12 Uncomfortable Questions for Homophobes (Let's Try to Confront Them with Logic)

Anyone who has encountered homophobic comments on social media or in person understands how formulaic and ignorant these people’s thinking is. They almost never engage in discussion because they are unable to develop their ideas beyond trite, often clumsy, phrases.

Mark Lipkin, creator of the Telegram channel Cultural Reference, compiled A list of twelve questions for a homophobe. With his permission, we are publishing the text in its entirety.

Let's try to counter them with the one universal tool in any dispute—logic.

Here are 12 uncomfortable questions you can ask a homophobe in response to their comments.

"If you want to have sex with people of your own gender—go ahead, but don't force it on us."

If homosexuality is a choice that can be imposed on someone, please try to recall at what specific age you chose to enter into a heterosexual relationship. What influenced your choice?

"I have nothing against gay people, but I don't want my children to see relationships like that."

Why do you think a relationship between men your child happens to meet on the street would be more appealing to your child than the relationship between his mom and dad, which he sees every day? Is there something wrong with the relationship in your family?

"It makes me uncomfortable to see examples of same-sex relationships on the internet or on social media. Why show that?"

Do you believe that anything that does not meet the aesthetic tastes of a particular group of people should be banned from being shown or used? Should Russian chanson, pizza with pineapple, baggy jeans with holes, and mustachioed men with beer bellies be banned?

"These days, there are gay characters in practically every movie or TV series. They've really worn us out with their little story."

Считаете ли вы «повесточкой», когда другие социальные группы представлены в кино и медиа несообразно их численности в обществе, например, частных детективов в сериалах слишком много, хотя в реальности их меньше 0,01%, а людей с избыточным весом, напротив, в кино и рекламе слишком мало, хотя в реальности их более 40% населения?

"The presence of LGBT characters in movies and books is propaganda that can influence impressionable minds."

If the presence of a gay character in a story could prompt a child to change his or her sexual orientation, wouldn’t watching a detective show turn him or her into a murderer or a thief?

"Gay people don't have children, and that's bad for the population."

If gay people don’t produce offspring, where do you think they come from? How do you explain the fact that gay people are born exclusively to women and men? Should all childless marriages and marriages with homosexual children be prohibited by law?

"I'm against gay marriage; it destroys the institution of the family."

If gay people are destroying the institution of the family, then why, in your opinion, are they fighting for the right to officially register their families? What consequences do you think will result for your own family if two gay men you don’t know register their marriage?

"Homosexuality is against nature."

Do you believe that anything that isn't natural should be banned, such as breast augmentation surgery, weight-loss drugs, shapewear, and medications for erectile dysfunction?

"Homosexuality is contrary to Christian values."

Please cite specific words spoken by Jesus Christ regarding homosexuality—from any Gospel of your choice.

"Homosexuality is a grave sin; it is against God."

If everything in this world was created by God, then please explain the reason for the existence of such an imperfection as homosexual people: In your view, is God not competent enough, or not all-powerful enough?

"Who here is a man?"

Why are you interested in the technical details of the sex lives of people who aren't your sexual partners?

"I have the right to express my disagreement with the existence of gay people—that's freedom of speech."

If someone came up to you tomorrow and said they “disagree” with your existence and that of your children because they don’t like you, would you shake their hand for their excellent exercise of free speech, or would you consider it a threat after all? Are you willing to live in a society with rules like that applied to you?