The mainstream church, however, is largely content to allow Anglicans to form their own judgement on these issues. It is only homosexuality that today still creates the huge stumbling-block, and then only in some parts of the church. Despite the assertions made by David Marr, antagonism to homosexuality is by no means unique to Christian cultures. The reason must be looked for in something deep and universal in the human psyche. The antagonism is so strong and so irrational that fear seems to be the obvious answer.
Sexual pleasure is a powerful force.
That there is a personal aspect to homophobia is only too obvious. Homophobia is most marked among men, and many of those same men are not concerned in the slightest about female homosexuality. Many would be quite happy to look at erotic material featuring female homosexual acts, or do not feel anything like the same revulsion about them. This shows quite clearly that it is not a matter of principle or theology. It is a fear and hatred of men, by men.