Is the US more homophobic than the rest of the developed world?

[newfangle]

Non-US citizen and no.

Gay-bashers are omnipresent.

 

[Leonel]

US citizen and no.

Roughly equal. I'm sure if one were to go into the European countryside, one would find homophobes that haven't been exposed to homosexuals before.

 

[A'AbarachAmadan]

Compared to most of Western Europe, the US is not as tolerant to gays. Europe sets the benchmark right now. Compared to many other locations, such as Iran where it is punished by death, the US is significantly more tolerant.

Edit: As an aside, I'd say the US and Europe are reversed on homophobia and xenophobia. Both are very tolerant in general, especially compared to most of the world, but on these two areas they are reversed at about the same level.

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

non-US citizen and yes.

However, I think this is probably only marginally so, and is regionally-dependent.

One place has to be more homophobic than the other, and the US is probably it, but like Newfangle said, gay-bashers are everywhere.

 

[Eukaryote]

It's way more homophobic.

 

[Bill3000]

America is indeed more homophobic, mostly due to the fact that it is more religious and conservative compared to Europe, so it's inevitable.

I'm a bad Christian I'm one who doesn't welcome sinners into my home.

So you don't welcome yourself, then?

 

[sysyphus]

America is indeed more homophobic, mostly due to the fact that it is more religious and conservative compared to Europe, so it's inevitable.

Depends on what part of Europe you're talking about. Western Europe is very secular, but Eastern Europe is very religious (and very homophobic).

 

[Neonanocyborgasm]

OK is the Us more homphobic in it's leaning than say the UK or Spain or whatever? If so in what way and if not why not?

Sorry about the last pole. Total mess?

Some parts of the US are very homophobic, and racist. The East and West coasts are usually the most tolerant, while the middle is generally less so. The South and Mid-West are the ones I notice making headlines for doing one boneheaded move or another.

 

[newfangle]

I'd just like to point out that the gay son of an uberconservative in the bible belt probably has a better fighting chance than the gay son of an ubercatholic in Poland.

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

I'd just like to point out that the gay son of an uberconservative in the bible belt probably has a better fighting chance than the gay son of an ubercatholic in Poland.

Well, I assumed we were referring more to Western Europe, but if the former Eastern Bloc is fair game, then the US rises in the ranks of tolerance considerably.

 

[GenMarshall]

I'd just like to point out that the gay son of an uberconservative in the bible belt probably has a better fighting chance than the gay son of an ubercatholic in Poland.

Actualy, Catholicism teaches that homosexuals must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. (Catechism of the Catholic Church #2358). Quite franky, it would be quite the reverse where the gay son of a Catholic in Poland would have a better fighting chance.

 

[Panzeh]

I don't support gay marriage because I don't support government recognition of marriage in general.

 

[ComradeDavo]

You think that the UK and Spain is the whole world?

Not to mention if you're gay in Saudi Arabia you'd probably be beheaded.

Saudi Arabia isn't part of the developed world.

 

[Dann]

We should also include Japan, South Korea and China in this comparison. I would appreciate it if some East Asian posters would discuss homophobia in their nations. (I'm not suggesting that it will necessarily turn out that they are more homophobic... I just want to know)

Compared to China, the liberal parts of the US is gay paradise. You have movies and TV shows that portray them in a good light... same sex marriage being debated and seriously considered... Here? A few years back homosexuality was still classified as a mental illness, and they can lock you up in an asylum for that.

That law has already been abolished, of course, but society is still not so forgiving. They can't come out into the open, and their parents and siblings are usually their worst critics. (Personally I'd go ape too if my future kids don't turn out straight. It's just the way we are.) Homosexuals have always been shunned and the object of ridicule in East Asian culture, and they are fighting an uphill battle here, but with some gains already these past few years. Some tranvestites have gone public after undergoing their surgical transformation for example. Same sex marriage, however is out of the question for now. The mere thought of it creeps people out.

OTOH my home country (Philippines) is quite accepting when it comes to homosexuality. Gays and lesbians don't need to hide there. They can dress weird in public and no one will point and stare at them. They even have their own gay bars complete with "macho dancers" in place of dancing girls. There are even certain vocations where they are the dominant gender - hairdressers, interior designers, couturiers, gossip columnists... The deal with same sex marriages however, remains the same - no way. The Catholic Church is too influential over there.

 

[King Flevance]

I have no idea personally. I have not ventured out of the mid-west USA. I haven't even seen the ocean. This is an interesting topic though.

 

[Swiss Bezerker]

You think that the UK and Spain is the whole world?

Not to mention if you're gay in Saudi Arabia you'd probably be beheaded.

THe rest of the CIVILIZED
World

 

[aussieboy]

double post

 

[aussieboy]

OTOH my home country (Philippines) is quite accepting when it comes to homosexuality. Gays and lesbians don't need to hide there. They can dress weird in public and no one will point and stare at them. They even have their own gay bars complete with "macho dancers" in place of dancing girls. There are even certain vocations where they are the dominant gender - hairdressers, interior designers, couturiers, gossip columnists... The deal with same sex marriages however, remains the same - no way. The Catholic Church is too influential over there.

That’s often the same in Philippine expat communities. Most people I’ve paid to cut my hair are ‘bakla’, and it is a sort of stereotype for the Pilipino hairdresser to have spiked hair and speak with a lisp. Most Pinoys here are accepting of gays – after all, they perform a necessary function in society. But gay marriage? Nooooo. We’re just too Catholic to take it that far.

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

Actualy, Catholicism teaches that homosexuals must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. (Catechism of the Catholic Church #2358). Quite franky, it would be quite the reverse where the gay son of a Catholic in Poland would have a better fighting chance.

Ya, but we are talking about what actually happens in different parts of the world.

 

[otomik]

Saudi Arabia isn't part of the developed world.

I declare shennanigans on the meaning and purpose of phrase "developed world" in the topic title!

basically meant to turn this into another US versus EU thread.