I agree that religion--particularly fundamentalist Christianity and Islam--is responsible for pretty much all of the justification of homophobia. Without arcane religious laws to fall back on, there would be no debating the fact that homophobia is just one more irrational and unjustifiable fear.
But--and I'm no psychologist so I'm talking out my ass--I think homophobia itself has a deeper origin. A lot of very homophobic people are not particularly religious. There's the universal human aversion to those who are different--who defy our expectations in some way, and make us do more mental work to process them. There's also maybe something to the idea that some insecure and misogynistic men despise the idea of a man taking on anything resembling a feminine role. After all, Lawrence King wasn't killed for having a boyfriend or engaging in gay sex. He was killed for wearing makeup and generally acting "swishy."
If every religion declared tomorrow that God loves gays and started campaigning hardcore for gay rights, homophobia would still exist. But it would be forced underground. And that--making hatred mainstream--is what religion has to answer for.
But--and I'm no psychologist so I'm talking out my ass--I think homophobia itself has a deeper origin. A lot of very homophobic people are not particularly religious. There's the universal human aversion to those who are different--who defy our expectations in some way, and make us do more mental work to process them. There's also maybe something to the idea that some insecure and misogynistic men despise the idea of a man taking on anything resembling a feminine role. After all, Lawrence King wasn't killed for having a boyfriend or engaging in gay sex. He was killed for wearing makeup and generally acting "swishy."
If every religion declared tomorrow that God loves gays and started campaigning hardcore for gay rights, homophobia would still exist. But it would be forced underground. And that--making hatred mainstream--is what religion has to answer for.
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