Calling people homophobes can be the same as Israel calling everyone an anti-Semite. Sometimes it’s just a way to stifle discussion and get away with being really internally considerate or much worse. Same as leftists calling people racist/sexist/Nazis, it’s just a way to shut down any questioning of their philosophies or actions. But sometimes there are actual homophobes or anti-semites or racists, who truly abuse and attack people for no good reason. I think it’s very important to see the difference when an accusation is being thrown and the intent/purpose/end result of said accusation. This is always done for emotionally charged topics and realities so it’s incredibly easy to fall for it, which is probably why so many people have so much trouble thinking clearly when this tactic is employed - they are too identified or invested emotionally, regardless of which side or group they’re part of in this dynamic.
If you’re gay or straight, it helps a lot to step back emotionally and just look at the discussion as a scientist, unattached. This is an explorative discussion. There are some people who did display more subjective and emotional preferences and aversion, but they don’t represent the whole discussion. And honestly, if we don’t fault people for arachnophobia then why is this such an issue? As long as they are not harming people, why fault them for feeling a thing? Same as being gay in the first place right? And if there is such a thing as “natural” aversion to homosexuality, as in not nurture-based, that too can be discussed without being offended at the very concept.
Also anecdotally I have heard gay people I’ve known speak about their aversion for female anatomy and hetero sex. I have no idea if the cause is the same, but it’s something I’ve heard more than once.
One analogy that comes to mind is kids hating vegetables as a common theme. Maybe that’s also a natural prompting to limit that stuff for carnivores.
Personally, I’ve both been very comfortable and very uncomfortable in the presence of gay men. To me it all came down to respect and external consideration. But the same could be said for straight people for the same reason. Unfortunately when discussing any “aversion” to homosexuality it’s really hard to separate that from nurture factors and lack of external consideration of the other party. If I am not raised to believe something is wrong, and the person I encounter is externally considerate, chances are I won’t even know they’re gay. And if I got to know them and found out, I don’t see myself feeling any different - unless their behavior somehow puts me off, but then that’s different.
If you’re gay or straight, it helps a lot to step back emotionally and just look at the discussion as a scientist, unattached. This is an explorative discussion. There are some people who did display more subjective and emotional preferences and aversion, but they don’t represent the whole discussion. And honestly, if we don’t fault people for arachnophobia then why is this such an issue? As long as they are not harming people, why fault them for feeling a thing? Same as being gay in the first place right? And if there is such a thing as “natural” aversion to homosexuality, as in not nurture-based, that too can be discussed without being offended at the very concept.
Also anecdotally I have heard gay people I’ve known speak about their aversion for female anatomy and hetero sex. I have no idea if the cause is the same, but it’s something I’ve heard more than once.
One analogy that comes to mind is kids hating vegetables as a common theme. Maybe that’s also a natural prompting to limit that stuff for carnivores.
Personally, I’ve both been very comfortable and very uncomfortable in the presence of gay men. To me it all came down to respect and external consideration. But the same could be said for straight people for the same reason. Unfortunately when discussing any “aversion” to homosexuality it’s really hard to separate that from nurture factors and lack of external consideration of the other party. If I am not raised to believe something is wrong, and the person I encounter is externally considerate, chances are I won’t even know they’re gay. And if I got to know them and found out, I don’t see myself feeling any different - unless their behavior somehow puts me off, but then that’s different.