Morgan BellHow Homophobia Hurts Us All
April 9th 2008 10:07
This is one of my favourite queer fact sheets that really opens your eyes to the broader impacts of homophobia on community and culture . . . while homophobia continues to linger in our lives, on our streets and in our homes it hurts EVERYONE . . . stamp out homophobia where you see it . . .
You do not have to be gay, lesbian or bisexual, or know someone who is, to be negatively affected by homophobia. Though homophobia actively oppresses gay men, lesbians and bisexuals, it also hurts heterosexuals.
Homophobia inhibits the ability of heterosexuals to form close, intimate relationships with members of their own sex, for fear of being perceived as gay, lesbian or bisexual.
Homophobia locks people into rigid gender based roles that inhibit creativity and self expression.
Homophobia is often used to stigmatise heterosexuals; stereotyping them and labelling them as children, parents or friends of gay men, lesbians and bisexuals.
Homophobia compromises human integrity by pressuring people to treat others badly, actions that are contrary to their basic humanity
Homophobia results in the invisibility or erasure of gay, lesbian and bisexual lives and sexuality in school-based sex education discussions, keeping vital information from students. Such erasures can kill people in the age of AIDS.
Homophobia is one cause of premature sexual involvement, which increases the chances of teen pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Young people, of all sexual identities, are often pressured to become heterosexually active to prove to themselves and others that they are "normal"
Homophobia prevents some gay, lesbian and bisexual people from developing an authentic self identity and adds to the pressure to marry, which in turn places undue stress and often times trauma on themselves as well as their heterosexual spouses and their children.
Homophobia inhibits appreciation of other types of diversity, making it unsafe for everyone because each person has unique traits not considered mainstream or dominant. We are all diminished when any one of us is demeaned for being different.
By challenging homophobia people are not only fighting oppression for specific groups of people but are also striving for a society that accepts and celebrates the differences in all of us.
Warren J Blumenfeld, Homophobia: How We All Pay The Price (Beacon Press, 1992)
You do not have to be gay, lesbian or bisexual, or know someone who is, to be negatively affected by homophobia. Though homophobia actively oppresses gay men, lesbians and bisexuals, it also hurts heterosexuals.
Homophobia inhibits the ability of heterosexuals to form close, intimate relationships with members of their own sex, for fear of being perceived as gay, lesbian or bisexual.
Homophobia locks people into rigid gender based roles that inhibit creativity and self expression.
Homophobia is often used to stigmatise heterosexuals; stereotyping them and labelling them as children, parents or friends of gay men, lesbians and bisexuals.
Homophobia compromises human integrity by pressuring people to treat others badly, actions that are contrary to their basic humanity
Homophobia results in the invisibility or erasure of gay, lesbian and bisexual lives and sexuality in school-based sex education discussions, keeping vital information from students. Such erasures can kill people in the age of AIDS.
Homophobia is one cause of premature sexual involvement, which increases the chances of teen pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Young people, of all sexual identities, are often pressured to become heterosexually active to prove to themselves and others that they are "normal"
Homophobia prevents some gay, lesbian and bisexual people from developing an authentic self identity and adds to the pressure to marry, which in turn places undue stress and often times trauma on themselves as well as their heterosexual spouses and their children.
Homophobia inhibits appreciation of other types of diversity, making it unsafe for everyone because each person has unique traits not considered mainstream or dominant. We are all diminished when any one of us is demeaned for being different.
By challenging homophobia people are not only fighting oppression for specific groups of people but are also striving for a society that accepts and celebrates the differences in all of us.
Warren J Blumenfeld, Homophobia: How We All Pay The Price (Beacon Press, 1992)
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Comment by Mountain Fog
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QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
cheers
fog
Comment by Morgan Bell
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oh yes you are definately right there, hate crimes against queer people still continue to this day unfortunately and gay youth suicide is still high
thanks for the comment
Comment by postmoderncritic
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Thanks for posting this, Morgan!
Comment by Cibbuano
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At least, if you're coloured, you can see other people that are coloured, which means you can band together.
Homosexuality isn't visibly apparent, except in intentional fashion, I suppose, so homosexuals can feel isolated. In countries where there are no same-sex rights, everyone's in the closet, hiding from normal society.
An interesting study that caused a bit of controversy: they measure the arousal of a sample of men (actually measuring blood flow to the penis) while showing them gay porn. The men that expressed the most homophobic views were the most aroused...
Comment by Natalie 2
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I am not at all surprised by the study you sited, Cibbuano. The louder someone screams against something, and the more threatened they feel by it, the more likely they are trying to cover something up in their own soul.
Comment by Cibbuano
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Adams et. al., Journal of Abnormal Psych., vol. 105, no. 3, 1996.
If you're at an institution with subscriptions, here's the link to the abstract and paper.
Comment by Joanne Fedler
Wonderful post.
So glad you said it Cib. The louder they shout, the more they protest. Personally I think there's nothing sexier than two women getting it off together - as well as two men, come to think of it ANY two people getting it off together seems to work for me...
Jo
Comment by postmoderncritic
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Joanne - I hear you! I can be turned on by two women, two men and a woman and a man - I think everyone can be sexy.
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Comment by Morgan Bell
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thanks so much for the overwhelming positive response!
this was a fact sheet one of my housemates was distributing for the Queer Collective at The University of Newcastle and ACON but im sure it does the rounds of most queer education group . . . i remember when i read it was when it first really clicked to me that homophobia isnt just a "gay" issue, it effects every facet of our community culture and how we relate to each other as people
it is homophobia that prevents girls from studying engineering and construction at school for fear of being labelled a lesbian . . . similarly in the workforce it is homophobia which deters women from being in masculine roles or positions of authority for fear of being labelled a lesbian . . . its a stigma that leads to conformity and unhappiness
epiphanie aka postmoderncritic,
that is so true about race and gender, it a society where it is ok to marginalise one group of people it gives the message that it is ok to be intolerant of other minorities . . . thanks for clarifying the links to the study
cibbuano,
you make some excellent points about homophobia and racism, there are so many parallels, gay people can be much more isolated due to a lack of visibility, and sadly sometimes their decision to stay closeted is the only way to avoid abuse . . . people of different races dont have the option to hide which could be a pro or a con depending on how dangerous the abuse is compared to the minimising of their self-esteem . . . the decision not to acknowlede your heritage, culture, or identity is surely a soul detroying one for anybody . . . thanks for the information about that fascinating study, ill be sure to have a look
natalie,
thanks for telling us about the situation in the midwest, hopefully things are (slowly) improving . . . it will be a much better world for everyone
joanne,
yeah sometimes the hateful posts on Orble with their bogus statistics and facts get me down . . . i think alot of people who attack minorities are just really scared of what they dont understand . . . people that spout generalisations about gays, or jews, or muslims, or africans, or asians, or indigenous people, or homeless people, or poor people, or young people, etc probably havent taken the time to actually know and be friendly with people from those communities in real life . . . i cant really explain misogyny, surely everyone has met a woman haha
feel free to leave links on here to any other studies or articles, im interested in them all
cheers
morgan
Comment by Louie
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In my opinion these are the worst victims of Homophobia, they have learnt to hate themselves so much they twist their fear of being gay and hatred of themselves into hatred of gay people, it is very sad that society has suppressed them so much they have to be that way.
I think the one of the biggest battles, if not the biggest, gay people have to face is acceptance of themselves, if there were no homophobia they wouldn't have to worry. It will never be a perfect world but posts like this sure help to make it better. Thanks.
Comment by postmoderncritic
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I decided to write a post about the study Cibby brought up - click HERE to read.
Comment by Cibbuano
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The real tragedy is that we can't reach those people. I think we've seen a lot of public cases like this, with Ted Haggard and Larry (?) Craig getting outed for homosexual behaviour, despite their nauseating homophobic rhetoric.
Whenever I watch the Sydney Mardia Gras, I always feel a little proud that our society, at least in some places, has opened its arms to the GLBT community. It's become so commonplace that I routinely overhear people dismiss it as being boring.
My last point is directed towards Joanne. I, too, think that there's nothing sexier than two women getting it on, but, unfortunately, men like me have corrupted the idea of lesbianism to become a straight man's porno fantasy, with Girls Gone Wild and mainstream adult movies catering to the popularity of passionless, artificial lesbianism.
I think this hilarious craigslist posting makes the best point!
Comment by Morgan Bell
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hi louie
you make a very good point, internal homophobia is as sad as it is common
Comment by the world of gaye
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Comment by Anonymous
Just wondering, is this an example of homphobic comment/ridicule?
littlegreenfoosballs
Comment by Morgan Bell
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thanks for stopping by and sharing your views, homosexuality is definately not anything to be feared, it is hard to believe it is still a crime in some places
Comment by the world of gaye
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Why on earth would you think my comments are ridicule? I thought what I was saying was pretty clear. People need to stop worrying about other people's private lives. While some worry about guys holding hands or women being in love with other women, there are children being molested, women being raped and bashed and somebodies child right at this moment will be murdered !! kind of puts things into perspective for me !!
Comment by Morgan Bell
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nothing you said was even slightly homophobic, it was all very respectful and insightful!
when people give links in my comments they dont appear a different colour, i think that "anonymous" was just randomly promoting their own blog by asking if the blog they provide a link for is homophobic (the bit that says "littlegreenfoosballs" is the link)
Comment by Anonymous
what a croc.
I can just see the headlines in ten years....
How Pedophile-phobia hurts us all....
LOL
Its not as far fetched as you think.
Some politician in the Netherlands will pass a bill...or Germany....
'Oh no, you cant say that!! You are so living in the 50s and in politically incorrect!!!' shock horror, the humanity!o
Comment by Cheryl J
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Morgan, thanks for once again posting an insightful and informative post. Unfortunately as the above comment shows, homophobia and the ridiculous notion that it in some way relates to paedophilia is still there. Truly sad.
Comment by Morgan Bell
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strange how anonymous comments are usually the most cowardly and stupid . . . most of the time politically correct is just plain correct, and personally i find people that dont embrace diversity boring and predictable, scared of being part of a progressive and accepting society . . . pedophilia and rape are sex crimes not sexual orientations . . . it amazes me that so many people are still so ignorant