What is homophobia?

It continually astounds me when opinions questioning homosexuality are attacked as “homophobia.”

What is a phobia anyway? It is a strong and persistent fear that causes the inflicted to avoid what they fear and panic in the face it or thought of it.

Homophobia has been defined as the “fear of sameness, monotony or of homosexuality or of becoming homosexual.”

If a person such as Mr. Ridpath expresses an opinion against homosexuality, does that make him a homophobic individual? No.

Can we have a healthy debate without labeling or “allodoxaphobia” – the fear of opinions.

Jobie Weetaluktuk
Montreal