Meaning of gay panic | Babel Free

Definitions

1. An emotional reaction characterized by intense discomfort, fear, or anxiety upon encountering or discovering that someone is gay.
   uncommon, uncountable
2. A feeling of anxiety brought about when one realizes they are attracted to someone of the same gender.
   uncountable

Examples

“I feel like hip-hop / Used to be a voice for the voiceless, you know? / And now it's become, at least in the mainstream, a symbol of / misogyny, gay panic, fiscal irresponsibility, you know? / So I figure / if you can't beat 'em / join 'em”

“In perhaps the most on-the-nose depiction of its tendency toward gay panic for cheap laughs, Joey and Ross freak out in the seventh season of Friends after they accidentally fall asleep together on the couch.[…]””

“Thirty seconds into the TV show, the main character’s phone wallpaper reading "gay panic" may well epitomise not only his own feelings but also those of Heartstopper‘s fans.[…]””

“Gay panic can lead to feelings of isolation, shame, and depression, and can be a major barrier to coming out.[…]””

CEFR level