Homophobia

Homophobia construed literally or etymologically means fear of homosexuality. More usually it is taken to mean hatred and fear of homosexuals. Among some homosexuality advocates and their sympathizers, the term is used even more broadly, to mean any sort of disapproval of homosexuality, whether subtle or explicit, unconscious or conscious, completely unreasoning or in some way principled.

Religious groups and some others strongly deny that their disapproval of homosexuality, often allegedly based on religious scripture or principles, constitutes homophobia. They claim that the term "homophobia" is used by advocates for social change to indiscriminately lump together true homophobes (i.e., those who actively fear and loathe homosexuals) with those who merely disapprove of homosexuality, perhaps on principled or religious grounds, in order to shame the latter into abandoning their disapproval.

However the term is understood, homophobic beliefs and attitudes can be held by people independent of their sexuality. In lesbians, gays and bisexuals [internalised homophobia]? can result in lifelong suffering of depression, low self-esteem and a stunted love life and sexuality. For straight people it can lead to anything from unthinkingly marginalising lesbigay people to violent hate crimes.

Homophobia has been taken to ludicrous extremes, one example being the 1999 "outing" of the Teletubbies character Tinky Winky.

The cause of homophobia in society has been widely debated.

Some religious organisations and individuals actively oppose homosexuality, which--depending on one's definition of "homophobia"--can either directly or indirectly foster homophobia. Some religions will not ordain those lesbians and gays who have come out of the closet.

Some gender theorists interpret the fact that male/male activities or relationships often incites a stronger reaction in homophobics than female/female (Lesbian) activities or relationships as meaning that the homophobic feels threatened by the subversion of the [gender paradigm]? in male/male sex. Homophobics often express strongly sexist view and tend to focus on the sexuality of lesbigay people to the exclusion of all other traits, in much the same way as racists tend to define people exclusively by their ethnicity.

To combat homophobia the LGB community uses events such as [pride parade]?s and [political activism]?.

Also see: [Lambda Legal Defense Fund]?, Sodomy law, [gay pride]?, [gay rights]?