Page 1 of 50
Can Homophobia Be Justified?
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:06 pm
by Loeje
Wikipedia defines homophobia as "a range of negative attitudes and feelings toward homosexuality or people who are identified or perceived as being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender." This definition can include anything from the belief that it is a sin to discriminatory actions or even violence. Although homophobic beliefs do not necessarily translate into actions that can harm another person, there are people who think that a person who holds homophobic beliefs cannot be a friend to a person who identifies as LGBT. This implies that even such beliefs are inherently unjustifiable and even harmful, even in the context of a friendship.
Thinking about such friendships led me to wonder, can homophobia ever be justified? If it is, when is it justified?
I believe that it is easier to know when homophobia is not justified: whenever people are harmed by it. If homophobia is only justified when it doesn't harm anyone, then it can only be justified if it is limited to being a belief and does not result in discriminatory or violent actions or treating people with less respect. While these cases are rare, homophobic beliefs can be justified as long as they still allow kindness and respect between people. Engaging with these exceptions can make them more open to different people and can make them eventually less homophobic.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:08 pm
by Drew Durrnil
Yes, i.e. traumatic experiences with LGBTQ.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:09 pm
by Molither
Nope. I could never see it as justifiable to discriminate against people like me or view me less based on our sexuality.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:09 pm
by Alcala-Cordel
No. You don't have to like every gay person, but nobody should have anything against them for being gay. If a gay person did cause harm, even if it's something like a sex crime, you have no reason to hate them for being gay. In my hypothetical there would be nothing wrong with hating them for being a sexual predator, though.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:11 pm
by Molither
Alcala-Cordel wrote:Homophobia can never be justified. You don't have to like every gay person, but nobody should have anything against them for being gay.
This.
My house has been burgled multiple times - all by members of the same ethnic group.
However I have many friends from that same ethnic group and it has not led to me justifying racism.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:11 pm
by Arcturus Novus
No.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:11 pm
by Stellar Colonies
There have certainly been some interesting threads popping up lately.
No. I can sort of understand why someone would have unkind views towards gay people if they have had negative experiences with them (excessive flirting which isn't stopped when the recipient is clearly indicating they're not interested and so on), but it doesn't justify being homophobic.
So no, it really cannot.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:12 pm
by Picairn
Homophobia is not justified, ever. It's literally in the name: "-phobia" is an irrational fear of something.
Being gay alone is not a valid justification for discrimination.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:13 pm
by Prydania
Loeje wrote:While these cases are rare, homophobic beliefs can be justified as long as they still allow kindness and respect between people.
You can't respect someone if you hold the belief that they are somehow "lesser."
Homophobia is never justified. Next question.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:14 pm
by Tsarus 2142
Yes, I believe it is justified in some extreme cases.
However. if there should be no reason to be homophobic. Then it is not justified I think.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:14 pm
by Loeje
Prydania wrote:Loeje wrote:While these cases are rare, homophobic beliefs can be justified as long as they still allow kindness and respect between people.
You can't respect someone if you hold the belief that they are somehow "lesser."
Homophobia is never justified. Next question.
You can disagree with them and respect them. It just doesn't seem to be very common among people who are homophobic. But it's possible.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:16 pm
by Tsarus 2142
Prydania wrote:Loeje wrote:While these cases are rare, homophobic beliefs can be justified as long as they still allow kindness and respect between people.
You can't respect someone if you hold the belief that they are somehow "lesser."
Homophobia is never justified. Next question.
"Homophobia" does not imply viewing a gay individual as lesser. Maybe, hypothetically, I am homophobic of LGBT. I (hypothetically) do not like LGBT as a concept or perhaps an idea, but it does not mean that i immediately do not like an LGBT person.
Edit: What Loeje said above
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:16 pm
by Kowani
not in the slightest
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:17 pm
by Heloin
No form of bigotry is justified. You wouldn’t call racism or antisemitism justified so it’s little more then a double standard for anyone to consider homophobia or any other anti-lgbt stance.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:17 pm
by Prydania
Tsarus 2142 wrote:Prydania wrote:You can't respect someone if you hold the belief that they are somehow "lesser."
Homophobia is never justified. Next question.
"Homophobia" does not imply viewing a gay individual as lesser.
Yes, it does.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:18 pm
by Trenaka
Short answer: No.
Long answer: N O
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:18 pm
by The Reformed American Republic
Drew Durrnil wrote:Yes, i.e. traumatic experiences with LGBTQ.
Some in the ultra-woke crowd would be very much in favor of attacking a traumatized person.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:18 pm
by Prydania
Heloin wrote:No form of bigotry is justified.
You wouldn’t call racism or antisemitism justified so it’s little more then a double standard for anyone to consider homophobia or any other anti-lgbt stance.
Plenty of messed up people do, sadly. Probably with a lot of crossover with the "homophobia is justifiable" crowd.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:20 pm
by Heloin
Prydania wrote:Heloin wrote:No form of bigotry is justified.
You wouldn’t call racism or antisemitism justified so it’s little more then a double standard for anyone to consider homophobia or any other anti-lgbt stance.
Plenty of messed up people do, sadly. Probably with a lot of crossover with the "homophobia is justifiable" crowd.
They’re bigots. Bigots may think they’re justified but they’re lying to support their hate.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:21 pm
by Loeje
Prydania wrote:Tsarus 2142 wrote:"Homophobia" does not imply viewing a gay individual as lesser.
Yes, it does.
Not in the definition I had in the OP.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:21 pm
by Prydania
Heloin wrote:Prydania wrote:Plenty of messed up people do, sadly. Probably with a lot of crossover with the "homophobia is justifiable" crowd.
They’re bigots. Bigots may think they’re justified but they’re lying to support their hate.
Obviously.
It's just interesting/sad to see these people twist in the wind to justify hating their fellow humans. They expend a lot of effort to justify hating people for superficial reasons. I wonder what they get out of it? An undeserved sense of superiority and self importance is usually it.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:21 pm
by Cetacea
No form of discriminatory practice is ever justified and is inherently harmful
That said the scope of the definition needs to be framed so that people who do not discriminate are not labelled homophobic simply because they think its a sin.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:22 pm
by Waldoven
No. It never could, and it never will be, justified.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:22 pm
by Prydania
Loeje wrote:Prydania wrote:Yes, it does.
Not in the definition I had in the OP.
Your argument based off of your definition is bad.
Posted:
Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:22 pm
by Strazhnist Tsarus
Prydania wrote:Tsarus 2142 wrote:"Homophobia" does not imply viewing a gay individual as lesser.
Yes, it does.
I said that it doesn't.