Queer, a term that has been used since the 16th century, to describe someone odd or peculiar. In the late 19th century is when people started to use it in a colloquial way to describe a homosexual man. Nowadays it's a very broad term. Under the gay, lesbian, Or trans umbrella.

But what does it really mean to be queer and why is it quote unquote, bad?

To be a queer, you must be under one of the LGBTQIA+ umbrella (correct me if i am wrong). A gay is a non-female person that is (romantically or sexually) attracted to non-female people. A lesbian is non-male person that is also attracted to non-male people. A trans is someone who changes their gender identity.

We can't exactly track down when it started to be so frowned upon by society because the earth is so vast, there are big contrasts everywhere—for example, in ancient Greece, men could certainly lay with other men. However.. in Greece there was no sexuality like there is today. It was all whether you topped or bottomed (what a formal way to put it, I know). Those who bottomed were "inferior", which is a reason why women were inferior. Unless the man is a minor, whichever bottomed was inferior. In fact, having sex with animals was fine as long as the animal bottomed (jeez louise). On the other side of the land mass is Israel with its early Judaism. In Judaism, homosexuality was a sin–this stems from a foundational duty in the religion in reproducing. Biblical prohibitions also partly aimed to separate ancient Israelites from fertility rites and cultic practices associated with neighboring pagan nations (however, this is only stated for men/men anal intercourse, nothing was stated for or against lesbian relationship or same-sex marriage) Judaism formed Christianity, which became the dominant religion in Europe, so the homophobic values flooded.. Europe. Which is enough said.

So homophobia is mostly rooted in reproduction. However, in today's world, homophobic people primarily use other reasons to go against homosexuality. This includes "It's unnatural", "My religion is against it", "it's just weird" (yes, really), and dozens more.

Personally, I think it's wrong to hate and discriminate against others for who they're attracted to. No matter how much a government criminalizes it or how many punishments they set, Queer people will never go away. The only thing that criminalizing homosexuality and transgenders will do is make it hidden. I have heard no good excuse for homophobia and I don't think I ever will. For those saying it's unnatural—it's not. Homosexuality has been recorded in over 1,500 animal species. Do you think they are that way because of liberal propaganda? And for those saying they're against it because of their religion, religion has been separated from the government since the beginning of this country (United States), that's why we have freedom of religion. Some religious people state that they are personally against it, but respect the people and don't think it should be criminalized (which, I, despite not agreeing with disliking a certain group of people because my religion tells me to, think that's fine) but the majority go against it and wan't it to be a federal offense—which I think is just insane. I myself am colorblind, but I don't think the entire planet should accustom to my vision and wear colorblind glasses just because I am, and if you have any type of social media, you'd know the extent of homophobia and newer, dumber excuses for it. The odd thing is, I've seen many people apart from the LGBTQIA+ community support everything—but transgender people. Which begs the question; why is being transgender more frowned upon than homosexuality?

The truth is, I don't have a clear answer. I have seen no backed up reason to go against transgender (other than religion, which even then is just "Boys are boys, girls are girls" and "You're changing the body that God made for you"). A funny claim I've seen transphobic queer people use is that "it's unnatural" which is so incredibly dumb, because that's the same reason used against them. Not only are they blatantly unaware of the fact that they are being discriminated against for the same reason—they're very wrong too. Did you know that gender dysphoria (or gender identity disorder) is something with the brain? (read up on this for more information) Just like homosexuality, it is a very real and natural thing.

Homophobia is an unintelligent and ignorant thing, and I can't believe it has taken society hundreds of years to still not even come close to realizing that.