Understanding my boyfriend being homophobic

I just need to let this out...
When my boyfriend was a little boy, he got raped by a guy. It had a big impact on his life, mostly because he didn't get the closure he wanted with the case which sucks. Because of that, my boyfriend has turned out to be a...

homophobic person. Ugh, I hate it... it drives me crazy. I try my best to understand, I just cant. Just tonight he was like..
"I found my friend from gr.1 on the internet, but I found out hes literally gay so I'm not talking to him again"
I just cant stand it, its driving me up the wall. I think he should accept everyone and its so hard for him. I get really down when he puts people down like that.

Is there something I could do to get over this or to maybe help him?
My friend suggested I trick him into hanging out with me and a gay friend and then tell him afterwards and maybe he will understand gay guys are just like normal people. Theres no way I could do that to my boyfriend! I'm not like that...

Once someone has an experience it was almost impossible to get over the fact because that memory continues to haunt you. He will most likely never get over the fact that he's homophobic and you actually shouldn't force the issue because he might become distant and depressed. If at all costs you should avoid the issue as much as possible even though it bothers you, just think how much it bothers him whenever you bring it up. My wife was molested by her grandfather and at all costs I forever try to keep her mind off the issue so she doesn't think about it and get depressed and distant.

You should support him not try to make him change for you.

He needs to get into counseling.

The homophobic issue aside, he was RAPED. it's a traumatic event for anyone and can have some serious effects on your life and how you think about things.
Our brains store information - lets say it's like folders on a computer. When we experience something it's stored in there. Then when we experience something similar the brain will access that earlier memory. So thinking about gays may take him back to that traumatic moment. I'm sure he also felt ashamed and embarrassed like many sexual violence survivors do. (the negative connotations that our society give homosexuals probably had a part in it too.)

That's why counseling is so important. A person has to heal AND teach themselves how to control unwanted thoughts.

It will rear it's ugly head and continue to be a problem if it's not dealt with. Never will our memories and experiences go away but we can learn how to deal with them.

xox
Sika