Am I Homophobic?

Discover your prejudices and how to fix them.

Sometimes, we can be homophobic without even realizing it, and that goes for queer people, too! Unlearning homophobia is a lifelong process, and what matters is that we're all trying.

Still, you're probably wondering if homophobia is a real problem for you, and what other people might think. That's where we come in! Just answer a few simple questions, and we'll tell you if you're homophobic and how much of a problem it might be, no judgement.

An illustration of a man walking past a gay couple.

Quizzes Are More Fun With Friends

Questions Overview

1. Do you believe gay people should be able to get married to each other?
  1. Of course! Marriage is for everyone.
  2. Maybe. I have to think about it a bit more.
  3. Nah. Marriage is between a man and a woman.
  4. I don't really care, honestly.
2. Do you consider yourself gay or queer at all?
  1. Yes.
  2. Maybe, I'm not sure...
  3. No.
3. In general, do you think gay people should be able to raise children?
  1. Yes. They'd make just as good parents as straight people.
  2. No. A child needs a mom and a dad.
  3. I'm not sure. I'd have to think about it.
4. Would you feel comfortable hugging a gay person as a greeting?
  1. Yeah, sure.
  2. I'd probably hesitate, but I would.
  3. I might be uncomfortable, but I'd do it to be polite.
  4. No, I wouldn't.
5. Do you have any openly gay friends?
  1. Yes. Most of my friends are openly gay.
  2. Sure, I have one or two.
  3. I'm not sure.
  4. No.
6. Have you ever said something is "gay" to mean it's bad?
  1. Sure, but it's just a joke, and people know what I mean.
  2. Yes, and I meant it.
  3. No, or I don't remember.
7. How would you feel if a gay person (respectfully) flirted with you?
  1. Flattered. I'll take the compliment!
  2. Neutral. It's whatever.
  3. Uncomfortable. They got the wrong idea.
  4. Negative. That weirds me out.
8. How would you feel if someone else assumed you were gay?
  1. Amused, or positive. That's pretty funny.
  2. Neutral. I wonder why they think that, but whatever.
  3. Offended, or negative. I'm not like that.
9. If a close friend or family member revealed that they were gay, how would you react?
  1. I'd thank them for saying that, and ask how I could support them.
  2. I'd tell them I had my suspicions, and I'm not surprised.
  3. I'd probably detach from them a little bit. I'd need a little space to think.
  4. I'd avoid or stop talking to them.
10. Would you feel comfortable living with a gay person, like a gay roommate?
  1. Totally, as long as they're clean and respectful.
  2. Maybe, but I'd look for a different situation first.
  3. Not really. That's a little too intimate.

More Quizzes

Did you like this quiz?

Unlearning Homophobia

Homophobia is something that even queer people struggle with. When you live in a world that tells you your identity is wrong, it's hard not to take that to heart and learn some counterproductive lessons. We're all growing and improving, though, and what matters is that we work to unlearn those problematic lessons and focus on helping the people who need it most. That's why we talked to queer experts, who gave us their best tips for combatting homophobia in ourselves and others:

  • LGBTQIA+ activist and educator NV Gay says, "The biggest thing I always tell people is to remember that homophobia and transphobia most likely come not from a place of hate, but from a place of fear or from a place of pain."[1]
  • Psychotherapist Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW, says, "If a friend comes out as a lesbian, and that bothers you, you should consider why their orientation matters to you. ... Is it bothering you [because] you're scared that you might question your sexuality? Is it your religious beliefs? [Dig]deeper into why it's bothering you."[2]
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant Lily Zheng, MA reminds us that "All of us have unconscious biases that lead us to assume that being heterosexual and cisgender are the norm, and that being anything else is inferior. These biases frequently lead to unintentional discrimination."[3]
  • LGBTQ+ studies expert, public speaker, and spiritual guide shawndeez, PhD says that, when getting closer to a queer person, "The most important thing is to communicate that you love this person and that their queerness, their gayness, their lesbianness doesn't alter that. The biggest fear that most people queer people carry is that their queerness will make them lose relationships, make them lose connections."[4]
  • Continuing, shawndeez goes on to stress the importance of visible allies for queer people, saying, "I'd encourage people to listen, to learn how to listen, because... having someone listen to you is life changing, is life saving," and says that that goes for both queer people and their allies.[5]

Want to learn more?

You Might Also Like

References

  1. ↑ NV Gay. LGBTQIA+ Activist and Educator. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ Kelli Miller, LCSW, MSW. Psychotherapist. Expert Interview
  3. ↑ Lily Zheng, MA. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ shawndeez, Ph.D.. LGBTQ+ Studies Expert, Public Speaker, and Spiritual Guide. Expert Interview
  5. ↑ shawndeez, Ph.D.. LGBTQ+ Studies Expert, Public Speaker, and Spiritual Guide. Expert Interview