Safe Space

Homophobia

Homophobia is the irrational fear of people who love and have sexual desire with people of the same gender. This fear can cause irrational mistreatment against people who are, or are thought to be gay, lesbian, and bisexual.

How homophobia hurts us?

At the same time the victims of prejudice are oppressed, the perpetrators and other members of the dominant group are hurt in some way as well. Although the effects of oppression differ for specific target and agent groups, in the end everyone loses.

  • Homophobia locks all people into rigid gender roles that inhibit creativity and self-expression.
  • Homophobia compromises the integrity of heterosexual people by pressuring them to treat others badly, actions that go against our basic humanity.
  • Homophobia limits our ability to form close, intimate relationships with members of one’s own sex.
  • Homophobia generally limits communications with a significant portion of the population and, more specifically, limits family relationships.
  • Homophobia results in the elimination of any discussion of the lives and sexuality of LGBT people in the curriculum, keeping important information from all students.
  • Homophobia can be used to stigmatize, silence, and, on occasion, target people who are perceived or defined by others as lesbians or gay, but who are, in actuality, heterosexual.
  • Homophobia prevents heterosexuals from accepting the benefits and gifts offered by LGBT people: theoretical insights, social and spiritual visions, contributions in the arts and culture, to religion, to family life, indeed, to all parts of society.
  • Homophobia (along with racism, sexism, classism, etc.) inhibits a unified and effective governmental and societal response to AIDS.
  • Adapted from Warren J. Blumenfeld, ed.: Homophobia: How We All Pay the Price