Comments on: “Homophobia is a made-up word.”

By: hane

hane — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:57:27 +0000

It also threw the Greeks, Romans & King James for a loop.

By: Lymis

Lymis — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:37:46 +0000

Not the ones in the Bible. They were presented as is directly from God. In English, which must have been frustrating for all those ancient Hebrews.

By: Neil

Neil — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 22:04:03 +0000

Another typical response is, “but I’m not afraid of gays.” Usually the person expressing such a response to accusations of homophobia has just outlined a view that people whose sexual orientation is not heterosexual should be in treatment or otherwise segregated from society, imprisoned or put to death.

It always amuses me how people who say they don’t fear gays so often seem to want extraordinary measures employed to ensure they never meet one.

By: tavdy79

tavdy79 — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 16:19:55 +0000

Here’s a nice little irony for you:

Homophobia has two Greek roots – homos (“same”) and “phobos” (fear) – so a literal translation of homophobia is fear of those like you. Which kinda makes sense given how many of the most virulent homophobes turn out to be closet-cases.

(This isn’t the only instance where the etymology of an English-language word has given a meaning very different from its Greek or Latin roots. “Empathogen” translates as “in suffering produce”, yet it is the name of a class of drugs that cause the user to experience a positive sense of spiritual & emotional intimacy.)

By: Tre

Tre — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 06:15:24 +0000

LOL !! True, right? I wonder what the etymology of “Gallagher” as in Maggie Gallagher is ?

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:04:10 +0000

Except for “marriage”, of course. If that was a made-up word then it would be okay to change its definition.