I am a homophobe.
Let me qualify that. The “homo” section of the word “homosexual” is oft pronounced “hoe” – as in the gardening implement – and “mow” – as in mow the lawn. This comes about because most people assume the word is a combination of the Latin word “homo-” as in “man” – and “sexual” as in “sexual”. Thus, combined, giving us a word which means “man-sex”.
However, this is nonsense. In fact, the first part of the word comes from the GREEK word “HOMOS” – pronounced like “compost” (why all my guides to pronunciation are GARDENING terms, I have no idea – I don’t even LIKE gardening) which means “the same”. Thus homosexual ACTUALLY means sex with the SAME sex.
Therefore the made-up word “homophobe” ACTUALLY means a fear of MEN, if you’re thinking Latin – or a fear of things that are the SAME, if you’re thinking Greek. NEITHER indicates a fear of gay people.
Now, I have always preferred the company of women – they are more entertaining than men. And being an INDIVIDUALIST, with a low threshold of BOREDOM – I am APPALLED by the prospect of things being THE SAME all the time.
Which makes me a homophobe!
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