Love to hate, hate to love

I like to think that there are a lot of synonyms for homophobia.

Irrationality

Fear

Ignorance

Closed-mindedness

Insensitivity

Blindness

Obtuseness

Then there's always

downright stupidity.

No doubt, they'd be those that'd call it

Sense

Naturalness

Intelligience

Intellect

Good judgement

Reason

Perhaps even

sanity.

Of course

these are the people who would rather see a man

droven to depression than thriving

with his soulmate

the people that balk at the sight

of a woman

waving a rainbow flag.

These were once the people that'd sooner see someone

executed

than wed to their partner

the people that supported and administered

conversion therapy

the people that

set up camps

that told you to be ashamed of who you are.

And so, despite the bountiful variety of words available, I believe there is only one that truly encompasses the meaning of homophobia.

Homophobia is an illness.

It has caused riots

Broken families

Thrown children onto the street

It murdered Matthew Sheperd

and Harvey Milk

and Rebecca Wight

and so

so

many more.

It has battered some

Imprisoned others

It has driven countless to

depression

self harm

suicide.

Like I said

homophobia is an illness

ravaging our society

spread by those

who love to hate

and

hate to love.