because some of those people have close friends or relatives that are homosexually oriented and those homosexual people confide in that relative or friend so they understand the complexity behind being gay or lesbian.

Maybe some straight people went through a gay phase before deciding they were actually heterosexual?

You don't have to "be gay" to understand or know anything about it. Have you ever heard of empathy? What's so different anyway? All it is is an attraction to a different sex than what is considered the social norm? Isn't a lack of understanding what is wrong with this world? Shouldn't you be happy about people trying to understand what it's like to be gay rather than get angry about it and try to segregate yourself more. That is assuming you're gay; if not then I apologize and you can just replace the 'you' a more generalize answer, but the same principles apply.

There's not too much to know. In fact, implying that there is kind of works *Against* the movement towards equality for homosexuals by implying that there's some huge, fundamental difference between straight and gay perspectives. And whatever differences there may be, they're virtually overridden by the similarities: Whether you're gay or straight (or bisexual, for that matter), you're still a person trying to live your life, with most of the same basic human feelings and experiences. Also, in a lot of situations where I've seen straight people "Insist on acting like they know something about being homosexual", said straight person was either an intolerant homophobe who was so blatantly ignorant that they clearly had no interest in understanding homosexuality, or someone who was actually accepting of gays, and trying to defend them against aforementioned intolerant homophobes.

Probably the same reason... ...Black people think they know what it's like to be white (and vice verse'), poor people know what it's like to be rich, men know what it's like to be women, or anybody else knowing what it means to be something or someone they're not or have never been... BECAUSE WE ALL, AT SOME TIME OR OTHER, CHOOSE TO EXERCISE OUR MOST BASIC HUMAN RIGHT TO BE IGNORANT.

I have never seen sexual preferences, life styles and other similar factors as relevant for friendship. So, some of my closest friends have been homosexual and we hang out enough so I learned to understand, estimate and respect their feelings and ideas and ideals. I'll never know what's to be like to be an homosexual in my own mind and body because is not my inclination, but I do know how to be a friend of one because I do not stereotype. For me, there is no differences between homosexual, bisexual or heterosexual... why there should be?

some straight ppl have been there before.

Why do some non-alcoholics insist on acting like they know something about being ann alcoholic? Only alcoholics know what it's like to actually have the chemical imbalance in their brain that makes them believe they have to drink in order to function, but why do some people act like they know what it's all about?

So, it's not letting me comment in the thread after my answer so I'm just going to type another answer here lol. Frankie Teardrop says it well. I don't believe that you can ever 'know' what it's like to be said minority, but the fact that people try to understand and try to know can only lead to more understand, in my opinion anyway. Now, if we're talking about generalizations and stereotypes then I'd say a major factor is the media's portrayal of these minorities, gay people in the instance, and it's influence on our lives. For example, I know that not all gay men are flamboyant, but that is how they are generally portrayed and therefor it is widely accepted as true, even by some gay men. I feel like sometimes act the way they believe they are supposed to act and it perpetuates the cycle. I find that too many people believe what they see on TV rather than experience life for themselves and it's actually rather sad. Anyway, this is getting way off topic; many people believe what they are told, sadly. Also, in regards to the pregnancy analogy; you don't need to know what it feels like to be pregnant or even have a vagina to know how scary it would be to accidentally get pregnant. You just need to imagine how you would feel in the situation. What would you life be like if all your plans for the future were so quickly changed because you suddenly had a new life to take care of. How would people react differently to you? What would your parents and friends think of you? I think you're missing the point of empathy.

I'd really love to know the answer to that. Now, I am out and have lots of supportive, straight friends and family. They accept me for who I am, and they understand that LGBT have struggles, but never say they "know what it's like." It seems to me the ones who go on and on ad nauseum are the ones who have some sort of "issue" with homosexuals. They don't understand us nor can they conceive how we could possibly be attracted to the same gender. They tend to believe all the stereotypes like it's a "choice" or something happened to make us "turn" gay. And they use these arguments to discriminate, take rights away and even to justify harming us. Hatred is a learned behavior. Slowly but surely, more people are accepting and more people are getting to know us and know must of that crap is just....crap. There is still a lot of hatred out there against most minorities. I wonder if any of us will see the day when most of that will be in the past....it's always existed.

there hypocrites and as we know hypocrites only know one thing...thats how to be hypocrites.