Latent Homosexuality And Homophobia- The Real Deal

[DemocratSinceBirth]

I should be posting this on the Free Republic board because they are most in need of the information.

I was watching C-Span and this yahoo calls in and goes on a tirade against gays.

The research suggets that there is a correlation between latent homosexual tendencies and homophobia... The more a latent homosexual like gays sex, the more a latent homosexual tries to deny he likes gay sex, the more he tends to hate or fear gays.

Show me a gay basher and I'll show you somebody dying to get out of the closet.

www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/assault/roots/freud.html

[La_Serpiente]

1. When is this Frontline episode?

When is it?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. I Think It' Already Been On...

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[rfranklin]

4. There is definitely a psychological dynamic to homophobia...

The reaction is totally out of proportion to the threat posed.

Just look at all the similar behaviors in conservatives (who generally feel threatened by their fellow man.) The moralist Bill Bennett, who turns out to be a degenerate gambler. The anti-drug ranter Rush Limbaugh, who is actually an addict. The religious fanatic Jimmy Swaggart, who is a compulsive masturbator. Not to mention the cadre of cynical sex fiends on the Republican side of the aisle who went after Bill Clinton with such hypocritical relish.

The louder they preach, the more they seem to be covering up some hidden desires. You can argue all you want, but the more you do, the more it sounds like a river in Egypt.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[salmonhorse]

17. All "charitable giving" is down some 35-40%...

...since Bush has been touting his = Olasky's 'compassionate conservatisim' as a "hug your neighbor; tell him you love him" approach to governmental affairs (accent on the 'mental'). What does that tell you? Or confirm should I say ~

[spooky3]

26. once again, where is your evidence?

According to the Urban League,

http://nccsdataweb.urban.org/faq/index.php?category=44

Massachusetts ranked 10th from the top in average charitable contribution per income tax return.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. Give Me A Break....

Why don't you click on the link and read about the study and get back with us....

They asked a group of men their attitudes towards homosexuality and then exposed them to gay porn....

The men who exhibited the most anti-gay attitudes also showed the greatest level of arousal when viewing gay porn....

The net's a wonderful thing.... You can take the test yourself.... Cruise any of the hot boys sites and report back to us if you get a woody....

[LeahMira]

12. Distancing...

That being said, this is one of the dumbest theorys I've ever heard of. The whole point of this type of argument is to stifle anyone who does'nt approve of homosexualty. Oh, you don't believe in gay marriage...you must be a closet gay. How about this theory...anyone that rails against conservatives is a closet conservative, just too afraid to admit it.

Well, there may be some validity to the theory, but maybe the problem is that it doesn't apply in every case or it's not being taken far enough.

My impression is more that distancing is taking place. For instance, people are afraid of AIDS. They find that AIDS is prevalent in the homosexual community and so they reassure themselves by saying "I can't get AIDS because I am most definitely not homosexual." Or they find that people who are homosexual experience prejudice to the extent that they are physically attacked and so they reassure themselves by saying "I'm not going to be randomly targeted for assaults because I am not homosexual."

I think the same sort of thing goes on with any minority group. People distance themselves from the problems that they tell themselves are characteristically experienced by a minority group, i.e. poverty, high rates of incarceration, violence, etc. by telling themselves "Well, I am not black, hispanic, elderly, non-Christian, disabled, or etc., so these things cannot happen to me. I am safe."

[Booberdawg]

14. No, there is a difference

between not approving of the lifestyle and homophobia. A BIG difference. I think there is a lot to be said for the theory presented in the article. There are many heterosexual people who have a live and let live attitude who are not homophobic.

People who rail against conservatives are obviously well informed.

Chill, dude.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Democrats unite]

33. I love it when someone has to start out

Let me make it very clear that I have nothing against homosexuals.

[blondeatlast]

45. Whenever the phrase begins

"I have nothing against . . ." regardless of the noun that follows it, you know there's a problem. You are spot-on with this.

[jumptheshadow]

5. On an anecdotal basis

I have found this to be the case. The folks who focus on other people's gayness almost always, in my experience, seem to be working on identity issues of their own.

But I have noticed generally that many people (including myself) have negative reactions to the very "bothersome" qualities in other people that they exhibit themselves.

[Murky Waters]

6. think the same is true for pedophile bashers?

Perhaps the people who are most scared and angry and vocal about child porn are actually latent pedophiles that secretly long for sex with children.

I suppose the same could be said for the anti-beastiality movement. Are they sticking up for Fido just to hide the fact that they secretly want to have sex with him?

Maybe anti-war people are compensating for their inner desire to kill some one.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. I don't know...

Those studies haven't been done....

Why don't you go to the zoo and see if you get a woody...

[Murky Waters]

10. I can't test it

I would go to the zoo to see if I get a woody, but it would prove nothing since I am not a beastiality-basher. As long as the animal consents I have no problem with it.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

11. Animals Can't Consent

NT

[La_Serpiente]

13. Actually...this is kind of gross

But I was at Borders tonight, and I was reading this book on Sex. It mentioned homophobia. They had two groups - one that was of straight people but who weren't homophobics - and the other one that was of straight people but were homophobic. What they found out was shocking.

If you want the answer, send me a post. I don't think it's appropriate to share on the blog. This was a study done at the University of Georgia -Atlanta.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

15. Share It.....

I don't understand...

What bestiality, war, pedophillia has to do with a s-c-i-e-n-t-i-f-i-c study that suggests a link between homophobia and latent homosexuality....


This isn't rocket science....

They asked a bunch of guys their opinions about gays..... Those guys who hated gays the most also got the most aroused when viewing gay porn....

[La_Serpiente]

16. OK...that's the study

[Muddleoftheroad]

19. Gee

I am sure it was a completely unbiased study too.

You can find a study to express any belief. The reality is that male culture is extremely unforgiving and intolerant of homosexuality. A lot of men grew up in that culture and it impacts their attitudes strongly.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

24. If The Subjects Were Chosen At Random

and their methodology is open to inspection and review than I have to lend credence to their study....

[Murky Waters]

20. Sorry Professor

From:

that suggests a link between homophobia and latent homosexuality....

to:

Show me a gay basher and I'll show you somebody dying to get out of the closet.

I dig your commitment to the scientific method. It must be science that says there is no such thing as small minded heterosexuals that are hateful towards homosexuals just because they are different. Science says it is only because homophobics are gay. Right.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

23. Let's Go Back To The Eighth Grade

when they teach us about the scientific method....

I don't remember all the tentets but I believe for an experiment to be scientific it must be able to be duplicated and readily observable....

I'm geting tired of repeating the damn experiment....

They asked a buch of guys their attitudes towards gays and then showed them gay porn... The guys who demonstrated the most anti-gay attitudes also exhibted the highest level of arousal at gay porn.....

Let's reduce this to an axiom...

Among men there is a positive correlation between latent homosexuality and homophobia. As levels of latent homosexuality go up so do levels of homophobia....

Do the test yourself....

That's the beauty of science....

Design a survey of questions to determine anti-gay attitudes.... Go to your local adult book store and rent a gay porn tape.... Administer the survey to your friends, show them the tape, and report back to us....

[salmonhorse]

27. Scientific Method? Why didn't you say so ~

http://www.caps.ucsf.edu

[DemLikr]

40. Your conflation of homosexuality with pedophilia pisses me off

and is contradicted by science and logic.

Take that age-old canard to a less-enlightened discussion board.

Thank you

[Drifter]

21. I doubt a sweeping statement like that is true ...

How the hell would I know that ?

I am a recovering Homophobe.

In high school I did not know anyone who was gay, but I had plenty to say about them. Calling someone gay was one of my favorite insults. The "Gay" person was someone that I did not and could not identify with. They were the "Them" of "Us and Them".

While in college I had the opportunity to work with a whole gaggle of gay men (is that the right plurality, or do they travel in packs? ;-)). It was this experience that I realized that they were not crazed sexual preditors out looking to recruit "members".

It was a sobering eye opening experience.

I believe most homophobia is a product of bad information, rather than repressed homosexuality. Although, I do believe that this bad information could have an effect on a person comming out.

Cheers
Drifter

[DemocratSinceBirth]

25. There Are Other Factors That Contribute To Homophobia

besides latent homosexuality .....

It's not a "global" explanation nor is it intened to be...


But there is a positive correlation between latent homosexuality and homophobia....

[Prodemsouth]

38. Relax, That study is not refering to people like us when we were younger.

I used to be as you described - dis people or things by calling them gay. This study is about extreme anti-gay feelings. I laughed at "sissy" men, I never thought about doing what these guys (the murders of the Alabama man did). People who are trying to say the study is saying people who don't support things like gay marriage are homophobes/latent homosexuals are making a false charge. Though I support civil unions, I support a hetrosexual bias in adoptions ( if a gay couple and the hetrosexual couple are equal in qualifications) I am comfortable about my sexuality and I didn't think this study was talking about me. The people who bought pedophila and bestality into this thread should be ashamed of themselves, use your brain!

[salmonhorse]

22. The Gay Test ~

http://test.thespark.com/gaytest

It is otherwise as reasonable as were The Puritans by way of their separation anxiety; their distance from God and Ye Ole Mother England to lash out into the new world killing and burning all before them as being kindred with witches, demons, personifications of Satan himself because they couldn't see the wood in their own eye. They were in fact every bit as 'puritanical' as they who'd persecuted them elsewhere. They just couldn't admit it. It can be a clinical, garden variety response mechanism if not in every case.

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bicentennial_baby]

29. Ahem

"Do not post racist, sexist, homophobic, ethnic, anti-religious, or anti-atheist bigotry. Unambiguous expressions of bigotry will be deleted, and will often result in the immediate banning of the individual responsible.

If it is not clear whether a comment is bigoted, we will generally give the benefit of the doubt and assume the least-bigoted interpretation. However, individuals who repeatedly post borderline-bigoted comments will be considered bigots and will be removed.

When discussing race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or religion, please exercise the appropriate level of sensitivity toward others and take extra care to clearly express your point of view. This will help avoid misunderstandings and undeserved accusations of bigotry"

-from the DU rules

[spooky3]

31. thanks, bb. Isn't there a fundy church somewhere with an

empty pew this AM for a couple of our "new DUers"?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

34. "you gays"

I'm strg8

<kisses>

Brian

[DemLikr]

42. Hey Gray...want a blowjob? U can find out what you're missing.

Then leave the ball and chain behind and honor your true self.

Tell me, do you live in fear of being hit on by gay guys because of your stunning good looks or your wit and intellect?

:eyes:

[DemocratSinceBirth]

43. He Should Take The Test....

All he needs to do is log on to a hot guys site and look down....


I'll eat my computer if the fella doesn't get a little pup tent going on....

[HPLeft]

30. I'm glad that someone is bringing this up

I think the argument has more than a grain of truth. IMHO, the problem is that the argument is inexactly expressed - it isn't really about repressed homosexuality as it is about repressed bi-sexuality, or a potential inclination toward such behavior under certain circumstances - even if it is only a very small potential.

Granted, there are people who have been taught from birth that homosexuality and bisexuality is wrong. Growing up as a Catholic, I was taught that. Then I had to deal the reality of friends coming out in front of my eyes, and had to consider the nuances of sexual orientation. As it turns out, the only threesome I want to be in involves two women! But, a thinking person dealing with the issue of why he is uncomfortable around the issue of homosexuality and bisexuality must confront their own shadow, and eliminate it as a potential cause. For instance, I'd argue that physical chemistry exists between people regardless of their default sexual orientation. So, a straight heterosexual man might experience a slight arousal around another man with whom strong chemistry exists. Using the old "Bo Derek" standard, that other man might register as about a "5" on the sexual attraction scale. A woman who they experienced equal chemistry with might register as a personal "10". The big question is: how does that man deal with the emotional reality of feeling that "5"? Do they go into shame, repression, and denial? Or do they notice it and say, gee, that's interesting...maybe next lifetime.

I think that there are two specific dynamics in homophobia. One is very definitely a fear of latent bi-sexual or homosexual tendencies. The other is simply a need to separate the world into rigid catagories, like the saved and the sinners, the blessed and the morally inferior, in order to fear better about oneself. People who suffer from this are IMHO psychologically and spiritually weak, but it is a very typical expression among people who are attracted to rigid religious dogma (as opposed to a broad-based spirituality). Let me add that I think we see this same tendency repeated in response to political ideologies - the more rigid and extreme the position, the more likely the person holding that position is utterly terrified to admit that the other side might have a point.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

32. I Agree...

I need to refine my argument a bit...

Latent homosexuality is often but not always present among homophobes....

[HPLeft]

35. We should ask the male homophobes...

if they get off watching two women get sexual. Most straight men I know do enjoy watching two women. Many women enjoy watching two men. Also, many more women (particularly younger women) are open to bisexuality, and are comfortable acting it out, whereas far fewer men are comfortable with the idea.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

36. That's The Paradox

The thought of two guys having sex sickens many straight guys but the thought of two girls having sex titillates them...

You're right... It seems men are much more disturbed by homosexuality than women....

[aquart]

37. Anyone who could claim sexual preference is a "choice..."

Is probably making the wrong one. The rest of us know there isn't a choice. Getting turned on is not a choice. Who turns us on is not a choice.

But if you think it is......oh, dear. That's pitiful wishful thinking.

[Nikia]

39. I think that the worst homophobes probably are gay

I am not talking about the average homophobe who says that he feels that gay sex is digusting and does not care to be around gays. I am talking about men who engage in violence against gay men or leaders of anti homosexuality groups that maintain that homosexuality is a sinful lifestyle choice. Many heterosexuals acknowledge that they have no desire to engage in homosexual acts and can relate to homosexuals that have no desire to engage in heterosexual acts. Who would strongly believe that homosexuality was a sinful choice? People who have strong homosexual feelings but who are choosing to live as a heterosexual. It must really make them angry that they are sacraficing their sexual desires so that they can fit in with traditional society when they see open practicing homosexuals asserting their rights. I think that it makes sense.

[absolutezero]

44. exactly my thoughts

I've always thought that the men who actively protest against gay rights, especially to the point of violence are all probably closet cases.

[veganwitch]

41. i just heard this guy!!

what a wing nut. in his tirade on English only, he said that if he was in another country he would speak that language and then railed against madeline albright going to france....and speaking FRENCH!!!

[Buns_of_Fire]

46. I thought he might stroke out in the middle of his rant

He seemed to be getting more and more wound up as he went on. Funny, if in a kind of sick way.

But, now that the subject has been broached, what is this "homosexual agenda" he was ranting about? I kept wishing the moderator (or anyone against people like this) would have just politely stopped him at that point and asked him to enumerate, point by point, what this so-called "agenda" is. :shrug: