Why do so many folks assume homophobia is accepted?

On TV, radio and in conversations, I never fail to run into morons who think that a homophobic viewpoint is the "default" one.

I noticed the other day when some moron was yapping about Brokeback Mountain on a station in New Jersey (where I am at the moment), he was deigning himself the ambassador of ALL straight men in staying "no guy wants to go see that movie and then pick up chicks. They're taking it up the you-know-what! What's there to like in that movie, yuck?"

After establishing this "fact," he then spent the rest of the call berating women taking their kids to see the movie, and of course the gay callers.

I see this attitude all the time, especially from people who claim to be "tolerant."

The irony is, if I was as nasty to this fellow as he is to us, he'd probably try to punch me in the jaw (shortly before I set loose my 6'2" 190 lb. can of whoop-ass on him!) ;)

Imagine if a gay commentator on radio or TV said something as obnoxious as "ewwwww, who wants to see a straight romance film, all that yucky vagina stuff?" Or even "those fat ugly men are so unattractive, they need to stop forcing their values down our throats."

Imagine if at the holiday party, when discussion about a new romance film came up, a gay man said "a man was eating fish" and a lesbian said "a woman was forced to accept his womb polluter" or some other dreadful (comparable to homophobic) sexist slur.

I think the outcry would be pretty loud.

So why is it broadly accepted when it comes to gays?

LOL!

I usually do, when I hear someone say something stupid, I turn it around on them and give as good as they do.

You have to fight fire with water, not with fire.

See? It's all your fault.

Now quit scaring the fundies.

. . . I was sucking on a big purple grape popsicle and thought "I wonder. . . "

Otherwise, I'm afraid I don't understand...

:)

And I thought "hmmmm. . . "

You know, I was always wanting to join a group of people who pay higher taxes and get fewer benefits -- it always struck me as cool! ;)

But yeah, you're right. I have to listen to it almost daily when a couple of young bucks wander into the gay section.

It's like a macho contest to see who is the most grossed out.

I really think that the reason that these stereotypes are so firmly reinforced in our society, is that if they weren't, a large segment of people would be bi-sexual. that in and of itself would hinder religion's grip on us -- and religion knows exactly how to use all of our natural sexual urges for shame and control.

When I came out to my grandmother, who was 77 at the time, she took it rather calmly and said she thinks most people are really bisexual anyway. I don't know if she was familiar with Kinsey's scale or not, but she is right. Taking the sum total of thoughts and actions few people are 100% gay or straight. I'll say I'm gay, and I have been with my partner for over seven years. Yet, there are women in my past and I won't lie and say my my eyes never wander. Sexuality is a fluid spectrum.

then you must be somewhat racist too. Not everywhere and certainly not around people who are progressive.

But in some places sometimes white people even use the "n" word thinking it's okay.

I used to just swallow my words and walk away, but now I don't. I say "That is really offensive." Then just look at them to see what they will say next. 9 times out of 10 it embarasses them (as it should).

People need to be called on their bullshit assumptions when possible.

and that has been a lot of places. as a straight guy i find it repulsive when this shit starts up, worse there is nothing i can say or do to shut them up. no matter what i say, they look at me funny, then just keep it up. what is interesting is that alot of them say the same about women which makes me think hmmmmm,what are they hiding?
yesterday i was listening to some guy on the radio going crazy about this movie-i mean crazy. he calmed down and started talking about other stuff..it was the trucking network`s steve sommers--- wonder why stevie was so upset?
i really don`t think it is accepted -i just think not enough good people tell them to shut the fuck up cause they don`t want to here it.

heterosexuality. Why they would need to do that is between them and their therapist. If they have one.

It's broadly accepted cause heteros are many and homos are few. And few people want to be cast in the role of finger wagger so they just snicker and... maybe... feel a little guilty about it later.

at least right now. It looks a little too romantic for me, and I am usually not into those kinds of movies.
:shrug:

First off, "womb polluter" - when I read that I laughed out loud. I'm going to have to remember that.

On to the point: Homophobia is ingrained in us by society. That is why it is considered a "default", at least it was ingrained in me where I grew up. It is the same with race and everything else we use to put other people down. You pick it up, you internalize it, and the only way to break the cycle is by acknowledging its existence and consciously fighting it.

Even LGBT people can be homophobic - it isn't a uniquely straight phenomenon. Even to this very day I still feel "guilty" and "slightly ashamed" on the rare occassion. It was the way I was brought up to feel, and it is extremely difficult to fight off such things that have been impressed upon you your entire life.

That doesn't mean we should accept it, to the contrary, it means we should inform and enlighten. My life experiences have brought me to a strange place. I remember when I first saw two men kissing, passionately, for the first time in my life. I was strangely attracted to it, knew that was what I wanted, and yet at the same time almost physically repulsed. I certainly don't feel that way now, after seeing it hundreds of thousands of times it eventually goes away and becomes normal and accepted.

That is what will eventually happen, LGBT people will eventually become "normal" and accepted by society. We will be "assimilated" and one day we'll be able to do everything that straight people do, and no one will look at us twice. I say that is the way it will be within the next 50 years.

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which means they have a little weenie experience in their own history book or wish they did.

I just roll my eyes and remind them that they need not be concerned about someone else's bedroom. Then offer my condolences that no one seems to want to go into THEIRS.
These are people who are so sexually frustrated that they forget they engage in a homosexual act all the time...with their own hand.