Homophobia is a social lubricant for straight men. But what do we gain from such deep insecurity about the perception of our sexuality? Or more importantly, what do we lose? We miss out on tenderness, on the opportunity to forge bonds with one another on the basis of openness and compassion. We qualify our greetings, compliments, and affections for one another to ensure they aren’t read as sexual, and in the process cheapen them. And how much brainpower are we wasting by policing everything we say for the slightest sexual connotation?
