Yup. According to a new study out of Australia, queers are the most hated minority in the Western world. The good news is that you're not paranoid. People really do hate you. In fact, throughout the Western world, heterosexuals would rather live next door to people from another race, immigrants, foreign workers, Muslims and even Jews than live next to you! Those of us who are members of two or more minorities, like a gay Ethiopian Jew or a Nigerian Muslim Lesbian are seriously screwed.



In addition to being voted No. 1, the other bit of good news is that we're more hated in nine other countries than in our own United States. In fact while only 22.9 percent of Americans would not want a fag living next door, a whopping 35.9 percent of the the Northern Irish would much rather borrow a cup of sugar from a darkie or a yid than a poof--in fact by a margin of almost 3.5 to 1! Now that's some world class homophobia! Other nationalities that beat out America in the homophobia sweepstakes? Italy, Ireland, Greece (no wonder Alexander left and Socrates killed himself), Austria, Portugal (I guess all their queers moved to Brazil), Australia and Great Britain (It's Sir Elton's bad hairpieces, I'd bet).

Best places to be queer? Well, no surprises there. Sweden came in at No. 1 followed by Denmark, Iceland (those folks are just glad to have company no matter who it is) and the Netherlands. (Following is a clip from Swedish Idol.)

And in case you were interested, the second most hated minority in the Western world? Duh. Muslims, of course--with one big exception. Some 500 years after Ferdinand and Isabella threw the Jews out of Spain, the Spanish are still Europe's top Jew-haters. In fact, the Spanish hate Jews almost 25% more than fags making Spain the only country in the Western world that put queers at No. 2. Damn Jews! If it weren't for the Jews, queers would be perfectly hated everywhere.