Things were unbelievably homophobic when I was a kid, and I guess I just didn't notice

I grew up around that talk but, in all honesty, it never felt like it was a purposeful act to demean. It was just something kids said. My whole thing, which has never left me, was to protect those who are bullied. It was more tangible. So if it was someone who was gay, a minority or physically weaker, that was my line. Didn't matter why. But moving to San Francisco when I was a young man changed the dynamic. I became more aware of the "why's." And the 'why' is fear and insecurity. Two traits I kind of despise.
So it's good that "society" has created lines that shouldn't be crossed in regards to words. But now we need to keep moving on to the fear and insecurity part. I think that's changed a TON in the past years. Young people see things differently now. And not just in big cities where gay people are part of the fabric. That's nothing but a good thing.

Fortunately it seems this kind of default homophobic culture is becoming less prevalent, though I'm sure it's still very much a way of life in some areas. I remember when I first heard "gay" as an insult, and I remember when I was a little older and that was looked down upon. It gives me hope for the future.

I remember when I was a kid I didn't even know what people meant by certain words. For some odd reason I though about one commonly used term to describe homosexuals that it meant you really liked someone. I was 7, I think, and I walked around holding my friend's hand when a group of older boys came and asked us if we were gay and I said: "of course I'm gay." 😆

Not long ago tbh. I remember when I had my first job at age 18 I had this gay coworker who was only 17, he got heavily bullied by other male coworkers even the boss laughed at him , he quit in 3 months of employment. Only girls were nice to him. He was my best friend back then I was very sad when he left.

Yup we'd call things gay if we didn't like them, we'd cry "gaaaayyyy" like in Shaun of the Dead if people expressed emotion. Close male friends were 'bum chums' it was all pretty fucking gross and I didn't see it until I was out of it.

I had the same up bringing sayings and taught prejudices while being secretly a cross dresser. Star football player and wrestler in high school. I remained then and now purely heterosexual but dropped all my stereo typing and prejudices to become a better well-rounded person later in life. Post my divorce and trying out the dating scene again while raising my son and daughter on my own. I slowly got back into cross dressing and once my kids left home, I became a full-time cross dresser nearly living a trans lifestyle, and I love it. Still will only date or interact with women but I have made cross dressing trans lifestyle friends.

So yes, it is funny how life teachings are replaced with life experiences to make us into whom we are.
A happy Willa now.

When I was a little kid and teen there was very strong anti-gay sentiment. Especially among working-class men without much education. Having a son turn out to be gay was their worst nightmare. I don't recall much mention of lesbians. It seemed to be centered on gay men.

Starting in the 1980's the homophobia began to fade. Now gayness is widely accepted, except in the bible-belt & south.

'Gay' was over used as an adjective for anything the speaker didn't like. So were certain anti-semitic words. But in my experience it was largely superficial, with kids passing on stuff they had picked up at home. By the time I was 12 it was generally known in school that I was a lesbian, but I and my gf were very rarely bullied as a result.

The Age of Enlightenment never really ended. It was and is around us if we do what one does at a RR crossing…STOP, LOOK , LISTEN!

I was raised in a pretty small town conservative area, so I had views and dud things which in hindsight were homophobic. Nothing extreme or anything, but I did to realise they were homophobic at the time.
It took my best friend coming out to take a good look at myself.

I have a low voice, always have. It makes sense as an adult to have a woman’s alto voice, in my family. But as a child I had a "boy’s" voice, "unfeminine". I heard that in school often and felt bad