to really not get why some people hate gays?

[wilfsfrozenbanana]

Just seen this article about an opera singer in Australia who wrote on facebook that gays are "faecal masses" and that she is pleased when they get their jaws broken. See here; www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/23/soprano-tamar-iveri-dropped-opera-australia-anti-gay

I just don't get this visceral hatred of gays. It's nobody else's business what people do sexually in their bedroom. Why so much hatred for people because of their sexuality?

That's pretty much what the link says!

HavantGuard - thanks for the link!

A number of senior academics at one of my former universities refused to go to the home of their department head for a housewarming on the grounds that he may try it on with them.

This man was happily civil partnered, yet they assumed he would be unable to resist a bunch of gone to seed, tubby homophobes in late middle age and upon stepping over the threshold would ravish them on sight.

Fucking pathetic from supposedly rational, intellegent men.

I've noticed annecdotely that some of the most virulently homophobic men are the most letcherous with women, quite happy to paw and generally harrass women, but are absolutely petrified they'll be on the end of the same treatment from a man.

My nan is very homophobic.

She even cancelled her subscription to the Caravan Club (which she'd belonged to for about 40 years and had booked most of her holidays with them) because they started sponsoring a TV series that had a gay couple in it.

I have recently finished working in the public sector where any kind of prejudice is just not done. I am carving out a nice little social life which involves a couple of groups which meet regularly. Two people in one group have mentioned having a problem with gay people. They have no idea, as far as I know, if I am gay or not. In fact, it was more with gay marriage than gayness per se - but it made me feel very uncomfortable. I chose not to challenge one because she is an arse anyway. The other actually said something in my home and at some point I will challenge her, definitely. My best friend is gay, not married but living with a lovely girl.
When I used to teach everything was gay - you, me, Mumsnet, ManU, etc, definitely my teaching subject was hugely gay. I used to tell the kids that people my age are supposed to be prejudiced, not people their age. I didn't realise the extent of that kind of prejudice. Pathetic and so bloody judgmental - about a situation that affects them not at all.

Havant it is strangely gratifying when ones's theories are borne out by actual research.

I'm fed up with Christians being blamed for homophobia. Nobody ever blames Muslims, Jews, or Hindus.
And CoE are very accpting.

I agree Dog we have a number of gay people at our church.

Didn't the CofE just sack a vicar for getting married?

Any gay bishops yet?

I was going to say what Tinkly said.

I also think that it can be more of a male problem - because it somehow compromises their "male superiority" if there's another male who could do to them what they do to women, iyswim.

It's primarily fear based, anyway; but then the attitudes are passed on and it becomes a "thing".

I loathe the narrowmindedness of homophobia.

DogCalledRudis

Firstly people do blame Jews and Muslims. It's just that when we criticise them you don't notice because you only really care about your religion. When I do criticise them do you know what they say? "You wouldn't say that about Christians" because they don't care about you.

Secondly your holy book says that your god wants you to kill any gay people you see. If I was found distributing a book that said we should kill all the Jews or all the Christians I'm pretty sure I'd be arrested.

I think some people have to hate, it's the only thing that gets them through their day and shitty lives by focusing their anger and frustration out on others. If they stopped hating (and usually blaming) they'd have to take a long look at themselves and that's a much worse option for them.

I believe in God. I believe if he disapproved of gay people he wouldn't have made them that way. Sorry if that offends anyone but I can't conceive of any god that would consider a loving and consenting relationship a bad thing.
People are bigoted. Now that's a bad thing.

Can I make the point that saying gays rather than gay people is reductive and not really ideal?

Christians believe in Jesus as the son of God.

In all four gospels, Jesus doesn't say a word about homosexuality; I doubt He considered it particularly important.

My dad was a little uncomfortable around gay men, although he did 'grow out' of it when a couple of the boys my brother was friends with came out as gay. I think gay people stopped being scary when they weren't 'Gay' but George or Adam or mike. He did tell me he found sodomy 'disgusting' - I, very awkwardly, pointed out not only gay men ... Yes, yes, he agreed hastily! Conversation closed!

My dad wasn't a fucking idiot just of his time.

I guess some people think it is unnatural but the hatred and violence is horrendous,

Not that I think that but its often peoples reasoning for hating gay men women ,

*And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying..."

Leviticus 20.13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death;

Your god said it. Your bible says so. Saying "oh not me I worship Jesus" is no excuse unless you're admitting he isn't god.

Maybe as someone said the hatred didn't originate with religion, but the homophobes built it into the religion they created. The result isn't very different as the churches have worked hard to keep the homophobia going and continue to do so.

Yes, The Lord spoke to Moses, in the Old Testament and before Jesus came to earth :)

As I have said, I believe that if it was really important, Jesus would have said something about it. Given that he didn't, I can't see that one throwaway remark god made to Moses in the Old Testament is so critically important in the scheme of things.

Our church isn't homophobic as the vicar is gay!

But can your vicar marry? Enjoy a sex life with his partner without using 'we are a couple but are celibate' dedence.

Jeez, speaking from experience, if she works in opera AT LEAST half the folk she is working with will be gay.

Yes, he can marry according to current laws. I haven't asked about his sex life but given he lives with his partner and, until recently, a large ginger cat (cat vanished a while back, the Sunday school children are praying for it's safe return) I imagine they have sex :)

If anybody lives in Cheshire and sees a large ginger cat with a white bib, please return it to the rectory :)

Gay people can get married in scotland england and wales now not sure about NI I am not sure I want to think of any vicars having sex really

I went to the Mardi gras about fifteen years ago in Manchester in the gay villsge with my friend and her same sex partner you had too buy a wrist band which allowed you access to the event we were sat just outside the entrance to the village when a drunken women came up to us chatting asking about the price she then turned round to my friends partner and asked if she was gay friends partner replied well yes and the drunken women headbutted my friends partner knocking her out itvwas the first time I had seen mindless violence I mean my friends were gay at a gay centred event and was assaulted because of her sexuality I still can't get my around that .

My MIL is homophobic and getting more so. She never misses an opportunity now to say what a 'shame' and a 'waste' it is when someone is one of 'those' men or women. She also votes UKIP.

I don't get it. I think she is in the early stages of dementia She is a lovely, caring person with a professional career behind her. She is better than her beliefs.

The only thing I am sure of is that if one of her friends or grandchildren were gay, she would move quickly into acceptance. I don't see why she can't think this through herself and see that what would make her grandchild happy, is also OK for other people.