What is homophobia?
There is no single definition for the term ‘homophobia’, as it covers a wide range of different viewpoints and attitudes. Homophobia describes hostility or fear of gay people and homosexuality, but it is not limited to this specifically. For example someone might be called homophobic if they dislike gay people; or if someone is violent towards a gay person they could also be described as homophobic.
Attitudes to gay men and HIV
People can have a wide range of views about sexuality even if they have grown up exposed to the same ideas. While some people believe homosexuality is a valid lifestyle, others violently object. Some people believe that homosexuality is unnatural, others see it as a sin and have said that for gay men 'AIDS is a plague sent from God'.
At the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, gay men in many countries were frequently singled out for abuse as they were seen to be responsible for the spread of HIV. Sensational reporting in the press that became progressively anti-gay fuelled this theory. Some UK headlines read, “Alert over ‘gay plague’”,1 and “‘Gay plague’ may lead to blood ban on homosexuals”.2 One prominent gay activist was attacked outside a London subway by a gang of youths who suggested that he should be killed before he could spread this ‘gay plague’ to others. Groups in the USA monitoring homophobic violence reported an increase in incidents when public awareness about AIDS increased in the 1980s.3
Homophobia around the world
A 2007 report by UK gay rights organisation Stonewall found that gay people in the UK experience more extreme homophobia as young people than as adults. The research found that two thirds of young gay, lesbian and bisexual pupils had experienced direct bullying in Britain’s schools. 92% of young gay people had been subject to verbal abuse, and 41% has been physically assaulted.
A 2008 survey found that 66% of gay and lesbian people would expect to face barriers due to their sexuality if they wanted to run as an MP in the UK. One in five lesbian and gay people in the UK said they had experienced bullying in the workplace as a result of their sexual orientation.4
In 2005 a gay man was killed every two days in Latin America because of his sexuality. In Brazil, where the government launched a campaign against homophobia in 2004, 2,509 gay men were murdered between 1997 and 2007.5
A demonstration in Brussels, Belgium calling for laws against homosexuality to be repealed
In many African countries, such as Zimbabwe and Zambia, homophobia is legitimised by governments, and gay people face persecution and violence from police, employers, hospitals and community organisations. In South Africa, the law has been changed to improve rights for gay and lesbian people, however it remains to be seen whether social attitudes towards homosexuality have really improved in that country.6
In India, lesbians are stigmatised more severely than gay men, as there is huge social and family pressure for women to get married. India’s traditional family-oriented culture provides no space for open discussion of sexuality. Gay and lesbian people are subject to harassment and persecution from police and government agencies.7
In Iran in 2005, two men were executed for alleged homosexual activity.8 President Ahmadinejad demonstrated the Iranian government’s attitude towards homosexuality in a speech in the US in 2007, when he claimed that there were no homosexuals in Iran.9
What causes people to be prejudiced against gay and lesbian people?
There are many factors that can cause a person to be homophobic. Research has shown that prejudice against gay people and homosexuality can be influenced by the person:
- Having strong religious beliefs that disapprove of sex and/or homosexuality
- Having little/no social contact with lesbian and gay people
- Reporting no homosexual experiences or feelings
'When you're scared, especially of something you actually know nothing about, hatred is a natural reaction.' - Robert, 25
Prejudice among young people
Young people who do not act in line with their gender stereotype may be subjected to severe homophobic bullying. Boys are stereotyped as sporty and strong decision-makers, and girls are expected to be emotional and expressive. As a result, boys who show their feelings or who are too intimate with other boys are often called 'girls', 'faggots' or 'poofs'. Girls who are considered to be too boyish or who hold feminist views run the risk of being called 'dykes' or 'lesbians'.
“There was not a word, not a mention about being gay.”
- Tim -
The boundaries for boys’ gender roles are much more rigid than they are for girls. As a result boys have a limited number of ways acceptable to their peer group to express their emotions. This often means that emotional expression between boys may be seen by their peers as homosexual interest. Between girls, in contrast, close friendships that involve embracing, touching and sharing thoughts and feelings are more legitimate and are less likely to be seen by their peers as an indication of homosexuality.
Young people often use words associated with homosexuality as standard insults. This is one way that young people learn it is highly undesirable to be gay. This can silence young people who are experiencing gay feelings and stop them from coming out, and even encourage young gay men to pretend to be heterosexual and join in homophobic taunts to protect themselves.
Many gay and lesbian adults say that they began to identify themselves as 'different' in their secondary school years. In this period, the absence of support, understanding or information was sometimes a source of distress in itself and often magnified their anxieties.
'I was waiting and expecting to hear something about homosexuality, safe sex and different things in sex education. Maybe some information that could help me. But I got nothing.' - Tim
'There was not a word, not a mention about being gay.' - Luke
Types of homophobia faced by gay and lesbian people
Homophobia comes in many forms: malicious gossip, name-calling, intimidating looks, internet bullying, vandalism and theft of property, discrimination at work, isolation and rejection, death threats or even sexual assault.
Gay Pride celebrations around New York City in 2007
Gay and lesbian people may be subject to varying levels of homophobia depending on where they live, as negative attitudes towards homosexuality can be common even in places where it is legal. For example, areas with a strong religious tradition, such as the Southern states of America, are much less tolerant of homosexuality than areas where there is a strong and established gay scene, for example San Francisco in California.
A homophobic climate forces gay and lesbian people to decide whether to declare their sexual orientation, and face the possible discrimination from their family and society, or conceal their sexuality, allowing others to presume their heterosexuality.10 Having a concealed identity can cause great anxiety for young gay and lesbian people, and the dilemma of whether to ‘come out’ can cause severe personal distress. Equally, for young people who have been brought up to believe that homosexuality is wrong, the realisation that they might be gay can cause them to feel immoral, and lead to feelings of low self-esteem.
Homophobia can cause extreme harm and disruption in the lives of young gay and lesbian people. In the USA many young gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people have become homeless as a result of being rejected by their families after revealing their sexual orientation. A 2006 study found that between 20 and 40 percent of young homeless people were gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.11
What can be done to tackle homophobia?
Schools have an important part to play in challenging homophobic attitudes. Lesbian and gay pupils are more likely to feel positive about school if their school has explicitly stated that homophobic bullying is against the rules. In schools that have said homophobic bullying is wrong, young gay people are 60 percent more likely not to have been bullied.
Young people in Massachusetts perform a play about homophobia in high school
Studies have shown that personal attitudes become more tolerant towards gay people if individuals are exposed to an educational programme about homosexuality, such as lectures, courses and workshops.12
Also, when schools respond strongly to homophobic bullying, lesbian and gay young people are more likely to feel able to be themselves, more likely to feel part of the school community and more likely to be happy. Therefore it is important to report any incidents of homophobia so that more young people are encouraged to do the same. This also acts as a deterrent to those carrying out homophobic bullying.
Community based organisations have good scope to provide support to gay and lesbian people who might feel marginalised and isolated, especially in societies where homosexuality is banned. Such groups have influence on attitudes of the general public and can campaign for tolerance towards homosexuality.
Other bodies and agencies that could positively influence the way that gay, lesbian and bisexual people are treated are leaders of political parties, police forces, health services, broadcasters and employers.
Finally, many governments throughout the world uphold laws that ban homosexuality. Repealing these laws would reduce discrimination against gay and lesbian people, and would go some way to encouraging societies to embrace the diversity of different sexualities. Eradicating homophobia would not only enhance the human rights and quality of life for gay and lesbian people, it would also encourage gay men to be tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. In the current climate in many places, gay men are too scared to come forward for medical services due to the negative way they expect to be treated.
