually attracted to a girl, because I’m not lesbian, so why would a gay person? Regardless, this is their belief, that they choose this for themselves. I personally don’t debate it with my aunt, her mind is like a wall and theirs no changing it, I respect her beliefs even though I disagree with them. Many of these people, at least here have been drummed into them this belief that it is morally wrong. And therefore they are homophobic, but in 90% of these cases i do belive the statement above is correct.