George Weinberg

“Homophobia is the dread of being in close quarters with homosexuals.”

“I coined the word homophobia to mean it was a phobia about homosexuals. It was a fear of homosexuals which seemed to be associated with a fear of contagion, a fear of reducing the things one fought for — home and family. It was a religious fear.”

“The word ‘phobia’ implies an irrational fear. This was a great weapon, because it told people, ‘This is your problem.’”

“A phobia about homosexuality is a prejudice, and prejudice is a form of illness.”

“Commitment is the cornerstone of all relationships.”

“You cannot live a moral life without confronting your own prejudices.”

“I would never consider a patient healthy unless he had overcome his prejudice against homosexuality.”

“Never to be squandered... is the opportunity to do good.”