How much internalized homophobia do you have/had?

I literally gave no sh*t about it before I found out where my own place to sit on the Kinsey scale is. I was pretty neutral towards homosexuality in general, although I did not like what was going on during the Pride parades here, and I still very much dislike it. I wouldn't say it's internal homophobia, it's just I'm pissed off because of being misrepresented by the 90% naked attention seekers waveing their butts around.

 

After being closeted for so long, I had a problem with feminine acting gays. After all, it's the stereotype someone like myself I think fears most. I see now that it's no big deal and have made friends with many of the more flamboyant members of the RGMC. Also the acknowledgement of currently being a minority, that many privileges, rights are no longer mine. I certainly has made me more vocal and gradually seeing that my party of choice is no longer where I belong. The more I grow as a gay man the more the homophobia slips away.

 

When I first came out, I didn't care. I saw it as just like being straight but when things started rolling down hill with the other students, the teachers, the fighting etc. I started to hate being that way. No one ever talked to me about it, I didn't know much about the community it's self and I just basically kept it in me and deflected any thought.. it wasn't too bad though as far as accepting myself, it was always there, I was just hiding it.

 

None, other than individuals who happened to be gay, but they don't count, because they don't represent everyone.

 

None...When I realized I was Gay, I didn't hate myself for it...

 

None. It helped that I grew up in a very open-minded enviroment.

 

None, I've never had internalised homophobia. :icon_bigg

 

None at all. In my youngest years I was raised in a devout Catholic household, but it never clicked with me and I never felt like I was part of it. I didn't care what the bible had to say about a lot of things, including homosexuality.
Then I moved in with my mom. She's kind of a hypocrite because she's intolerant of people who don't agree with her tolerance. But. . .she has always been very open-minded in a lot of ways and supportive of equal rights- women, minority races, gay rights, etc. She taught me a lot of things, including that people are just different so the fact that someone was gay never made me bat an eye.
When I first realized I was either a lesbian or bi I didn't like it at all, frankly. But that was about how my life would be and how other people would treat me, not about any bad feelings I had about others.

 

A fair amount. I think I still have some internalised homophobia, in spite of all my best efforts and everything I say.

 

I use to be one of the bigots before I found out that I was sexually attracted to the same sex. Then I was closeted, but never did I say anything bad while I was. Because I was too busy trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with me during that time to worry about how others lived their lives. Then I realized that there was nothing wrong with me. And I was wasting my time trying to catch a shadow that never existed in the first place. I tell you, biggest change in perspective I had.

 

I grew up in a family of atheists, so I've never felt threatened by my sexuality. I did however feel like I was just trying to get attention, or was picking it up from the diverse culture online, or just trying to be different.

 

To start out, I didn't have much, but probably some. I think it's because my uncle is gay. My parents didn't tell me for a while though. But when they finally did, I think I thought it was a little weird, but it didn't change my opinion of them because I liked them (my uncle and his partner). So I think I thought being gay was kinda "odd" and thought gay people were a little weird until I realized I was gay myself. Like I said though I never felt different around my uncle, though. Then of course I tried not be gay (force myself to get off to straight porn and such), but eventually gave up. Lol. I was baptized catholic but not reappy raised very religiously. My parents didn't go to church. I went to catholic schools, but still I mostly rejected the religious doctrine against gays rather than hate myself for being gay. Eventually I became atheist.

I definitely don't find it weird now...

 

Butch lesbians make me uncomfortable. I don't know why. Not like Ellen, just the ones that look so masculine that you have to do a double take to really see if they are women.

 

From some of the posts I wonder if some people take the term "internalised homophobia" in different ways:

1) For some it means hatred of self

2) for others it mans hiding one's true self for fear of being disliked/ violated/ attacked/ outcast

3) for others it means being bigoted against gay people as a way of appearing straight

4) for others it means ALL the above

From Wikipedia… " Internalized homophobia refers to negative stereotypes, beliefs, stigma, and prejudice about homosexuality and LGBT people that a person with same-sex attraction turns inward on themselves…"

 

Well, I've grown up in a very tolerant environment. Im not yet totally sure what I am, but whatever it is, is OK with myself.

 

I've had a fair amount. I'm starting to feel more comfortable with myself, but it's something I'm still working through. It's been a puzzling and frustrating process as other people's sexual orientation never mattered to me. But with myself, it's an entirely different story. All the things I would fight against when spoken toward others, my own mind still says about me.

 

I said None at all. I never had any motive to hate or fear or feel anything negative towards LGBT's and so I don't!

 

I had a lot growing up. I definitely don't have as much as I used to, but I think I've still got some, unfortunately...