In the 60s and 70s, most homosexual men accused every straight person, male or female, of harboring homosexual tendencies. This was very boring if you had gay friends,btw. So, since they believed you were surpressing your gay inner self, you were ipso facto! a homophobe. That’s how I remember it, anyway.
self loathing often precipitates Projection.
they were NOT that comfortable about their own lives...and thus projected their dimly perceived issues..on everyone they came into contact with! or so it would seem to me.