Homophobia

Homophobia construed literally or etymologically means fear of the same (homo = same, phobia = fear), although it is actually used to mean fear of homosexuality. Very often it is taken to mean hatred and fear of homosexuals themselves, although the distinction is a narrow one. 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 based on their interpretation of 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.

Extreme cases of homophobia have resulted in cases of murder in the United States (see hate crime) in which a person was killed due to their perceived homosexuality, although in some cases is it not at all clear the person was actually homosexual. In some of these cases, the defendant argued that their action was due to a moment of panic because they believed the victim was "coming on to them". This phenomenon is generally referred to in the gay community as the "gay panic defense".

Homophobia has sometimes been taken to extremes, for example 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: Discrimination, [Lambda Legal Defense Fund]?, Sodomy law, [gay pride]?, [gay rights]?, Religion and homosexuality

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