LGBTQ Celebrities Who Have Been Homophobic

Homophobic celebrities who are gay is an oxymoron you probably didn't think was possible. But self-loathing and inflated egos can cause famous LGBTQ people to act out in some surprising ways. Anti-LGBTQ statements and controversial opinions on progressive gay legislature from celebrities can lead to major backlash against those who are willing to promote their unpopular thoughts.

But when those same anti-gay sentiments are vocalized by fellow members of the LGBTQ community, the media gets thrown for a loop. Major power players like Caitlyn Jenner and Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have come out with some very outlandish thoughts on gay marriage and adoption, yet all three identify as members of the queer community.

Whether it's for attention or a misguided attitude, these celebrities intentionally or unintentionally hurt people who identify as LGBTQ with their attacks. Maybe labeling these famous queer figures as "homophobic" sounds harsh. But they have definitely exhibited some appallingly homophobic behavior. These LGBTQ celebrities and actors who have acted out in homophobic ways definitely didn't get away with their actions. In fact, they got a mouthful instead.

Caitlyn Jenner's coming out as transgender has polarized not just conservatives, but the LGBTQ community as well. Jenner, who identifies as a trans woman, has staunchly defended her right-wing politics, even in the wake of her transition. One such belief involves Jenner's "traditional" stance on marriage. In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Jenner admitted that she isn't quite in favor of gay marriage. "I'm a traditionalist. I'm older than most people in the audience. I kind of like tradition, and it's always been a man and a woman. I'm thinking, 'I don't quite get it,'" she said.

After criticism and outcry from audiences and media outlets, Jenner reformed her position on the issue. "Like many people, there was a time when I didn't realize how important it is for gay couples to have the right to get married. But after hearing from my gay friends and learning more about the hardships they faced because of discrimination, it became clear to me that everyone should be able to marry the person they love," she wrote in a blog post. Despite her best efforts, many remain hesitant to embrace Jenner, especially when considering her strong support of Donald Trump in the upcoming election and her other hard-right views.

Calling Perez Hilton homophobic may be "misguided," but the Hollywood gossip has had his fair share of inappropriate soundbites thrown around. Hilton has been in trouble with the gay community before, and many believe he gives LGBTQ people a bad name. In 2009, he came under fire after he shouted homophobic slurs at the Black Eyed Peas' Will.I.Am during a confrontation between the two at a nightclub. After GLAAD demanded an apology from Hilton, the online mogul owned up to the incident, albeit in a half-assed way.

"My intention - however misguided it may have been - was to stand up for myself and tell this belligerent man that I had enough of his badgering and was not going to continue to let him berate and intimidate me," he started. “Clearly, I am not homophobic. Also, I am not nor have I ever claimed to be a spokesperson for the gay community. I am just speaking for myself, a gay man. One who is labeled ’flamboyant’ in the media. An American that is not granted equal rights under the law," he added. Hilton, who isn't exactly known for his sympathy, stepped up to apologize. But he still asserted that he is the true victim and that the GLAAD organization ought to apologize to him as well.

Tila Tequila seems to be all but losing it these days on social media. The former MySpace model and suitor of the bisexual dating series A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila has gone on numerous Twitter tirades. Aside from being an icon to neo-Nazis, Tequila has been running her mouth with an array of offensive and homophobic slurs online. She claimed that all trans people have a "mental illness," and spouted some seriously misguided opinions about which bathroom transgender people should use.

Tequila, who identifies as bisexual, didn't hold back when it came to bashing fellow members of the gay community. Whether the star is mentally ill or just seeking attention, the hate she's spewing isn't producing any productive or peaceful conversations.

Milo Yiannopoulos, and openly gay journalist and technology editor for the conservative news publication Breitbart, is full of contradictions. The controversial columnist has consistently insisted that he wishes he could cure his homosexuality. During an interview, Joe Rogan probed Yiannopoulos on the holes of his argument.

"Evolutionarily speaking, I’m an outlier… gay people generally test higher for IQ than the rest of the population, and evolutionary biology suggests that people with high IQs tend to engage in dissident or unusual habits and practices in general," he said. “People with a very high IQ are more likely to be homosexual…I would say I’m not typical of the bulk of the species.”  

He went on to assert that if he had the choice, he would choose to be heterosexual. He cited his belief in the Bible and denouncement of any culture which subverts that text as his reasoning. Yiannopoulos has long been in opposition to the gay community, many members of which view him as traitorous and damaging.
 

Azealia Banks always seems to be chock-full of controversy. Banks may be a rapper, but the public has quickly grown tired of her spitting out bigoted and racist sh*t you couldn't even shake out of the KKK or the Westboro Baptist Church. Ironically enough, Banks identifies as bisexual. Yet, one of her favorite words is a particular homophobic slur aimed at gay men. She even tried to explain the rationale behind her repeated usage of the word.

"The word 'f*ggot' came to me from my mother. And it was never a thing about a guy being gay. It was always just a man who hates women. You can be gay or straight. You can be a straight f*ggot… F*ggots are men who want to bring women down, f*ck with their heads, control them," she tried to justify. The rapper went on to add that she thinks "a lot of times gay men can be way more misogynistic than even straight men. You called me a bitch, I'll call you a f*ggot. What's the difference?" she said. Banks's overuse of the slur has gotten her banned from social media sites like Twitter, after she harassed several users, including Zayn Malik of One Direction.

Domenico Dolce, better known as one-half of Dolce & Gabbana, shocked Vanity Fair readers when he and his former partner, Stefano Gabbana, came out against "non-traditional families." Both Dolce and Gabbana are openly gay men, and two of the richest people in Italy. Dolce stated that there is a major divide between children who are "born to a mother and a father" in "an act of love" and gay couples' children who are “children of chemistry, synthetic children. [Products of] uteri [for] rent, semen chosen from a catalog.” 

Many found Dolce's comments on gay families jarring considering the debate around gay rights in Italy and his influence among popular opinion. Others also agreed his harsh statements put down gay couples who want nothing more than to raise families of their own.

Don't be surprised to learn that Stefano Gabbana didn't jump in to stop the outlandish comments made by his former partner, Domenico Dolce. In fact, the fashion mogul firmly defended Dolce's stance and even added to the offense. "Family isn’t a fleeting trend, in it there’s a sense of belonging," he added. The two later said that “life has a natural trajectory, there are things that should not be altered.”

Former fans, media outlets, and even major celebrities quickly came out against Dolce and Gabbana's statements. Elton John spoke out in opposition of the two, calling for a boycott on all Dolce & Gabbana products. The hashtag #BoycottDolceGabbana quickly started trending, proving the two's thoughts weren't exactly aligned with the gay community and incredibly outdated.