Sexism is the Root of Homophobia

Historically in the Western world, male bodies have been revered as dominant, stable, and honorable. Female bodies have been treated as objects, property, unpredictable, and messy. Though the rigid ancient social hierarchy is long gone, its remnants remain. Women are still viewed as objects in popular culture. Men are still the "untouchable" unless seduced into being touched. Women are permitted to dress "sexier," not just because of the benefits of the sexual revolution, but because we still hold to the notion that women are to be objects of male gaze. As these norms are slowly changing to a more egalitarian sexual freedom, those who still hold to the hierarchy feel threatened and pull the "morality" or "values" card. Sexism/misogyny is at the heart of current culture wars. Same-gender-loving relationships threaten social conservatives precisely because we dismiss any notion of inequality between the sexes.