Prejudice and discrimination against gay people are inefficient because they require time, money and psychological energy which could be better spent on meeting one’s own needs. Once expended, these resources are lost forever.
Because of the way nature has designed human beings, we all have the ability to live side by side without conflict so long as we respect the needs and right of self-determination of others. Each person must determine for themselves and no one else how they are going to meet their own needs. This means that people with diametrically opposed values, attitudes and worldviews can have a harmonious existence.
If religious people want to call homosexuality a sin, they must do so without judging anyone but themselves and without ostracizing those who disagree with them. If they want to promote the value of heterosexual marriage, they can do so without denigrating gay people.
Similarly, if gay activists want to banish homophobia, they can make their arguments without coercing others to accept these views.
Making it harder for gay people to get their needs met is not a need for anyone. Acting out of fear is not a need as defined by Abraham Maslow’s Theory of the Hierarchy of Needs.
Denying gay persons a sense of belonging or preventing them from achieving safety and security of housing and employment, for example, robs the actor of valuable resources for promoting their own needs.
This is true whether the actor is an individual or organization.
How much do religious organizations and political parties spend on antigay attitudes and protecting and defending discriminatory conduct and laws? Millions of dollars? Tens of millions of dollars? Hundreds of millions of dollars?
Religious organizations could better use this money to try to stimulate the economies of poor countries around the world, a direct response to Jesus’ message to love your neighbor as yourself. Similarly, conservative political organizations could promote their positive values without hurting gay people.
It should be noted that scapegoating is a form of discrimination and prejudice used to enhance political power. This technique can only be used by people who are incapable of empathy towards gay people. If we want to fully evolve as a species, we must learn to respect the needs of everyone in the world. In this regard, any form of prejudice and discrimination should always be considered a red flag.