Homophobia in Sailing?

I have overheard people on yachts talking in a very derogatory way about someone who was gay, or assumed gay.  It's probably the only time I've knowingly witnessed homophobia.  I don't think this had anything to do with sailing per say, and it was in the late 90's being voiced by blokes now in their late 60's- some would have softened their views.  Society is more liberal in general.  Although I found it oddly ironic at the time- given that most of the knuckleheads where I had been to school a few years earlier assumed I must be 'a bender' for even taking part in a 'gay sport' like sailing.