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Homophobia refers to the unreasoning fear or hatred of homosexuals and to antihomosexual beliefs and prejudices. While not a phobia in the literal sense, it is a useful term of social description for everyday emotional tension about sexual identity that is widespread among heterosexuals. While not everyone who is homophobic engages in discriminatory behaviour towards gay men and lesbians they are more likely to contribute to a general attitude of intolerance. Thus derogatory and insulting remarks about gay men and lesbians by, for example, prominent radio personalities reinforce intolerance and appear to sanction discriminatory behaviour.