Changes

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

The word "homophobia" comes from the Greek prefix ''homo-'', meaning "same", and suffix ''-phobia'', meaning "fear of". In early usage by homosexual activists, the term described heterosexual fears that others might think they were homosexual.<ref>http://www.narth.com/docs/creates.html</ref> It was coined by George Weinberg, a pro-gay psychologist, who defined it in 1972 as "the dread of being in close quarters with homosexuals,"<ref>Plummer, David, ''One of the Boys: Masculinity, Homophobia, and Modern Manhood'', [http://books.google.com/books?id=xHGz4f_2_7IC&pg=PA3&ots=U8ktZZgnAk&dq=George+Weinberg+homophobia&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=d7hjCcZ1uuBlgdLyRjUJwEn51uA#PPA3,M1 pp. 3-4: "'Homophobia was introduced into the literature by George Weinberg in 1972, in his milestone publication ''Society and the Healthy Homosexual.'' At that time, he defined homophobia as 'the dread of being in close quarters with homosexuals.'"</ref> now meaning irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals.<ref>[http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/homophobia homophobia], Merriam-Webster online</ref>

The word "homophobia" comes from the Greek prefix ''homo-'', meaning "same", and suffix ''-phobia'', meaning "fear of". In early usage by homosexual activists, the term described heterosexual fears that others might think they were homosexual.<ref>http://www.narth.com/docs/creates.html</ref> It was coined by George Weinberg, a pro-gay psychologist, who defined it in 1972 as "the dread of being in close quarters with homosexuals,"<ref>Plummer, David, ''One of the Boys: Masculinity, Homophobia, and Modern Manhood'', [http://books.google.com/books?id=xHGz4f_2_7IC&pg=PA3&ots=U8ktZZgnAk&dq=George+Weinberg+homophobia&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=d7hjCcZ1uuBlgdLyRjUJwEn51uA#PPA3,M1 pp. 3-4: "'Homophobia was introduced into the literature by George Weinberg in 1972, in his milestone publication ''Society and the Healthy Homosexual.'' At that time, he defined homophobia as 'the dread of being in close quarters with homosexuals.'"</ref><ref>[http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/homophobia homophobia], Merriam-Webster online</ref>

== Homophobia as an "Irrational Fear" ==

== Homophobia as an "Irrational Fear" ==