| − | '''Homophobia''' is a term originally defined by its coiner 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> Unlike other phobias, it is not a term for any well-recognized psychological condition. According to [[NARTH]], | + | '''Homophobia''' is a term, originally meaning fear of being thought homosexual,<ref>[http://www.narth.com/docs/creates.html Gay Psychologist Creates New Terms for Use in the Social Debate]</ref> now meaning fear of or contempt for homosexuals. Unlike other words ending in -phobia, it is not a term for any recognized psychological condition. According to [[NARTH]], |
| | :"The term "homophobia" is often used inaccurately to describe any person who objects to homosexual behavior on either moral, psychological or medical grounds. Technically, however, the terms actually denotes a person who has a phobia—or irrational fear—of homosexuality. Principled disagreement, therefore, cannot be labeled "homophobia."<ref>[http://www.narth.com/menus/positionstatements.html NARTH Position Statements]</ref> | | :"The term "homophobia" is often used inaccurately to describe any person who objects to homosexual behavior on either moral, psychological or medical grounds. Technically, however, the terms actually denotes a person who has a phobia—or irrational fear—of homosexuality. Principled disagreement, therefore, cannot be labeled "homophobia."<ref>[http://www.narth.com/menus/positionstatements.html NARTH Position Statements]</ref> |
| − | When used in this dishonest way, the term is offensive and derogatory. | + | When used in this dishonest way, the term is offensive and derogatory. |