Why do fundies hate gays?

[smada]

Yeah, I know the Bible tells them to, but why really?

I'm a straight guy who grew up in a fundie home, and I've never really understood the Biblical justification for such bitter animosity toward gays (and truth be told, racial minorities a lot of times).

I don't find gays to be threatening, perverted, or any of the other things Jerry Falwell says about them in fundraising letters. The truth is, I have a lot of gay friends and I find them to be some of the warmest, most caring, creative, and funny people I know. I enjoy their company.

And believe it or not, I've never had a gay guy try to make a move on me. I don't think it's because I'm ugly (I'm not ugly). I think it's because the fundies big fear, that gays try to 'recruit' is a bunch of bullshit.

So tell me, what is really at the crux of fundies fear and loathing of gays?

[TheWizardOfMudd]

1. Its a proven scientific fact . . .

. . . that all homosexuals come from people who had bonafide heterosexual relationships.

I just felt like saying that.

[smada]

4. They would say

That only proves that homosexuality is not genetic!

[skooooo]

2. ....hmm..because they are ..

GASP!

The "other."

And we can't tolerate the "other".

[Dying Eagle]

3. IDK

I use to be wary of gays when i was a teenager, but then I made friends with a gay couple and they were awesome, two of the nicest coolest guys I knew. 1 would hit on me alittle more as a joke then anything.

[arwalden]

5. Leviticus

But that still begs the question: "which came first? the hatred that uses the bible verse for justification, or the bible verse which manifests the hatred?"

The world may never know.

-- Allen

[comsymp]

9. But Leviticus is just an excuse

Otherwise we'd be stoning our disobedient children, yelling "Unclean!" at women with PMS (probably not smart), burning poly-cotton blends and picketing Red Lobster and the NFL.

[terrya]

6. To them, gay men are a perceived threat to their idea of masculinity.

I've read a history of homophobia over the centuries, and even in ancient Greece, where homosexuality was accepted, it did have limits. Gay men who were effiminate in dress or manner and gay men who took the passive role in sex were shunned.

And through the centuries, I think that attitude has taken firm hold in society's attitudes towards homosexuality. The fundies just use the Bible and other nonsense to justify their prejudice.

[NuttyFluffers]

8. yup yup, their manliness melts away.

they wither in the face of gender benders, it's their kryptonite. they are afraid they'll find that they really like it, and god knows, wouldn't that mean their gay for liking soft clothing and dancing? oh god no! withering into weakness!!

part of it also has to do with a bit of embedded misogyny. there's some inner fear and the thus the cardinal sin amongst those who chase hyper-masculine is "thou shalt not be woman." those who are flamboyant break the cardinal sin, and god forbid if they convert a few before they are stopped!

yes, yes indeed it is nonsense that motivates them.

[comsymp]

7. An argument can be made that...

Religion is intended/used to support the existing power structure- basically to keep the masses down- think Beatitudes (blessed are those who eat shit now for the hereafter is theirs) or the history of the printed Bible and Latin masses, for example. Hell, one could argue that the whole concept of Heaven is to appease those whose lot in this world is to suffer. Opening up the Mysteries to the peasants was a huuuuuge deal. Gutenberg was NOT a popular guy among the elite of his time.

Basically, in order to keep the masses down (preserve the power structure), they can't realize that they're on the bottom rung; consequently, they need someone to feel superior to. Anybody who appears different (race, orientation, for example) makes an EXCELLENT whipping boy.

[Lucky Luciano]

11. I think those are nice points.

People have always felt the need to have some kind of prestige - it is a very insecure trait. These same insecure people cannot have prestige if they don't have someone to bash and feel superior to as you state.

[comsymp]

13. ...Or I could just be full of shit

:evilgrin:

Nah, well yeah- but I think I'm serious and at least partially right about this... nobody wants to be Number Last- reminescent of the Carlin joke about somebody having to be the worst doctor. As long as you can look down on somebody, things ain't that bad, right? Also helps explain the attitudes of racist gay folks I know.

[Lucky Luciano]

17. Yup nobody wants to be number Last as you put it!

Carlin is my favorite comedian. I know he is old now, but he really nails things perfectly. Basically, if someone wants to understand many of my views, I would suggest they listen to Carlin. For example, I tend to be very unPC at times because I do think PC goes too far at times (Can anyone say, "Womyn?"), and Carlin really bashes PC in ways that I totally agree with. The right often uses anti-PC as a weapon, but usually they do it for the wrong reasons.

[comsymp]

18. I like you

and I like your profile, too. FWIW, as a diehard lefty, I find myself in strong disagreement with many of the views here, too. You're absolutely right about the perversion of PC- it's essentially a sound principle, and was a good idea to start with- basically, to speak respectfully to/of others. Hell, some folks would call that common courtesy or even <gasp> Christianity! Somehow, a few idiots went batshit with it and the PC Police gave the Right just enough ammo to use it against us.

[SmileyBoy]

15. I don't read too much into Conflict Theory.

I doubt it's necessarily that. I think it has more to do with twisted, warped, negative personal feelings among homophobes than anything else.

[comsymp]

19. Maybe, maybe not... but

what, then, creates homophobes? I can't imagine that they're all repressing their own inner Dorothy-- some, no doubt (in fact, I know that for a fact)... but I think it's primarily societally imposed (as opposed to individual pathology) and am suggesting *one* of *many* bases for it- specifically in the context of organized religion or, as initially stated, fundies.

[teach1st]

10. Apparently there is a hierarchy of sins...

Apparently there is a hierarchy of sins which is hidden somewhere in the Bible, and in that secret hierarchy homosexuality is near the top. Fundies I know don't mind hanging with (Republican) adulterers or cheaters or murderers, but to many fundies gays are just evil.

[Pretty_in_CodePink]

12. On NPR's Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me

Roy Blount Jr. said (paraphrasing here):

That many people against gay marriage just can't stand the thought of two people of the same sex doing it. By that logic they wouldn't want their parents married either. Ha!

[Lucky Luciano]

14. When I was younger and a little more homophobic

because I had never met someone I knew to be gay, I always thought I would kick the crap out of any gay guy that would hit on me. I quickly realized homophobia is stupid. There have been many gay guys that have hit on me and I always shut them down immediately, but politely...I couldn't even imagine showing animosity over the whole thing, because it is pretty trivial to be hit on if you ask me as long as they stop when you tell them no - only twice did they become persistent - that did piss me off, but not because they were gay.

[comsymp]

16. Well stated

And I've had the same problem with being hit on- (even) as a GM it pissed me off, too- kinda felt like kicking the crap out of a couple, myself. How hard is it really to understand the word "no"? Imagine the bullshit involved in being a good looking woman!

[2Design]

20. If they are unsure of themselves as a man than they attack what they

fear. This is part of the macho bully stuff too. They are really wooses.....like Rush.....he is the wizard of oz.....he is a drug addict with a big mouth....very insecure inside......so they put on a macho persona to hide how wimpy they really are....


the other explanation is we all have male and female hormones and at some point in our development sometimes have attraction toward the same sex but grow into our sex of choice by allowing both feelings to live at the same time.... you eventually naturally come out like which ever one you were created to like....

they fear those feelings so much they are developmentally still in their early teens....they never finished the growing up and accepting your sexuality phase....

IMHO