What is Homophilia?
1.
Etymologically, 'homophile' is derived from two Greek words - 'homo', meaning 'the same', and 'philos', meaning 'friend', or possibly 'philein', meaning 'to love', or 'to be dear to'. Greek uses 'eros' to signify 'sexual love', so philein should be taken to signify non-sexual love between friends or members of the same family, e.g. brothers.
In 'homophilia', 'homo' could signify a shortened form of 'homosexual'.
Thus homophilia could have two meanings-
1) supportive, brotherly friendship towards gays and lesbians, or
2) non-sexual love between two men or two women.
Broadly, it means an open, non-judgemental acceptance towards gays and lesbians, or, alternatively, towards the expression of non-sexual warmth and intimacy between people of the same sex. It is the opposite of 'homophobia' - the fear or hatred of all things gay.
'...homophilia is a central aspect of modern gayness, in relationships between men whether sexually expressed or not'.
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2.
Avocation of homosexuality, in any form.
Most liberal democrats support homophilia.
Most liberal democrats while supporting homophilia are also homophobic.
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3.
Acceptance of homosexuals that is put on for fear of seeming homophobic.
You're not really friends with Kyle. He's just a handbag for your homophilia.
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4.
As opposed to homophobia (fear or dislike of homosexuals), homophilia is the sexual attraction towards homosexual people. This is not to be confused with simply "homosexual", homophilia refers fixation on homosexual people of either gender.
Homophilia is much rarer than homosexuality.
