'The Bachelor' -- Juan Pablo's No Homophobe ... Says Jilted Contestant

"The Bachelor" star Juan Pablo Galavis is not a hateful, homophobic butcher of the English language ... he's a sensitive, caring man who just can't express himself very well ... says a woman who just got booted off the show.

Chantel Forrest -- a black account manager -- tells TMZ she got to know Galavis well during her time on the show and says he would NEVER offend anyone because they're gay or a different color.

Galavis -- who's Venezuelan but born in the US of A -- told an interviewer gay people are more "pervert" than others ... then asserted the ol' language barrier defense.

Chantel says Galavis shouldn't be bashed for bad grammar.

"I was not offended by his comments at all," she tells TMZ. "They wouldn't have changed my opinion of him. I wouldn't change anything."