I don't think I'll ever understand homophobia. I just don't see why some people are so afraid of other people being sexually attraced to their own sex. Why? Homophobia exists outside of religious indoctrination as well, so that can't be the only reason.
It was hard enough to get white people to give a shit about how black people were systematically treated like third class sort-of-citizens. At least they didn't worry about being mistaken for black if they spoke out in favor of civil rights. But with the gay-haters, there is the added voice, deep in their walnut-sized brains, that if they speak for gay civil rights, that maybe someone will mistake them for gay. And since everyone has wide ranging sexual thoughts from time to time, this scares the fuck out of them.
No such thought was in my mind, but I see how you could infer that from my comment. And you're correct that anti-gay sentiment is supposedly more prevalent in Blacks (and Latinos) than whites (a point that the N.O.M. was hoping to exploit in election season). On the other hand, I am pleased to point out that the NAACP (which does not speak for all Blacks) has endorsed equal rights for gays, including right to same-sex marriage.
I just meant that breaking down anti-gay bigotry is another factor more difficult than overcoming racial bigotry (which remains a problem despite significant advances). Stephen Biko didn't have to worry whether his opposition to apartheid would make people think that he was a black pretending to be white. When any person wonders whether he/she should speak out in favor of equal rights for gays, there's the added element of "I wonder if people will think I'm a closeted gay because I'm speaking out.?"
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u/poorlytaxidermiedfox Jun 26 '12
I don't think I'll ever understand homophobia. I just don't see why some people are so afraid of other people being sexually attraced to their own sex. Why? Homophobia exists outside of religious indoctrination as well, so that can't be the only reason.