*shrug* I think a lot of it has to do with how you are raised - not only do you tend to learn what your parents say and think, but also you learn a degree of acceptance for different things and people.

There are a lot of traditional ideas which don't get closely examined, they just get passed along from one generation to the next. Sexual orientation prejudices arise from these ideas. Those who hold the ideas and use them as a platform to attack and criticize others for their sexual orientation are opting for the preservation of their world views instead of learning to think for themselves about moral values. Also, there's a part of your question which contributes to the problem: you're right to say "it's not your life... why do you even care?" Indeed, people should be minding their own business on this topic. But to say "they didn't choose to be gay" plays into a bit of a trap: this is a matter which provokes a lot of debate, and there are good arguments on both sides of the "is it chosen" issue... the reason I say it's a mistake to throw this in the question is because it's irrelevant, and invites people to argue that debate instead of the major point: another person's sexual preference is their business, not ours. Eventually, the ignorance which produces these hateful views will be eliminated if people who are clear about the difference between morality and prejudice keep speaking out and defending the rights of gays to live as equals without fear or discrimination. That speaking out is the job of anyone who cares about freedom.

First, bigotry is bigotry. I personally believe that a bigot would find something to hate in another person even if we were all identical in race, creed, religion, sexuality, and all else I missed. They have a need to hate, to feel superior. Homophobia has a few additional psychological "perks". Regarding homophobia, I firmly believe that there is also the factor of the homophobes being gays in denial. I am bisexual. However, when harassed for my sexuality, I am harassed as being "gay" 99% of the time. Any man who has "gay" mannerisms gets it, regardless of whether or not they ARE gay. Many fully straight men have some, even many, of these mannerisms. Any hint, perceived or real, brings the hatred. These homophobes, often men, latch onto it as if it is a 3-foot tall neon sign and a Threat To All Humankind™. Why do they care so much? Why are they threatened by a gay man? Why is homosexuality so threatening as to have engendered the "gay panic defense" and a semi-legitimate "psychological" diagnosis of "homosexual panic" which states that it is so traumatic to be hit on by a gay man as to actually induce a temporary state of violent psychosis? There is nobody under the sun that can convince me that a good chunk of rabid homophobes are not repressed homosexuals.

You do choose to be gay or straight or both. It is something you choose not something that is just given to you. In life there are many things you need to choose, alot of the time you dont notice that you are choosing it! For example, every morning you choose to go to work/school. You choose to eat and drink or to not. You choose to drive a car/take the bus/train/walk. Every thing you do is a choice! Sometimes the choice is not a nice one and sometimes it is just automatic (do I jump out of the way of this big rig coming flying at me at 90mph or not? ofc you choose to get out the way! But you made the choice!) As for why people hate gay's, I have no idea, I personally dont care if a person is gay or not. I know I am not gay, if a gay person starts to "hit" on me then I will make sure they know I am not gay, if they continue to do so then they are not worth talking too! Being discriminate against gay people is EXACTLY the same as being discriminate against a fat person/black person/woman ect. and I am 100% against any form of discrimination.

Um...I 1/2 way agree with you. You're right about when you say, "It's not your life...why do you even care?" because people are so busy trying to get a hit out of prying into other people's lives, rather than focusing on their own. Correction: I learned in Sex Ed that sexual preference IS a choice but also deserves to be respected.

Some religions (Christianitly, Islam) teach that homosexuality is an abomination, a sin, and will be punished by God. I do not understand why some of those religious people shun or prejudge gays, since they are not qualified to judge sin, but they do anyway. And remember, it's the majority that makes public opinion and elects political representatives, even if the majority is wrong. And there's always the fallback motive: by making you feel worse about yourself, I can feel better about myself - another selfish philosophy. But regarding your statement about why do I even care? I don't, UNLESS their choice to be gay is somehow interfering with my choice to live my life as I choose it. Then I'm pissed, and not because the offender is gay, perse, but because someone has trampled my rights to do or say what I please as I am entitled to by and within the laws of America.

I don't hate gays at all. In fact some of my closest friends are gay and I love them! They don't judge me for being straight!

I think it is because of their religion not liking gays or something.

i hate when people say that being a homosexual is a choice. it is really no where even near a choice. if i had the choice to be straight, i would, because things would be alot easier on me, and in society. no one wants tobe gay, they just happen to be gay. people using religion as an excuse is so rediculous, its not even fair. just because some book says so, they hate gays. well there are a ton of books out there, and i dont believe everything that those books say do i? so why should i listen to what the bible says? for all any one knows, it could just be a written fable so that little kids can grow up and be good. And it might have been written by igrnorant people who think they are superior. I mean honestly, if there was a god, and im not saying that there isnt, but wouldnt he how up once in a while? i mean he is invincible, so no one would be able to hurt him, and if hes all mighty he can make himself appear. so that being an excuse is just stupid. other people shouldnt care on whos gay, or whos straight. they should care about their own lives, and stop trying to put others down, because they are not like them. Hopefully not to long from now, people will learn to accept gays for who they are, and not for who they love.

i dont hate gays but i think its wrong, and dont get the whole choice/no choice thing, i dont want to go there and offend anyone. i tolerate it, and if my friend turned out to be gay id accept that, still reckon hes a cool guy, just think its not the right thing. it is something perpetuated by religion, and people naturally feel worried/scared of someone different

Yeah. I've never fully understood that. I've always found them entertaining. Especially the bull dykes. Try seducing them. Oh it's a trip.

amen, it's about time someone said this

me neither. My friend is one of those closeinded Christians, and she makes No SENCE. You don't choose to be gay! How do they not get that!!?? I don't think there's anything wrong with being gay, and I'm Methodist, which is basicly Christian.