Knowledge vs ignorance

The latest round of gay hate indicated in some of my recent posts, led me to wonder why exactly is the level of hatred so intense? I mean none of those people know me at all, and probably wouldn't even read a blog by a gay person in case they somehow got influenced by it. They know nothing about my life. Who I love and have loved. That I have a 22 year old daughter. That I'm as much of a human being as they are. Yet they see fit to condemn me without knowing the slightest thing about me, except the gay thing. They're willing to make a value judgement about my whole life simply based on my sexuality.

This appears to be largely based on ignorance. If they did  know me, if they did  read the blog for example, would they still be so condemning? Studies say they wouldn't. Here's some characteristics listed of those who so object to gay people, from Gregory Herek:

In general, however, some consistent patterns have been observed across different samples. When compared to those with more favorable attitudes toward lesbians and gay men, these studies have found that persons with negative attitudes:

1. are less likely to have had personal contact with lesbians or gay;
2. are less likely to report having engaged in homosexual behaviors, or to identify themselves as lesbian or gay;
3. are more likely to perceive their peers as manifesting negative attitudes, especially if the respondents are males;
4. are more likely to have resided in areas where negative attitudes are the norm (e.g., the midwestern and southern United States, the Canadian prairies, and in rural areas or small towns), especially during adolescence;
5. are likely to be older and less well educated;
6. are more likely to be religious, to attend church frequently, and to subscribe to a conservative religious ideology;
7. are more likely to express traditional, restrictive attitudes about sex roles;
8. are less permissive sexually or manifest more guilt or negativity about sexuality, although some researchers have not observed this pattern and others have reported a substantially reduced correlation with the effects of sex-role attitudes partialled out; 

9. are more likely to manifest high levels of authoritarianism and related personality characteristics.more

And it goes further, stating that ignorance is an important source of hostility towards gays.

Interactions have consequences for both beliefs and affects associated with lesbians and gay men. Because they provide information, face-to face interactions tend to refute stereotypes and reduce ignorance, which Marmor (1980) identified as the most important sources of hostility toward homosexual persons. At the same time, interpersonal encounters have an emotional impact that individuals can generalize to all lesbians and gay men. Thus, heterosexuals who know lesbians and gay men are better able than others to recognize stereotypes as inaccurate, and are more likely to express tolerant attitudes as well. more

Ibram Rogers is even more direct. 

I am always amazed by the use of notions of hate to explain historic and existing manifestations of racism and sexual discrimination. And I am even more amazed when the reason given for why people hate is ignorance. Slavery occurred, segregation happened, mass incarceration is in effect, opposition to gay marriage persists, efforts to maintain a hetero-normative United States continues due to hate. Only ignorant Whites hate Blacks. Only ignorant heterosexuals hate gays. more

If the ignorant would just get to know us, surely they'd see just how human we are, and just what it's like to be on the receiving end of their ignorant hate. Sadly, many times the ignorant are too busy hating us to be bothered knowing us.