--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am a homophobe, though a mild and…" description: "\"I am a homophobe, though a mild and tolerant one, and a racist, though an even more mild and tolerant one, and those things are going to be illegal pre..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/john-derbyshire-20276_homophobes_i-am-a-homophobe-though-a-mild-and-toler_2281189.jpg" --- # I am a homophobe, though a mild and tolerant one, and a… ![“I am a homophobe, though a mild and tolerant one, and a racist, though an even more mild and tolerant one, and those things are going to be illegal pretty soon, the way we are going.” quote by John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/john-derbyshire-20276_homophobes_i-am-a-homophobe-though-a-mild-and-toler_2281189.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/john-derbyshire-20276_homophobes_i-am-a-homophobe-though-a-mild-and-toler_2281189.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/john-derbyshire-20276_homophobes_i-am-a-homophobe-though-a-mild-and-toler_2281189.jpg) > “I am a homophobe, though a mild and tolerant one, and a racist, though an even more mild and tolerant one, and those things are going to be illegal pretty soon, the way we are going.” [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledges personal prejudices while predicting legal changes to outlaw them **In simple terms:** He admits bias and expects future laws to ban such attitudes Key Takeaway Recognize bias and support equitable legal reforms Themes ethics law social change prejudice politics Mood critical thought‑provoking Type political social When to use this quote - workplace training - policy making - public discourse - education programs Key Concepts civil rights legal reform social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can society address deep‑seated bias beyond law? - What steps foster genuine tolerance? A Different Perspective Legal bans may not change personal beliefs without cultural shift ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Homophobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homophobe-594008/) [Homophobe Mild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homophobe-mild-5324298/) [Homophobes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homophobes/) [Illegal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illegal/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Racist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racist/) [Racist Mild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racist-mild-5324300/) [Tolerant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerant/) [Tolerant Racist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tolerant-racist-5324299/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [If you talk about race, it does not make you a racist. If you see distinctions between the genders, it does not make you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-heston/if-you-talk-about-race-it-does-not-make-you-a-racist-if-you-see/) [Charlton Heston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-heston/) > [The concept that really gets the goat of the gay-hater, the idea that really spins their melon and sickens their stomachs is that most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/the-concept-that-really-gets-the-goat-of-the-gay-hater-the-idea-that/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [To me, Ennis stands for the conservative side of America. He's the biggest homophobe in the whole movie - culturally and psychologically - but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ang-lee/to-me-ennis-stands-for-the-conservative-side-of-america-he-s-the/) [Ang Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ang-lee/) > [ I wouldn't want \[gay marriage\] to go to the United States Supreme Court now because that homophobe Antonin Scalia has too many votes on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-frank/i-wouldn-t-want-gay-marriage-to-go-to-the-united-states-supreme-court/) [Barney Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-frank/) > [This is a word that is not a scientific term. This is a rhetorical tool of psychological manipulation... Because everyone knows if you dare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-lively/this-is-a-word-that-is-not-a-scientific-term-this-is-a-rhetorical/) [Scott Lively](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-lively/) > [Well, from 1969 to 1984, until he died of AIDS, a teacher and I were very good friends. He even attended celebrations at my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezola-b-foster/well-from-1969-to-1984-until-he-died-of-aids-a-teacher-and-i-were/) [Ezola B. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezola-b-foster/) > [Your working assumption, when you meet a homophobe, should be that they are gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-hari/your-working-assumption-when-you-meet-a-homophobe-should-be-that-they/) [Johann Hari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-hari/) > [Don't hide behind the Constitution or the Bible. If you're against gay marriage, just be honest, put a scarlet 'H' on your shirt, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/don-t-hide-behind-the-constitution-or-the-bible-if-you-re-against-gay/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [What's worst than a racist and a homophobe? A superficial person that hates someone just because of how they were born or look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/what-s-worst-than-a-racist-and-a-homophobe-a-superficial-person-that/) [SONYA PARKER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Everyone that we disagree with is a racist and a homophobe and Islamophobe and a bigot. It's just silly. It's lazy thinking, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/everyone-that-we-disagree-with-is-a-racist-and-a-homophobe-and/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [If you don't clap for Todrick Hall, guess what Mary, you're a homophobe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manila-luzon/if-you-don-t-clap-for-todrick-hall-guess-what-mary-you-re-a-homophobe/) [Manila Luzon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manila-luzon/) > [To Barack Obama, if you believe in traditional marriage, you are a homophobe. If you believe men shouldn't go into women's bathrooms and showers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/to-barack-obama-if-you-believe-in-traditional-marriage-you-are-a/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [That one can love another of the same gender, that is what the homophobe really cannot stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/that-one-can-love-another-of-the-same-gender-that-is-what-the/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [Prick a homophobe and a misogynist bleeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prick-a-homophobe-and-a-misogynist-bleeds/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We've been scorned, exposed, I mean, I don't even know what word to use. But we're persona non grata in the gay community in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santos/we-ve-been-scorned-exposed-i-mean-i-don-t-even-know-what-word-to-use/) [George Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santos/) ## More by John Derbyshire > [Wherever there is a jackboot stomping on a human face there will be a well-heeled Western liberal to explain that the face does, after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/wherever-there-is-a-jackboot-stomping-on-a-human-face-there-will-be-a/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [Conservatism is pessimistic, with a negative tendency - which we mostly resist - towards despair. Liberals are optimists, with a negative tendency, rarely resisted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/conservatism-is-pessimistic-with-a-negative-tendency-which-we-mostly/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [Nonmathematical people sometimes ask me, “You know math, huh? Tell me something I’ve always wondered, What is infinity divided by infinity?” I can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/nonmathematical-people-sometimes-ask-me-you-know-math-huh-tell-me/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [I tell you, with complex numbers you can do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/i-tell-you-with-complex-numbers-you-can-do-anything/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [“The arts and humanities are not mere entertainment, to be turned to for relaxation after a busy day spent solving differential equations; they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/the-arts-and-humanities-are-not-mere-entertainment-to-be-turned-to/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [Biophobia is as much a part of a politician's basic equipment as a sharp suit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/biophobia-is-as-much-a-part-of-a-politician-s-basic-equipment-as-a/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [In matters editorial, I am a believer in totalitarian despotism. Most writers are lazy, difficult, selfish, thoughtless, and unreliable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/in-matters-editorial-i-am-a-believer-in-totalitarian-despotism-most/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [I never ponder counterfactuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/i-never-ponder-counterfactuals/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [“Ninety percent of paid work is time-wasting crap. The world gets by on the other ten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/ninety-percent-of-paid-work-is-time-wasting-crap-the-world-gets-by-on/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [The job of conservatives is to keep the Republican Party driving on the right-hand side of the road. There are many ways we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/the-job-of-conservatives-is-to-keep-the-republican-party-driving-on/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [Education is a vast sea of lies, waste, corruption, crackpot theorizing, and careerist log-rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/education-is-a-vast-sea-of-lies-waste-corruption-crackpot-theorizing/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [“A very civilized thing, glass—almost an index of civilization. When civilization retreats, it leaves behind broken glass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/a-very-civilized-thing-glass-almost-an-index-of-civilization-when/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [“As a result of these news stories, millions of people must have become aware of "niggardly," who otherwise would never have heard it, let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/as-a-result-of-these-news-stories-millions-of-people-must-have-become/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [ He \[Mencken\] was an autodidact, with all the misplaced confidence and all the astonishing gaps that characterize that breed. Not many of us would… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/he-mencken-was-an-autodidact-with-all-the-misplaced-confidence-and/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [“Our political system is now run by the Big People for their own interests. If they ever deign to notice the Little People, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/our-political-system-is-now-run-by-the-big-people-for-their-own/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) [Explore all 31 John Derbyshire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) ## More Homophobes quotes > [I’m pissed off at my Republican family back in North Carolina, several of whom came to my wedding, but who went right back and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armistead-maupin/i-m-pissed-off-at-my-republican-family-back-in-north-carolina-several/) [Armistead Maupin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armistead-maupin/) > [Homosexuals are not interested in making other people homosexuals. Homophobes are interested in making other people homophobes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/homosexuals-are-not-interested-in-making-other-people-homosexuals/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [I'm not gay, although I wish I were, just to piss off the homophobes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/i-m-not-gay-although-i-wish-i-were-just-to-piss-off-the-homophobes/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [It's stupid how people are against gay marriage and they're major homophobes. If anything you're the 'Ew' and the 'abomination.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-stupid-how-people-are-against-gay-marriage-and-they-re-major/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I couldn't join a party that, frankly, tolerates members who are bigots for one thing, homophobes, racists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-reagan/i-couldn-t-join-a-party-that-frankly-tolerates-members-who-are-bigots/) [Ron Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-reagan/) > [Don't hide behind the Constitution or the Bible. If you're against gay marriage, just be honest, put a scarlet 'H' on your shirt, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/don-t-hide-behind-the-constitution-or-the-bible-if-you-re-against-gay/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [If you're a sexist, racist, homophobe, or basically an arsehole, don't buy this CD. I don't care if you like me, I hate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/if-you-re-a-sexist-racist-homophobe-or-basically-an-arsehole-don-t/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [If liberals were prevented from ever again calling Republicans dumb, they would be robbed of half their arguments. To be sure, they would still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/if-liberals-were-prevented-from-ever-again-calling-republicans-dumb/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [I am not gay, although I wish I were, just to pissed off homophobes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/i-am-not-gay-although-i-wish-i-were-just-to-pissed-off-homophobes/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [Your working assumption, when you meet a homophobe, should be that they are gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-hari/your-working-assumption-when-you-meet-a-homophobe-should-be-that-they/) [Johann Hari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-hari/) > [“Privilege is when you contribute to the oppression of others and then claim that you are the one being discriminated against.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dashanne-stokes/privilege-is-when-you-contribute-to-the-oppression-of-others-and-then/) [DaShanne Stokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dashanne-stokes/) > [I would like to get rid of the homophobes, sexists, and racists in our audience. I know they're out there and it really bothers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/i-would-like-to-get-rid-of-the-homophobes-sexists-and-racists-in-our/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [Well, from 1969 to 1984, until he died of AIDS, a teacher and I were very good friends. He even attended celebrations at my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezola-b-foster/well-from-1969-to-1984-until-he-died-of-aids-a-teacher-and-i-were/) [Ezola B. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezola-b-foster/) > [The last thing in the world someone should do is respond to critics. If I did that I'd be neutered by now--I would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-last-thing-in-the-world-someone-should-do-is-respond-to-critics/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The Bible is still the only dirty book I've ever read, at least in its current incarnation as a weapon of the homophobes. Bible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-monette/the-bible-is-still-the-only-dirty-book-i-ve-ever-read-at-least-in-its/) [Paul Monette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-monette/) [Browse all 30 Homophobes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homophobes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am a homophobe, though a mild and tolerant one, and a racist, though an even more mild and tolerant one, and those things are going to be illegal pretty soon, the way we are going.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Derbyshire" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/i-am-a-homophobe-though-a-mild-and-tolerant-one-and-a-racist-though/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Homophobes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/i-am-a-homophobe-though-a-mild-and-tolerant-one-and-a-racist-though/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/john-derbyshire-20276_homophobes_i-am-a-homophobe-though-a-mild-and-toler_2281189.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/john-derbyshire-20276_homophobes_i-am-a-homophobe-though-a-mild-and-toler_2281189.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b6/john-derbyshire-20276_homophobes_i-am-a-homophobe-though-a-mild-and-toler_2281189.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I am a homophobe, though a mild and tolerant one, and a racist, though an even more mild and tolerant one…” — John Derbyshire", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Derbyshire", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I am a homophobe, though a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/i-am-a-homophobe-though-a-mild-and-tolerant-one-and-a-racist-though/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/i-am-a-homophobe-though-a-mild-and-tolerant-one-and-a-racist-though/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```