Why does homosexuality seem to get more hate?

[MoonWater]

This question was propsed in another thread and, with Miss Alice's permission, I thought I'd move it here for further discussion.

...I still do not understand though why this subject is the more disturbing than say adultery or divorce. Most people in religious communities are way more forgiving toward someone who is a drug addict, adulterer, wife beater, and yes even a killer. A good question would be why homosexuality is a more disturbing and intolerant subject among most people.

Now I may not go so far as to say that most people consider it more disturbing but I have certainly noticed that people who are against homosexuality for religious reasons tend to offer more support and forgiveness to adulterers and those others mentioned than to homosexuals. It also seems that they have to deal with more hate as well. So why is this? Is it simply because homosexual marriage is a major focus right now? It seems to me there's more to it than that though because the hatred and the scorn isn't just coming from more people, but seems to be to a far greater degree in many who hate it than for say adultery or abuse. Why?

 

[beenie]

If a person accepts homosexuality, then they **might** be admitting they themselves have tendencies. People lack confidence in who they are.

 

[Storm]

If a person accepts homosexuality, then they **might** be admitting they themselves have tendencies. People lack confidence in who they are.

Yep.

 

[no-body]

Because a lot of people are taught that it is "yucky" from the day they are born, it is comparable to the idea of incest in a lot of people. If you are homosexual and trying to hide it or are a heterosexual that will never come in contact with it, it becomes the perfect scapegoat.

 

[Archer]

I will pull away from the common response and present what I feel is the best explanation.

Taking the religious texts out of the equation (though it is where a lot of the excuses come from) and simply looking at the human aspect it is simply a way for some individuals to feel better about themselves.

Because the taboo is nothing more than a social construct (leaving religion out again) that is pointed out more than other things it makes it easy to point fingers taking away from the person paintings own inequities.

"Hey I screw his wife while my wife was away on business but hey I am a man and at least I am not gay." It makes people feel good to down other PPL and that is it.

 

[Mister Emu]

Very few people argue that adultery, drug addiction, spousal abuse, and/or murder are acceptable.

Also, people can stop being adulterers, they can go the drug rehab, they can get psychological counseling and stop abusing their spouses, and they can not murder again. People can't stop being homosexual.

Also, some people are insecure.

Also, many of the homosexual haters could theoretically see themselves doing one of the others, they've seen a beautiful person they've thought about cheating on, been really angry and wanted to kill someone or hit their spouse, maybe gone on an alcohol binge or have been addicted to something(not necessarily drugs) in the past or present... they can empathise with the person, and that makes forgiveness easier. As they are presumably not homosexual(in which case see above), they cannot see themselves wanting to have sex with the same gender.

 

[idav]

What people deem as sexual perversion is subjective and people look down on stuff that is seen as uncommon. People seem to see homosexuality as a perversion while seeing adultery as something rather normal.

 

[Skwim]

Q: why [is] homosexuality is a more disturbing and intolerant subject among most people.

In general I think its mainly because the majority of people are not homosexuals, which makes homosexuality a minority they don't see themselves as ever being a member, and thus safe for sniping. Why the sniping?

So far:

The possibility that one may be homosexual him/herself, and therefore try to demonize it to put it at a distance.

Taught that it is a sin and therefore something to be shunned.

The yuck factor. Anybody who would put "that" there, has to be sick .
​

I would add

Another opportunity to elevate oneself by putting down others.

Homosexual rape in the past.
​

 

[ChristineES]

Maybe it is getting more hate because it is also getting more acceptance. I can still remember the 80s hearing about people getting beat up at bars. And people were less vocal about it as well- it was the kind of thing people used to keep "in the closet". I think this wave of hatred and non-tolerance may pass in time, or at least we can hope.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I think the primary root of so much homophobia, is that homosexuality challenges the absurd notions of masculinity of many insecure and emotionally crippled men.

 

[michel]

This question was propsed in another thread and, with Miss Alice's permission, I thought I'd move it here for further discussion.



Now I may not go so far as to say that most people consider it more disturbing but I have certainly noticed that people who are against homosexuality for religious reasons tend to offer more support and forgiveness to adulterers and those others mentioned than to homosexuals. It also seems that they have to deal with more hate as well. So why is this? Is it simply because homosexual marriage is a major focus right now? It seems to me there's more to it than that though because the hatred and the scorn isn't just coming from more people, but seems to be to a far greater degree in many who hate it than for say adultery or abuse. Why?[/quote]

In my mind, homosexuality is not something that I can understand; The Bible teaches me that God will judge us - and that absolves me of making any decision about something I can't understand.

Hate ? - hate has no room in Christianity; hate of a sin, but no hate of the sinner - if a homosexual is sinning by not being celibate, it's up to God to judge - certainly not me.

 

[Skwim]

I think the primary root of so much homophobia, is that homosexuality challenges the absurd notions of masculinity of many insecure and emotionally crippled men.

I think this has a lot of merit. Reflecting back on my high school days I remember the tribal machos who would disparage and pick on the more studious types. It was an "I'm a real guy and you're nothing more than a whimp" sort of attitude. And after high school and away from my college setting I recall still seeing this attitude in some of those of my age. So I can well imagine this perception and attitude being applied to the more effete gays, which in turn would be used to paint them all as not worthy of respect.

 

[Kriya Yogi]

It is one of the last things people in society have to accept and understand. Before it was racism or cultural and religious differences that we are now more or less used to and accepting of.

Homosexuality is the new difference that society has to understand and overcome. I never like to say this, but some people will use anything to express their evil ways or ignorance. When they don't understand or accept something they will use that to express those ways.

 

[waitasec]

i think it's easier for a bully to pick on a little guy...
unbeknownst to the bully, the little guy has been going to the gym.


it's an outward sign of insecurity of how to deal with a scriptural dilemma

 

[Adonis65]

Originally Posted by MissAlice
...I still do not understand though why this subject is the more disturbing than say adultery or divorce. Most people in religious communities are way more forgiving toward someone who is a drug addict, adulterer, wife beater, and yes even a killer. A good question would be why homosexuality is a more disturbing and intolerant subject among most people.

I would say it's because homosexuals organize themselves and attack those who get in their way. This tends to make other people angry. I don't see any drug addicts assembling for political warfare, or adulterer, wife beater, or murderer activist groups, do you?

 

[gnomon]

Would you like a radar to detect roving gangs of gay people?

 

[MissAlice]

Not sure if I've seen this assembly gangs of homosexuals this Adonis is talking about. My cousin is not part of a gang. If there is, it wouldn't compare closely to the organized gangs that have killed, attacked and espoused in hatred of gays. Mathew Shepard comes to mind. My cousin got beat up by a couple of people who were in his college. The police did nothing about it except write their names down. So don't worry Adonis, you still get to be angry.

 

[Archer]

Well I have given this more thought and I think the primal brain also may have something to do with this. Removing all constructs both faith based and societal an individual can not pass their DNA to a second generation if their offspring are strictly homosexual. Yes homosexual's have children but the primitive brain is more instinctual and animalistic.

I guess some people are more evolved than others; at least to the point of not saying anything. The rest of "US" are just primitive knuckle dragging worshipers of our imaginary friend.

 

[ninerbuff]

It's because kids are taught this ignorance by their parental units.

 

[Storm]

Well I have given this more thought and I think the primal brain also may have something to do with this. Removing all constructs both faith based and societal an individual can not pass their DNA to a second generation if their offspring are strictly homosexual. Yes homosexual's have children but the primitive brain is more instinctual and animalistic.

I guess some people are more evolved than others; at least to the point of not saying anything. The rest of "US" are just primitive knuckle dragging worshipers of our imaginary friend.

Projecting a bit, don't you think?

ETA: You're basically saying that we're the bigots. I don't have any problem with straights... at least not until I crush on a straight chick. Then I might ***** a bit about monosexuality, but it's all in good fun. What's more, I believe in God, too.

My problem is when you take a book about God and use it to figuratively bash my head in.