> Can someone help me out here please. I’m trying to work out what
> homophobia is.
>
> We have, for example:
>
> agorophobia – fear of open spaces (Greek agora, market-place)
> anglophobia – fear of England and the English (Latin Anglus, English)
> claustrophobia – fear of closed spaces (Latin claustrum, a barrier)
> (or perhaps Klosterophobia – fear of skiing with the Duchess of York?)
> hydrophobia – fear of water (Greek hydror, water)
> xenophobia – fear of foreigners (Greek xenos, stranger)
>
> These words are compounds of a Greek or Latin word with the Greek word
> phobia, so presumably homophobia must be fear of sameness? (Greek homo
> meaning same).
>
Literally, yes. As you probably know it is used by LBG (acronym for lesbian bisexual and gay) groups to refer to an irrational dislike of people who are in, or are attracted to, same-sex sexual relationships. Many members of such groups believe that most of the prejudice they experience is based on fear of the unknown, e.g. because people who have invested a great deal of energy in heterosexual relationships, possibly including the suppression of their own homosexual desires, may subconsciously be afraid that the effort was not worthwhile.
Admittedly, however, the word is also now frequently used as a Big Stick with which to beat those whose arguments against homosexual relationships are actually based on logic or religious beliefs rather than fear.
(To be fair in the case of religion LBG groups would probably say that the original religious prohibition was based on fear, even if that is not the motivation of the particular believer they are addressing).
Hope this helps.
Liz
http://www.otranto.demon.co.uk/otranto/index.html
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