[MrGaryy]

Well it's a number of many, many things really. I think in young teens it really just is a fear of going against the grain, I doubt half the 13 year olds labelling people as queer or fags, if you genuinely broke down their personality meant it in an offensive way but they know that if they speak in a way similar to others it will make them more acceptable. Not to excuse that sort of thing or anything, just my personal explanation.

In turn, this young upbringing - from their peers not their parents - gives them the mindset that gay is bad and straight is fine. Most people mean more to it than that, most people who use homophobic slurs aren't actually homophobic, merely ignorant.

and frankly I think people who are genuinely homophobic have WAY too much time on their hands if they feel so strongly about how people, who apparently disgust them, lives their lives.