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This was the original, nuanced meaning of "homophobia", before it was simplified in the popular mind (where nuance cannot live) to merely mean "hatred of gay pe

This was the original, nuanced meaning of "homophobia", before it was simplified in the popular mind (where nuance cannot live) to merely mean "hatred of gay people". I think there was an implicit "see, there's something for straight people in this too!" aspect to the argument -- something like, "by eliminating the taboo on homosexuality, we will also eliminate the negative consequences to straight men of heterosexual signaling ". I'm not sure that's panned out though, since if anything it has probably increased the need for that signaling in many circles.

klipt 4y ago
Yeah I think it's actually the opposite, in extremely homophobic middle eastern countries it's not uncommon to see close straight male friends holding hands etc, because it would be unthinkable to insinuate they are gay given the social taboo. Meanwhile in the West it is only gay male couples that hold hands, and straight men avoid it to avoid being seen as "gay" which would make women reject them etc.