The two most homophobic guys I've ever known did indeed harbor an irrational fear of gay men.
One was very open about his prejudice and comfortable using the word "fag" frequently. I'd estimate that about half the the time the topic came up, he would bring up his fear of being sexually assaulted by a gay man, even though no one else ever brought up either the topic of either sexual assault or what he might do if someone who was gay ever attacked him. A pretty severe case of rape anxiety, it seemed.
The other was what I would call a "closet homophobe". Unlike the first example, he was socially savvy enough to realize that anti-gay prejudice is passe and so tries to put a veneer over his feelings. He walks back any anti-gay remarks he lets slip, whenever he catches himself, and has a conflicted demeanor along the lines of "What do I care what two freaks do in private, not that there's anything wrong with that, but just keep it out of my face." I'm not sure if he had any rape anxiety, like the first example, but I do recall one conversation where he felt the need to go on a diatribe about how he doesn't "swing that way" despite how no one ever propositioned him nor did anyone ask if he did. He was a friend since high school but he quickly distanced himself from me after I came out openly as bisexual.
I also remember one case where some famous televangelist, Swaggart I think, went on and on about how homosexuality was a "bomb nation" and he'd kill any gay who ever propositioned him. This reflects a fear, I think, or else a violent reaction wouldn't be the response.
There have been studies in psychology on the subject of homophobia. I remember reading about one study where a group of men were divided into two study groups, one who was at ease with gay friends and the other, homophobic. Both groups of men were show lesbian porn to establish arousal in seeing hot women. Then they were shown gay male porn. The group at ease with gays had no arousal. The ones who were homophobic were aroused, often to their surprise. The conclusion was that the homophobic male may be a repressed bisexual. The "fear" is of their own sexuality.
From my perspective, phobia seems an appropriate label.
One was very open about his prejudice and comfortable using the word "fag" frequently. I'd estimate that about half the the time the topic came up, he would bring up his fear of being sexually assaulted by a gay man, even though no one else ever brought up either the topic of either sexual assault or what he might do if someone who was gay ever attacked him. A pretty severe case of rape anxiety, it seemed.
The other was what I would call a "closet homophobe". Unlike the first example, he was socially savvy enough to realize that anti-gay prejudice is passe and so tries to put a veneer over his feelings. He walks back any anti-gay remarks he lets slip, whenever he catches himself, and has a conflicted demeanor along the lines of "What do I care what two freaks do in private, not that there's anything wrong with that, but just keep it out of my face." I'm not sure if he had any rape anxiety, like the first example, but I do recall one conversation where he felt the need to go on a diatribe about how he doesn't "swing that way" despite how no one ever propositioned him nor did anyone ask if he did. He was a friend since high school but he quickly distanced himself from me after I came out openly as bisexual.
I also remember one case where some famous televangelist, Swaggart I think, went on and on about how homosexuality was a "bomb nation" and he'd kill any gay who ever propositioned him. This reflects a fear, I think, or else a violent reaction wouldn't be the response.
There have been studies in psychology on the subject of homophobia. I remember reading about one study where a group of men were divided into two study groups, one who was at ease with gay friends and the other, homophobic. Both groups of men were show lesbian porn to establish arousal in seeing hot women. Then they were shown gay male porn. The group at ease with gays had no arousal. The ones who were homophobic were aroused, often to their surprise. The conclusion was that the homophobic male may be a repressed bisexual. The "fear" is of their own sexuality.
From my perspective, phobia seems an appropriate label.
Atheist Forums Hall of Shame:
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
