What makes a person be homophobic?

I think it all boils down to it being something they learned. Environment, media, parents, all that could be something to put into account. Nobody's born homophobic, racist or whatever. Hell, children won't even know or care until they're taught about it. However, the great thing about today's society is that you can always re-learn. Previous negative perceptions of homosexuality can change simply by being educated.

Humans in general are simple minded creatures which can be easily controlled.
The more educated you are the more open minded you usually become.

Oh, and I what a lot of people dislike is the gay culture, not gay people themselves. When I say culture, I'm talking about the really tacky, out in the open and flaming behavior people associate with the San Francisco gay scene.

Ignorance is what make people homophobic. Ignorance and stupidity.

Although, I can admit I find it hard to swallow that really flaming hey-look-at-me-I'm-queer thing, but not because they're gay. I dislike it simply because those kind of people usually act like retards. I dislike everyone who jumps up and down acting like a fag. (Get the pun?... well, not even a pun, but get it?)

Probably the fact that I was attempted to be molested, twice at that. I don't hate guys who like other guys, they can live their own lives like that, but when they start inviting boys to "help clean out the shop" and locking him inside trying to rape them, thats a whole different matter. I have a few friends who are, er, effeminate men, but I still don't feel comfortable being too close nor being alone in the same room as them... brings back too much memories.

I believe that most of the time it all lies in how a person is raised. I, for example did not think too much on the subject until I met and befriended a gay student. Afterwards I now think that there is no reason to fear them because they are merely trying to fit in in a culture that generally gives the impression of frowning on the "gay lifestyle". I generally am an open minded person who wishes for such things to be considered trivial when compared to other, more important matters that are at hand.

Lack of information on the matter. Misinformation on the matter and probably how they were raised comes into play.

People hate stuff that's different.
Most people catch this from others, they don't really hate homo's, but if they have any sympathy they could be shunned by their peers.

This sums it up quite nicely.

They're just scared.

It is usually where you grow up and the people you hang out with. If your dad is homophobic, the fact is you are more or less going to be to. If your dad is violent toward homosexuals you are probably too. The same things with other family members and friends and your social crowd. Fear does have a lot to do with it, people don't want to get hit on and scared to have it happen.

I am a girl and absolutely have no problem with gay people because I was taught from a somewhat young age they are just people, they are no different from me and they are attracted to the same sex.

The reasons depend a lot on where you live. Here (Portugal, I'm currently living here for a couple of years) it's mostly religion that format youngster to be homophobic. They don't have any actual argument.

However, religion aside, I think the main cause is that most, if not all, men will be insecure about their sexuality at one point or another. Since they lack information and there is still a taboo form men when it come to talk about "feelings" and "attraction" * then their only reflex is to reject it. Moreover, being homophobic is often a social statement and a way to integrate a group. I've often been rejected for defending gay and bisexual people, as well as black people. I understand that less open-minded people would trade their beliefs to be accepted in a group.



*guess what, you're more of a wuss for lacking the courage to talk about it than any person confident of their sexuality, hetero, bi or gay!

I doubt it is people fearing that they are gay themselves. This could be possible for some people, but in no way is it the reason for the public at large.

I believe it is simply because homosexuality is unnatural - and before you think I'm trying to bash gays, I mean in the biological sense. Biologically, it is odd to have too people of the same sex have intercourse (a part of intimate relationships) because it does not produce off spring. It isn't something that contributes to nature or the procreation of your species, therefore it is "wrong". I'm not saying it is morally wrong, but physically wrong. People see this and think "There is something not right about it." even though their other morals in their moral compass are pointing towards "love, compassion, happiness" when they see the interaction between gays, they also have a hard wire that says "this isn't how we make babies, and there is no man/woman to raise the child in this setup."

I know in the USA and some western cultures there is the idea that homosexuality is biological. However this is a concept which isn't yet proven and not even excepted by all gays (because if it was biological, we should be able to "cure it" since it is again "unnatural"). If you erase the idea that homosexuallity is biological, then you can easily understand how the majority of people think "This is not right, this isn't how we make babies, something is wrong with you if you aren't sexually attracted to the opposite sex."

Hmmm everything I've been seeing so far seem to present pretty good points on both end of the spectrum. I personally never do mind gays, even as friends or even if they hit on me, its just the kind of flagging of it and parading it around thats somewhat bothersome. San Fransico gay community being big example, even during the majority when I was in high school and supporting gays was pretty big. As soon as I start seeing straight people going out in the street "Were great, were straight, no need to hate" will I start to think differently.

I don't understand it either, but I'm sure it has something to do with ridiculous taboo our species has on sex. I mean, if you really think about it, masturbation is sex with your own hand, which is essentially the same as getting a handjob from a man. Yet people see no problem with it because they perceive it as "normal", whereas if a man is heterosexual, he may see getting a handjob from another man to be "abnormal" and thus disgusting to him in his limited world view.

I'm not gonna be able to fap for awhile without thinking about that fuuuu-

People have their own opinions.

They come to a conclusion themselves and, generally speaking, it's very difficult to get someone to change their views after having believed them - due partially or fully to needing to admit they are wrong.

Pride always plays a large roll in two sided debates... There comes a point when one side is only fighting to avoid being wrong. At that point, the argument is generally lost for both sides.

I geuss some males just dont like gay men. Probably because they are stubborn to try and understand another persons point of view.

Did-

did Grover just make masturbation gay??

Nah, it was a an analogy, not a direct correlation. Masturbation is stimulating yourself regardless of sex. Homosexuality is being discriminate towards being stimulated or attracted to someone else because someone is of the same sex as them.

as a person who openly walks the line between the gay and hedrosexual communitys there can be numerous reasons for one being homophobic

ignorance- This is the most common, the people that fall into this group tend to have the mind set that gay people function entirely for sex.. and that they will get it any way they can. these people often feel as if they will be raped, which is entirely false.

The zelot- these are the rarest and long story short.. it all comes down to some book saying its wrong there fore it is in their eyes

The tramatizing experance- these people are the ones who have been raped by someone of their own gender.. this of course in most cases is for example the 8-12 year old boy and his uncle for example... and as a person who has mental health issues i can understand how this could cause someone to be homophobic

and then throw in all the propaganda that exists around the subject... given its not still an openly accepted lifestyle its certainly gone from being totally taboo to more accepted in the past 30 years