Why are people homophobic?

A lot of the reasons are accurate, but I chose "other" because the overall reason for homophobia, in my opinion, is ignorance. Have you ever heard some say they don't like gays because they are afraid they will touch them? The average homophobic is so dumb that they think gay people actually go around touching everybody for no reason.

I think the main reason is because they are taught to be like that. They are told such things from an early age and never stop to question their views.

Because they are secretly into the same sex! :o

Some are because of the bible...

Some I suspect are afraid of being hit on.

And there are some who are like that crazy guy in "American Beauty"... where the hatred is used to cover up their own homosexual desires.

Although a number of things contribute, ultimately the answer is social influence- particularly when growing up. Religion is part of that social influence.
So does the "gross and unnatural" answer. Those people only find it gross and unnatural because they were raised to.

Yoir survey could be better compressed to two options: influence from the family or influence from peers and media.

There's lots of reasons, I think all the ones you listed are true depending on the person, everyone has different reasons for acting that way.

Also....Lots of people probably actually don't dislike or disagree with gay people, they just join in because they might feel that if they don't then people will call them gay. Stupid, but true.

I can't stand it when people treat a gay person badly, I'm with you, I will be the first one to stand up and defend anyone being mistreated for being gay. I think it's awesome that you changed your views and are willing to stand up to those jerks!

I was raised to think that gay is wrong and I never really thought much about the subject untill it came up with a relative, and I was utterly shocked at how my own family members turned their backs on this person and had all kinds of ill feelings about him just because he came out as being gay. I'd never been so shocked and disgusted in my life, and I was only about 13 at the time and I could see that what they were doing towards a beloved family member was so wrong, and I felt his pain, I just imagined myself in his shoes and how hurt and alone he must've felt. So sad.

People, homophobic? Ah, nobody is afraid of gays, just dislike them.

Patriarchal society.

It depends on the person. I knew somebody who was so homophobic...turns out he was the biggest gay ever! My boyfriend's dad thinks it is wrong b/c the bible says so. Then there are people who find it wrong for people of the same sex to get together, or just hate them b/c they can

I have never hated gay people until they began making those parades in my country..and they started to push on our children to tolerate them and you can;t express what you think they even give punishments for that or even send to jail in europe to be quite and not to talk nothing bad about gay people thats not normal supported by EU

If you're gay, fine with me.

I think it's a combination of most of the options above but I think every homophobic person has their own specific reasons and so you can't really generalize about these things. Of course, I find that there is no good reason to hate or be scared of gays but that's just my opinion.

I'am all for gay rights but I admit that is disgusting to see two men being intimate with each other.Two women on the other hand is not that bad. Especially if they're hot...Just being honest.

why are people so moralphobic?

It goes beyond religion really. I would say it's mostly just their cultural or social environment.

Life is confusing and uncertain enough so we try to make sense of it and we do this by assigning certainty to behavior....so gayness upsets all that and makesbthe whole definition of male and female open ....this scares people....what if there is no god no afterlife....no right or wrong....if we take away right and wrong about one thing we theorectically have to do it for everything.....too scary for many people

I think it's because they are an easy target.
I have a lot of gay friends but they aren't super showy, I find most people have issues with the drama queens because they don't know how to take the behavior.

Not that I agree with it or am afraid of homosexuals myself but I voted the first option on the list. "They find it gross and unnatural".

I dislike the fact that religious upbringing was brought into this... not all religions are homophobic, and not all religious people anti-gay. Yes, a lot of people use religion as an excuse to be homophobic, but a better way of saying it would just be "due to their upbringing."

There is too much emphasis on being a 'male' and acting macho in American society. In most other societies it's actually less prominent, but I remember being in college and a group of people had taken a gay man out and beaten him for being gay. But then that was a more cosmopolitan environment.

I feel really sorry for gay people (not so much women, but men). They have such a tough life. I hope there'll be a day when the education levels reach a point where there will be no abuse

Well most of the homophobics in the world are strictly religious and can't accept homosexuality because of their religion. I think that the most people I know who are homophobics just has to pick on a specific target to suppress their hate to themselves. And an another main reason is that people are being taught since their diaper age that homosexuality isn't really right.

I accept gay men, I think they are fabulous! Lesbians do scary sex things but I don't hate them and can be around them. I think some people are just very closed minded.

Some men don't like gay men in case they find out they're gay, others just don't like same sex people. Each to their own. There are good and bad gay people and there are certainly good and very bad str8 people.

a mix out of all of those actually, though being secretly gay and self becuz they think its wrong is common.

Humans need a sense of belonging. Being envolved with anyone or anything that would set them apart from their given group is a scary thing. Homophobics think that beeing gay is outside of their realm of `normal`.

...or atleast thats how I see it.

People shun what they themselves dont understand. My mother hated me in the beginning days but the more we talked the more she understood and supported me (somewhat). Unfortunately thats not how every story goes but i do think people just chose to not like what they dont understand. Its not right but someone has to do it.

One doesn't have to be homophobic to disapprove of homosexuality.

My beleif is that everyone, at one point and time, is going to have some type of bi-curious thought at some point and time.

Some of us, act on it, see what we think, go about our life.

Others, however, push it to the back of therir mind determinded that they are not and will not be any thing other then straight.

The more they push it, the more prominit it becomes and then they have to hate gays in order to convince themsleves they are straight.

Example: My art teacher

People who want to be violent against gay people have severe internal sexual confusions. They take out their own self-hate on people and actions they perceive as "gay". They also like to call anyone and anything gay simply to normalize their own feelings about themselves.

It makes the atmosphere of any place traumatic, tense and unpleasant when people externalize these conflicts and self-hatreds.

I agree some people are born with sexual preferences to some extent or another, but there is no science to it as we are all unique and there really is no way or right to judge a person for any reason, nomatter how justified you think you are.

People should be allowed to figure out their own lives on their own without social pressures from the media and Lady Gaga and television shows(all unhealthy, perverted and loud). I think a lot of people who would have turned out straight nowadays, are pressured by the sexual tension and abusive "gender norms", into thinking they are homosexual when they are not.

It seems EVERYONE is going through the "gay-straight" conflict nowadays, because for some reason the media wants it that way, so they take out their own inner turmoil on others. Thats why people unbearably are abusive toward others about things that are none of their business. I don't think it is right to claim that people are born one way or another, because we all are entitled to free will and shouldn't be forced to believe we are one thing or another by someone's political agenda.

Gay people are generally awesome. Any logical, agnostic, free thinking, unafraid of cognitive dissonance-type person knows that. Just because you're a guy who finds a gay guy's sexuality repulsive, doesn't mean you have a right to pronounce him less valid than you, period. Your wife and/or girlfriend is into guys, you're okay with that, right? Homophobia is disgusting, far more disgusting than getting off on taking it up the ass.

honestly...why the hell should it matter? what does another persons sexual orientation have to do with your life?
unless you have gay people and drag queens approaching you on a day to day basis, OR your homosexual yourself you rly shouldnt care...
these people think this way: they feel like theyre the sexiest thing alive and that anyone whose likes the same sex likes THEM by default...

im not gay but i know a gay guy, i give two shits that he's gay and frankly...he aint flirtin with me o.0 so why should i?? gnna burn me at the stake for knowing him? >.>
*sigh* nonsense..

Im bisexual but I have a boyfriend. He knows iam and he dosent mind even though he is in no way attracted to guys. Tbh i sway more towards guys but i do find some girls attractive I cant really picture myself in a long term relationship with a girl though if I did end up in one i think i would find it much easier to tell my mates den my family. I think the younger generation are much more open minded generally.

I did however get caught v drunk by my parents and blurted that i was bisexual and dey didnt even giv a shit lol. Cant say d same abou how dey felt bou me bein drunk :(. Never again Vodka! Vodka is bad... Beer is much better! 4 me ny way :)

Why were you homophobic? And why aren't you now?

im sorry but gay people just make me feel physically sick, its not cos i think a gay is gunna try and molest me or watever but not only do gays creep me out buy i hate those in your face gays who are so in your face you just want to stick a cordless drill into their stomach

Oh shut the fuck you fag lovers ! ROFL I just love getting a rise out you people hahahaha

You homosexuals on this page seem very narcasistic and self-victimizing.

cuz your gay

Then I could say why do people use the word "bastard" is it because they have a problem with people whos parents were not married when born?