Do you really think that Phil Robertson is afraid of homosexuals?
Atheist hate it when Christians refer to them as "God Haters" because "We can't hate something that doesn't exist" they say. So stating that an atheist is a God hater just because they identify themselves as an atheist is like referring to someone as a "homophobe" because they believe that homosexuality is a sin and as a result creates a separation between them and God.
Christians want people to draw nearer to God and that often means identifying obstacles to that process. If warning people that they are engaging in a lifestyle that is destructive and harmful to themselves and those around them (be it someone who is a thief, liar, drunkard, glutton, homosexual, adulterer, etc...) is likened as being fearful is ridiculous.
People don't want to be told that what they are doing is wrong or that they shouldn't engage in certain activities. People want to do whatever they want without judgement regardless of what they are doing.
