Do you suspect that homophobes are likely closet cases?

Just wondering how likely you think it is that those who're -so- opposed to all things gay may have some secret same sex attraction skeletons on their own closets. Especially with all the staunch anti-gay voting politicians and preachers (like Ted Haggard) being openly homopbobic and later being discovered as having messing around with guys on the side.

I once heard about an experiment where they took a group of guys who identified themselves as homophobic and a group of guys who said they had no problems with gays, put some sort of electro sensors on their penises, and then showed them all male-to-male porn. The guys who proclaimed to being homophobic dicks reported movement (arousal), while the guys who didn't identify as homopbobic didn't. So it does sort of make you wonder I guess. I don't know.

It can be the case a surprisingly high amount of the time and while it's fun to condescend homophobes of being closeted queers themselves that can't deal with it and so they gotta lash out, I don't think it's as safe bet to assume. Some people just don't like and never learned how to deal with anything that's different from themselves.

Years ago, I knew a guy named Ray. He hung out at the dive bar I enjoyed going to. He was so outspoken about gays and his negative feelings toward them. A few months had passed when I had not seen him and I saw a personal ad in a freebie newspaper that described a man new to the gay lifestyle named Ray, and it described the Ray I knew to a tee, including the side of town he lived on, his love for flannel shirts, baseball caps, and stock car racing at a certain local track. There were other things, but that is all I recall. I have always wondered if it was he who posted it, and I have a feeling it was.

The problem is that those who are merely against gay marriage are by no genuine definition, homophobic.

ho·mo·phobe   [hoh-muh-fohb] Show IPA
–noun
a person who fears or hates homosexuals and homosexuality.

People against gay marriage alone typically do not fear or hate gays. Are true homophobes closet gays? Bah, maybe so, maybe not. Are those against prayer in public schools secretly believers(albeit reluctantly)? lol I am sure there are some who are, probably others who aren't. As for those mislabeled a homophobe merely for not supporting a certain agenda, I am sure a few of them may be closeted too, but at the same time, I think calling them secretly gay is seriously just a way of trying to piss them off. It's largely untrue and I think it's merely something to fall back on to explain how they could possible not support your agenda when the idea that they are hateful people doesn't hold any water. (Just a personal take)*cue the "Why are you so defensive?" posts. (You ain't seen me get defensive yet is my response. )

It is interesting to me that some people care so much about others sexualities, especially when it has nothing at all to do with them. I do suspect that a disproportionately high percentage of homophobes have gotten aroused by members of the same sex at least a few times in their lives and try to cover it or spite it with a bunch of ranting and condemning at others.

Stone, well said.

It is a bit jarring why some guys care so much about what other guys do with their dicks.

^^^^Most don't. When changes to the law ain't involved, a lot of those mislabeled "homophobes" really don't care too much what other guys do with their anything. I think disagreement is just a turn-on to some and the opponents being closet homosexuals is all part of the fantasy.

It's regularly implied, what do you think; are homophobes the biggest closet cases? Personally, have you ever known anyone who had a staunch anti-gay attitude who you either suspected was gay, or later found out that they were?

Shale wrote: Does anyone like a hypocrite?

Only if they're properly cooked. And daylight does make the best disinfectant for that.

Never am I surprised when that turns out to be the case, but it's too easy to assume of every anti-gay bigot. I will say though that all homophobes are insecure about their own sexuality, be it a case of them being secretly gay themselves or not.

I've never personally known any homophobes who turned out to be gay, but I would say that the biggest homophobes are that way because they're gay and they're trying to deny the truth to themselves. I read this book on Freud a while back that said - particularly in cases of homophobia - a fear is actually a concealed wish, and I really believe that's true.

Chris wrote:It's regularly implied, what do you think; are homophobes the biggest closet cases? Personally, have you ever known anyone who had a staunch anti-gay attitude who you either suspected was gay, or later found out that they were?

Yup

. . . but for the sake of peace, I will leave it at that.

Everybody's gay. They just don't know it yet.

I've never known any but I think a lot of it is either a matter of they're in denial about themselves, or they're self haters and take it out on others in an attempt to throw suspicion off of themselves, or it's just been ingrained in their narrow minds for so long that they just don't know any better, hard as that is to believe.

No... I haven't. But I have known people who were homophobic apparently just because their friends were. Like an anti-gay group of friends. Once they grew up and quit hanging out together, the ones that I still spoke with really mellowed out and changed their opinions about it.

I don't know any homophobes so I couldn't say. It sounds to me like a cheap ploy to bait people but if somebody is among the "biggest" of people who hate or are afraid of gay people, there might be truth to it. But until I actually meet some real homophobes, it's all baseless speculation.

There are three types of homophobes.

1) The closet cases who are very insecure about their own sexuality and use being homophobic either as a "cover" or because they are in denial about themselves.

2) The "jumping on the bandwagon" cases who are homophobic because their circle of friends is homophobic and they want to fit in. (as thepossiblepolice brought up).

3) The conservative, religious types who think homosexuality is a sin/choice/lifestyle that children can be "taught", that's dangerous to society and that necessitates an "agenda".

Those are the only reasons for anyone to actually be homophobic. Class 1 homophobes are proud to be homophobes and are very open about how "disgusted" they are by it. Class 2 homophobes are secretly ashamed that they are homophobic but value social acceptance over integrity and continue to be homophobic anyway. Class 3 homophobes actually believe that they are not homophobic and pretend that there is no such thing as homophobia (except in extreme cases). They recognize homophobia as a socially negative label and since they belive that their morals are superior to everyone elses, they deny that they could be something that is morally unacceptable.

Rockbird wrote:Everybody's gay. They just don't know it yet.

I've gotten very comfortable here at TCC in the past 6 months or so. Comfortable enough to finally make this admisson. I am a lesbian. All the signs were there. I keep my hair cut short. I often wear jeans, flannel shirts and work boots. And I love pussy. Or should it be ?

alan smithee wrote:

Rockbird wrote:Everybody's gay. They just don't know it yet.

I've gotten very comfortable here at TCC in the past 6 months or so. Comfortable enough to finally make this admisson. I am a lesbian. All the signs were there. I keep my hair cut short. I often wear jeans, flannel shirts and work boots. And I love pussy. Or should it be ?

^^Thank you for your understanding and support!v

alan smithee wrote:^^Thank you for your understanding and support!v

Always. I don't know what it is, but for some reason I have always been very supportive of lesbians! I used to have a dresser drawer full of films that I'd view for the sake of researching them thoroughly.

Chris wrote:

alan smithee wrote:^^Thank you for your understanding and support!v

Always. I don't know what it is, but for some reason I have always been very supportive of lesbians! I used to have a dresser drawer full of films that I'd view for the sake of researching them thoroughly.