Why is it that people who are labeled as being homophobic are derided and abused when any other phobia elicits understanding and support?

If the person is genuinely homophobic, they have no control over their response, any more than a claustrophobic or agoraphobic person. A phobia is an extreme irrational fear or aversion to something. If the fear is irrational, then it is beyond the person’s control – why attack them?

Is it simply that it is used as a derogatory term for those who do not support gay rights, and no one really considers homophobics to exist, or is it discrimination against a person suffering from a phobia.

I am not in any way biased against gay people by the way, I have some close longtime gay friends – just curious about what I regard as an anomaly.