tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126474455193057329.post3921307776960210997..comments2020-03-09T02:36:09.826-07:00Comments on Being Gay Being Christian: IDAHO Day 2012Stuart Edserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08043072084285135750noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126474455193057329.post-44259599161713649952012-05-17T16:23:10.219-07:002012-05-17T16:23:10.219-07:00Thanks Adrian for your comment. I appreciate your ...Thanks Adrian for your comment. I appreciate your posting it.<br /><br />While I do agree with you that the word 'phobia' does mean fear in its dictionary sense, it is attached as a suffix in the word 'homophobia' in its more abstract sense. The abstract sense carries with it a whole world of symbolism and anti-gay culture that is absolutely a fear. A fear that leads to aggression to one degree or another.<br /><br />Part of this abstraction is the notion that prejudice comes from ignorance and ignorance breeds fear. This happens in racism too as a clear example. People fear what they do not know or understand and this is where prejudice grows. It is an accepted truism that prejudice is based on fear. <br /><br />So when we say someone is homophobic, we really do mean that they are fearful of same-sex sexuality and its effects upon them personally. And this fear can turn to hatred. For example, if a gay man comes up to you in the street, calls out 'hi sweetie' and gives you a big kiss hello, and you recoil because of what other people around would think, that is part of the fear that is encapsulated within that term 'phobia'. We would fear other's retribution. We would fear others' evaluation. If I'm straight, I might fear that others would think that I am gay too.<br /><br />True story. My partner Chris many years ago went to the movies with a good straight friend of ours. When they sat down, Chris sat next to him to watch the show, but immediately the friend got up and moved one seat away. As we both know him well, we know that he did this because of homophobia. Without mind-reading, there were probably thoughts of, 'they might think I am gay too,' 'they might think that we're together,' 'I hope no-one I know is in here to see me.' This is a fear. Although our friend does love us, he is no more immune to the effects of homophobia than anyone else, and we would hope that after all these years he has learned a thing or two.<br /><br />We could try new words like homoantipathy or homoaggression but I doubt they would catch on now, and anyway they lack that abstraction quality that the word phobia does have in spades.<br /><br />Your final comment about respect is all too true. It's just that homophobia is the exact opposite.<br /><br />Cheers<br />StuartStuart Edserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08043072084285135750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5126474455193057329.post-71888819503670964662012-05-17T08:16:16.189-07:002012-05-17T08:16:16.189-07:00Phobia means fear and not everyone is afraid of Ga...Phobia means fear and not everyone is afraid of Gays. They may be ignorant but they don't fear. And to use the word education doesn't solve anything. People have the right to opinioniate what they feel. If a person doesn't like baseball does that mean they have a phobia of baseball? It all comes down to respect.AdrianLynn1967https://www.blogger.com/profile/15679105186257552467noreply@blogger.com