Shoud being homophobic be against the law?

[ChainLightning]

It is a thing I have been thinking of for quite a while. If racism is against the law, shouldnt homophobia be? Please post your views on this and why it should/shouln't be against the law.

Thread closed by Really (Forum Moderator) due to it being bumped.

[Charlie]

Having an opinion shouldn't be illegal. I mean, what people say about it is really bad sometimes and it's not really what you want to hear, but it's someones opinion at the end of the day.

[Breakfloor]

oops i pressed no by accident but yes..

people think im homophobic because i call alot of things gay but the way i use it doesnt mean (spelling?) homosexual it just means crap, **** or if aimed at someone idiot or even *****.

yeh it should but even if its against the law there will still be people who will shout out homophobic things. just like racism. and i think its classed as verbal abuse anyway?

[Scriptermone]

No it shouldn't be.

If you're scared of someone who is homosexual, you can't help that - you can help being racist though, people who are racist usually do it for pure comedy.

People who are homophobic, can't really help it that they are scared of homosexuals.

[Mentor]

Hell no, if you want thought police so be it, personaly 1984's way of life doesnt sound all that to appealing. And being a racisit is not against the law, the law is against descrimination and offencive racist terms (guess what, those laws also applie with issues of sexuaty.. or anything else you may want to come up with)

Although personally im against even those laws since im a great beliver in true freedom of speach, as voltare put it "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."

Banning freedom of speach or expression is simply sweeping a socal issue under the rug, it doesnt solve the problem, it just hides it for a while as it slowly gets worse. Speach and thought should be free, im against anyone who says differnt.

[N!ck]

Banning freedom of speech would be taking a step towards becoming a dictatorship.

People are allowed their own opinions.

[Antallica]

not at all,
everyone has a view.

[FlyingJesus]

No and neither should racism. Acts of homophobia/racism obviously should be, but I think they should be treated in the same way as any normal assault or whatever. In my opinion if one guy gets beaten up for no reason at all, and another gets beaten up for being foreign or gay or whatever, that's two identical cases and there shouldn't be extra protection for people just because they're a "minority".

[lew!]

Yeah. everyone has a view but i think when people kill people and hurt people because of it then yeah it should be against the law.

[Mentor]

Yeah. everyone has a view but i think when people kill people and hurt people because of it then yeah it should be against the law.
Believe it or not, those two things are already crimes... Ever heard of Murder? GBH? assault? ring a bell?

Why do you need a new law when theres perfectly good ones already there.

[Paulio]

You can't help being hobophobic just like you can't help being gay so if homophobia is against the law, then so should being gay.

[brapp]

n o

[liquid]

No and neither should racism. Acts of homophobia/racism obviously should be, but I think they should be treated in the same way as any normal assault or whatever. In my opinion if one guy gets beaten up for no reason at all, and another gets beaten up for being foreign or gay or whatever, that's two identical cases and there shouldn't be extra protection for people just because they're a "minority".
second everything he said ^

[Jordy]

I would say it is against the law if you choose to express your homophobia feelings. Same with racism.

There's nothing wrong with it if you keep it to yourself and don't broadcast it publicly.

[5,5]

No
Not liking gays is just like not liking chocolate or seomthing.

[&]

Shouldnt be a ban on ones opinion/
BUT - theres a line which you just cant cross.

i get VEEERY angry when white people are constantly called racist for using the N word, and made out to be bad because its racist to black people.. but black people get away with it. its discusting.

[Robzor]

no it shouldnt be , yes , i do find it wrong , but people are entitled to their opinion.

[Fifteen]

No, I use to be really homofobic..not so much anymore & if it was against the law that would just cause problems.

[Virgin Mary]

You may not be able to help being consciously homophobic but, unless you have tourettes, you don't automatically yell out discrimination at a homosexual. Let people have their dogmatic opinions and be able to voice them though, if that's what they wanna do then okay.

[Frodo13.]

oops i pressed no by accident but yes..

people think im homophobic because i call alot of things gay but the way i use it doesnt mean (spelling?) homosexual it just means crap, **** or if aimed at someone idiot or even *****.

yeh it should but even if its against the law there will still be people who will shout out homophobic things. just like racism. and i think its classed as verbal abuse anyway?

Im exactly like that, you see something stupid and you say 'Oh, thats well gay'

Should defo be against the law. If comments can mentally hurt someone, then why shouldn't the people be punnished for that?

[FlyingJesus]

Im exactly like that, you see something stupid and you say 'Oh, thats well gay'

Should defo be against the law. If comments can mentally hurt someone, then why shouldn't the people be punnished for that?

So then calling someone fat or ugly should be illegal? That's just as relevant as calling someone gay or black or whatever, it's all just observation.

[ChainLightning]

So then calling someone fat or ugly should be illegal? That's just as relevant as calling someone gay or black or whatever, it's all just observation.
Not really.. if you're fat/ugly you can help that.. if your gay or black you can't.(Unless you turn into Micheal Jackson :))

[FlyingJesus]

Fat people could do exercise and whatnot but a fair amount of the time it's genetic and/or upbringing that's the problem, and you can't help being ugly lol.

[luke-p]

No It shouldn't be against the law, neither should racism... Everybody has freedom of speech, and no I'm not racist, nor anti racist... I really couldn't give a toss about other people's beliefs and ways of thinking...

[Lozzoling]

homophobic crimes r already against the law

[Robzor]

homophobic crimes r already against the law

yes , if they have assaulted a gay person , because they are gay.

but i think this thread means more of the talking aspect ^^

[Stephen]

Tbh it should be.

Some people don't like it but its ok about thinking about it but not saying it.

Its like racism.. I bet some muslim has really annoyed you one time and you've said something in your mind that I'm not gonna say :l

[Sentrax]

Banning freedom of speech would be taking a step towards becoming a dictatorship.

People are allowed their own opinions.

I completely 100% agree with that.

[unit]

I said yes but for a different reason. I think it should be brought up to become level with Racism. If you notice, whenever a black person is murdered, all over the news it's stuff like "Could be an act of racism". But, when a gay person is killen they don't give a damn lol.

I do think people have their rights to their own opinion. I admit that I dislike religious believers, but that's my opinion and I understand that if I met one, who wasn't homophobic (Bible states homosexuality is gay - so most are) then I would change my opinion of them.

And because I have my dislikes of things, I know people aren't exactly going to like me because I'm gay. Unless they victimise me and make my life hell I don't really care what their opinion about me is.

[LeftForDead]

wth yes they do:|
when there was the bombs found they thought it might of been due to gay pride.

[-:Undertaker:-]

You can't stop someone being homophobic if they are homophobic.

[benjamin]

No and neither should racism. Acts of homophobia/racism obviously should be, but I think they should be treated in the same way as any normal assault or whatever. In my opinion if one guy gets beaten up for no reason at all, and another gets beaten up for being foreign or gay or whatever, that's two identical cases and there shouldn't be extra protection for people just because they're a "minority".
Couldn't agree more.

[FlyingJesus]

homosexuality is gay

lol wut

[Hopeless]

Yes... racism is against the law
Homophobia is frowned apon..

and so wat if it became a law..

laws aren't kept in society anyway.

plus everyone is entitled to there own opinions.. its called freedom of speech

[ChainLightning]

Yes... racism is against the law
Homophobia is frowned apon..

and so wat if it became a law..

laws aren't kept in society anyway.

plus everyone is entitled to there own opinions.. its called freedom of speech
Then why cant people go around saying offencive stuff to ethnics?

[Hopeless]

Then why cant people go around saying offencive stuff to ethnics?

People do... but the government thinks racism is worse than homophobia.. they can't control everything otherwise there would be riots

[RandomManJay]

Homephobia should be against the law, since homophobia is really the irrational fear or hatred of homosexuality and/or bisexuality, and it has never been illegal to have a phobia. I think acts of homophobia (abuse, verbal, physical and any other) should be, and are in some places.

[GommeInc]

Rules are there to be broken, and that is why without rules life is better. Look at European countries, they don't have strict rules on littering and what do you know? No litter. It's too late to remove these rules anyway, because people would go crazy for a few years because a rule which restricted them from doing something has now been lifted, idiots are sad enough to go crazy on the idea.

Homophobia isn't really as frowned upon as racism, I'm not actually sure why come to think of it, because both you are born with, although the theory on when you are a homosexual is mixed around alot, one moment it is genes, the next is just a social thing, you become a homosexual through social workings, either way, you can't really stop someone from being gay, much like someone of a different ethnic background cannot be changed.

[Biseinen]

Erm, no. That just contradicts everything else that someone could be against.

[RandomManJay]

Homephobia should be against the law, since homophobia is really the irrational fear or hatred of homosexuality and/or bisexuality, and it has never been illegal to have a phobia. I think acts of homophobia (abuse, verbal, physical and any other) should be, and are in some places.

Crist what am I like!!! I put should where it should have been shouldn't (didn't think the post sounded write, but I couldn't put my finger on it till now) XD!

[Dan2nd]

I said yes but for a different reason. I think it should be brought up to become level with Racism. If you notice, whenever a black person is murdered, all over the news it's stuff like "Could be an act of racism". But, when a gay person is killen they don't give a damn lol.



I'm sorry but thats Bull Poo

I don't think being homophobic should be against the law.

[GommeInc]

I don';t remember what I said, but it is bes tthey don't. Making it against the law would cause it to happen more often, because straight people, or homophobes in general, would think they're even more cowardly and possibly think they have more right on this earth than the straights. Homophobes tend to be stupid, so they will normally look down the road of them being sissys, rather than preventing it from happening.

[Moh]

oops, miss read the poll title, I though you ment homosexual.
Erm, It should be yes, cos I realy get ****** off when people refere gay as sumin bad
i.e. "Sorry about that, msn went Gay"
So I think there should be a law about that.

[jesus]

People should have the right to express their opinions and views. If they aren't being offensive or abusive to individuals, there's no harm in it.

[dannyisnotamazing]

No, it's their opinion at end of day.

[jesus]

I was watching a programme last night, I've forgotten the name but it showed people getting arrested for being 'organized criminals' and 'terrorists' just for expressing their opinions about politicians in public.

Really the government are starting to control us.

[EverSteve]

No however people spitting at people cause their gay etc shouldn't be allowed. They can be homophobic and shout all they want, but being abbusive to people shouldn't be allowed just cause they've got a different sexuality as themselves.

[benjamin]

No however people spitting at people cause their gay etc shouldn't be allowed. They can be homophobic and shout all they want, but being abbusive to people shouldn't be allowed just cause they've got a different sexuality as themselves.That's abuse which is against the law anyway.

[VPSwow]

No it shouldnt be.

Homophobia is the fear off homosexuals so it cannot be illegal. Phobias are not illegal so homophobia shouldnt.

[today]

People should have the right to express their opinions and views. If they aren't being offensive or abusive to individuals, there's no harm in it.
Thats true, the world's just getting worse tbh "law for this, law for that"

[ScottDiamond.]

No as it is an opinion.

[Fifteen]

No, it shouldn't be against the law. You can't help being homophobic.

[Frisky]

Yes. End of.

[MusicPalace]

no...I mean everyone has an opnion.
But I mean if they go so far as to kill a homosexual person or something like that then it deffinately should.
Yes...homophobia bugs the hell out of me, but everyone has opinions.

[iluv2spam]

No it shouldn't, opinions like racisum shouldnt be agaisnt the law.

Fullspot.

[ashLOVESMatt!]

not really, as long as it is kept to oneself.

hate speech in general is against the law when expressed publically anyway

[Roboevil]

It's not illegal to be racist, nor is it to be against the law to be discriminate about anything. If people want to be prejudice they can, as long it's unprofessional.

[BobX]

Why should it be illegal? It's not offensive to anyone being scared of gay people is it?

[Herman]

homophobia is a fear or hate of homosexuals.

it shouldn't be against the law as you can't help feeling homophobic, unless a person acts on this fear/hate.

[Starburst..x]

I dont see how you would be able to ban it,,for example racism,,many people are still racist.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion whether you agree with it or not.
For me,,I have no problems against homosexuals,,and why should I?,,they don't moan at us for being straight?

[drama]

Alot of people are using the term: Homophobes, which of course is people who have the irrational fear of homosexuals, however, most people don't have an irrational fear of gay people, they just think the idea is wrong.

I've turned many 'Homophobic' people into accepting me and others, they woudn't if they had an irrational fear.

Most people discriminate homosexuals because they're friends do/they're brought up like that/they're idiotic. but that doesn't mean they have a fear.


I voted no, people are entitled to their opinions, however as tom said earlier, if ACTS of homophobia are taken out, then yes as it's assault/harrasment etc, as it would be on a heterosexual person.

[Glen Coco]

I thing that if it's made obvious that somebody is homophobic, the same action for racists should be taken on homophobics. However, people should be aloud to think what they like, wether other people think that thier views are mean ect.
So litrally what I think, if the homophobic keeps thier views in thier home/ not made obvious then they can't be taken action on. However, if they make it obvious how they feel, the same action as rasism should be taken.

[jesus]

no it shouldnt

[whoooosh]

its not peoples fault they are homophobic

[bubble79]

I think that prejudice towards homosexual people should be illegal only if they make every form of irrational prejudices (well, more importantly, acting on these prejudices) illegal. The thing this most annoys me about is racism, because a lot of people treat it as though racism is so much worst than any other prejudice, such as against I don't know fat people or old people, because surely this is just as bad as picking on someone for racial reaosns or for being gay. For example a racist murder gets a higher sentence than a non-racial murder. Surely it's still murder in the same way if the person has attacekd the other unprovoked whether its for their skin colour or anything else?m

Anyway, I'm straying off the subject, I think that homophobia itself obviously cannot be illegal as so long as they keep this to themselves it doesn't matter, but if anyone acts on these prejudices then it should hold the same rules as for any other form of prejudice.

[Jordey.]

no it shouldnt


everone has a opinion





some people dont like spiders



others dont like gays


im not to keen on gays tbh (i dont have to explaine why so dont ask)


but i lurvv lesbians

[Psychonaut]

It pretty much is, because it`s strayt up discrimination.
Well, okay, it`s unethical. Perhaps not ILLEGAL. Yet.

[:-:Mariah:-:]

shutup you chocolate fairies
ie no it shouldnt

[alex 1889]

well yes to a certain extent, but not fully.

[Recursion]

no, not at all, you can't control the way people feel, anyone who thinks it should be is a complete and utter idiot.

[JFolan]

yes its jsut wrong :S

[myke]

its not peoples fault they are homophobic

It's not an illness...

I'm not gay nor homophobic however, it shouldn't be against the law... if you're homophobic, you can think things just keep them to yourself, if you are as people say 'homophobic' then you're allowed to be. It's being scared of the unknown, the same as racists, they're scared of the unknown, if you have an opinion on someone keep it to yourself.

[Kardan]

Homophobia shouldn't, because that's a phobia, but discrimination because of sexuality should.

[Roboevil]

Of course it shouldn't be illegal, I swear I've said this before but racism isn't illegal... :/


Homophobia shouldn't, because that's a phobia, but discrimination because of sexuality should.

You know it means both hatred and fear for/of homosexualism?

[Bun]

Not at all. I don't care what you say - if you're not part of the majority, there will always be those who have a grudge against you. Why should it be the Homophobes who have to hide their feelings? Why shouldn't it be the gays who have feelings for other men who hide their feelings?

[<3]

It already is illegal under hate crime laws

[StripedTiger]

I cant vote cos the poll is closed, but I'm not so sure anyway.

It's all religious views vs modern society views.

If it became illegal, some religions would then have illegal traditions and beliefs? It isn't right really.

Your own thoughts and words are your own law. If you think being gay/bi/lesbian is fine and legal then it is :)

[JoshieJizz]

Where do you draw a line between expressing your own personal views in a mature way, and offending people? Is it possible to express your dislike towards homosexual/bisexual people without offending people. Speaking from experience, I'd say it is - but not everybody is the same.

As a few have people said previously, you cannot control what people think, you can only try to control what they say.

[Mentor]

Homophobia may be a bad thing, but the idea of having thought police is a much much worse one in my opinion.

[bo$$]

No it shouldn't. It's your own opinion. As long as you're not commiting crimes, etc. over it then it's fine.

[Zedtu]

I usually don't get in discussions like this, but I am half asleep, thought I might as well.

Take a step back and look at what it really is?

It is one person, not liking another person, because they are one thing. (Because they are of a different sexuality)

What is racism?

It is one person, not liking another person, because they are one thing (race).

Racism has been around years, and years, and years, and we have ultimately learned to deal with it.

If someone says something bad about you, are you going to run and cry to the police? Or are you just going to take it like a man.

If someone stays away from you because your gay, that may be a hint that you are "acting gay", and being the stereotypical gay (high pitched voice, weird hand movements, etc), why can't you just act normal, but still like the same sex?

[Recursion]

Why should people be punished for something they probably cannot control and is just nature? :|

[Thetan]

Yes. End of.

Do you have any reason? Banning Homophobia would be like banning homosexuality, as it is a way of life.

Your a ******* idiot. End of.

[[DC]eption]

No it shouldn't be.

If you're scared of someone who is homosexual, you can't help that - you can help being racist though, people who are racist usually do it for pure comedy.

People who are homophobic, can't really help it that they are scared of homosexuals.

No?

You cant choose what your scared of.

And no it shouldnt, whats the differnece between discriminating agaisnt some one cause they are ugly or because they are gay?

[benjamin]

but that arguments crap because you could say whats the difference between discriminating against sexual preferences and skin colour?
and the discrimination against skin colour is illegal so why isn't it against sexual preferences?

just saying, even though i don't think it should be illegal.
eption;4547543']No?

You cant choose what your scared of.

And no it shouldnt, whats the differnece between discriminating agaisnt some one cause they are ugly or because they are gay?

[lew!]

I think being homaphobic (scared of them) is ok,

BUT

If you shout abuse and beat people up because of it, then yes..

[RedStratocas]

of course not. how can you police people's minds?

[lew!]

People can think what they think, Only illegal if they do harm (saying it and physically)

[Fugato]

It's like saying 'should being tall be against the law' - it's a thing you can't change.

[DarkSquiffy]

Being mean to someone because of the colour, thats unfair.
But having an opinion on a sexuality someone chose is alright.
So no.

[drama]

Being homophobic - of course not, as it's something you can't control.
Acting on the homophobia (violence and verbal abuse) then yes, it should be.

[GommeInc]

Isn't it sort of a law anyway? Don't discriminate people pretty much covers anything.

[Aflux]

No .

That's like saying should disliking Carrots be against the law.

[kk.]

erm, threads a bit old but oh welll...

no it shouldnt.

[-Undiscovered]

No! It's something you just are. It's not something you can control. If you mean calling people gay as insults, still no tbh.

[Everlong]

People take stuff like this too seriously i have nothing agaisnt gays myself but their shouldn't be any special treatment.

[drama]

People take stuff like this too seriously i have nothing agaisnt gays myself but their shouldn't be any special treatment.
Are you saying racial minoritys have special treatment? as there are laws concerning rascism.

[Alexicles.]

ABSOLUTELY NOT! It is wrong to make it wrong for people to be attracted to another person of the same geneder.:@

Edited by Really (Forum Moderator): Please do not bump old threads.

[kerplunkwozere]

you really don't get the thread do you?
ABSOLUTELY NOT! It is wrong to make it wrong for people to be attracted to another person of the same geneder.:@

[ToxicPaddy]

Shouldn't be against the law, I mean, some religions e.g Catholicism, are against gays (i personally don't have anything against them) and everyone is entitled to an opinion.