Transcript 2. HOMOPHOBIA

2. HOMOPHOBIA
Where does it come
from?
Words/Phrases used to describe
lesbians/gays
lead young people astray; perverts; poof; sick; mentally Ill; dyke;
lezzie; bender; not natural; all got AIDS; promiscuous; immoral;
queer; brave; no grandchildren; mothers fault; fathers fault; can't be
trust with children; arrested development; lesbians haven't met a
real man; hormone imbalance; lesbians want to be men; lesbian
hate children; lesbians are afraid of childbirth; lesbians wear male
clothing; lesbians are all truck drivers; it's a phase; its a crime
against nature; it's caused by a genetic defect; lesbians are ugly;
gay men are limp-wristed sissies; they only live in cities; it's a
western/white disease; it's a capitalist diseases; one of them; lesley;
lemon; ginger; effeminate; indecent; that way inclined; hijra; chhaka;
battyman; eccentric; should be shot; artistic; individual; strong; flatheeled brigade; bent; homo's; one of those; sexual deviant; fairies;
queens; dangerous; outrageous; woolly woofters; ass poppers; shirt
lifters; sex abusers; carry disease; ...
Creation & Perpetuation of
Homophobia
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Similar lists for all oppressed groups.
Leads to internalised negative (spoiled)
identity for oppressed, internalised
positive identity for privileged.
We are not born with these ideas
Apart from language, what are the six
main institutions that create and
perpetuate homophobia (sexism, racism,
disableism, etc)
Exercise
In small groups, identify at least
three ways in which these
institutions have created and/or
perpetuated homophobia.
 Feed back to main group.
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Historical video clips
Brief extracts from television which
show examples of institutional
homophobia.
RELIGION:
It’s a Sin
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Anglicanism: ‘homosexual genital
acts fall short of the ideal’
Catholicism: ‘homosexuality is an
aberrant deviation’
Judaism: Late Lord Jakobovits –
abortion of foetus if homosexual
Islam: Late Dr Siddique:
elimination of gays
Debate on same-sex marriage
Medicine:
It’s a Sickness
Homosexuality classed as sickness
in Britain until 1992
 Causes: arrested development, a
phase, immature, parent’s fault:
too distant, too close
 We can help you change
 Only just beginning to be included in
strategies but hardly affected
practice yet
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LAW:
Significant Changes
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Until recently
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Age of Consent: illegal for gay men under 18/21
(lesbians invisible) until 2001
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Section 28: no ‘promotion’ of homosexuality
repealed 2003
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Employment (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003
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Civil partnership 2005
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Goods & Services 2007
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Criminal Justice & Immigration 2008 (incitement to
hatred based on sexual orientation)
Equality Act 2010
MEDIA:
It’s Entertainment
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Used to be invisible or negative images
– perverts, pansies, predatory – still
stereotypes
Sensationalise – lipstick lesbians (or
pornography), camp gay men
Much more balanced now, included in
dramas but still homophobic reporting
Allows homophobes to spread hatred &
ignorance ‘in the interest of balance’
(recent debates on same-sex marriage)
EDUCATION:
It’s Invisible
Omitted from curricula unless
related to HIV/AIDS
 No/few visible role models
 Homophobic bullying goes
unchallenged
 No books/information
 Creates homophobes of future
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FAMILY:
It’s Heterosexual
Brought up to be heterosexual
 Brought up with parents (often
negative) views
 No support when most need it –
coming out
 Some disown or don’t want to
know
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