Homophobia

Kimberly Antonelli ** Homophobia ** ** Defining Homophobia ** The word ‘homophobia’ is not a word that is easily defined. In general, homophobia means hostility towards or fear of homosexual people. It can also be defined to include negative feelings towards non-heterosexual behavior, identity, relationships, and community. Homophobia can come in many different forms such as jokes, physical attacks, and media representation (Avert, 2011). The definition of homophobia should include both cultural and personal biases against homosexuals. Homophobia can manifest itself in internalized homophobia, in addition to external homophobia. Sullivan (2003) states, “Internal homophobia refers to the internalization of society’s anti-homosexual sentiments within the psyche of gay individuals”; external homophobia refers to mostly heterosexual individuals. Society’s view on homosexuals has been ever changing over time. Most people believe that the homophobic attitude is based on the fact that the Bible portrays homosexuals as unholy. Modern society has formed a much bigger variety of opinions on the topic (Sullivan, 2003).  ** Homophobia and Demographics/Social Variables ** The presence of homophobia in an individual can vary due to controlled factors. In a study testing four hundred and sixty-three community residents, age correlated positively and education coordinated negatively when it came to homophobia. Men were more homophobic than women, but there was no difference among racial groups. Homophobia scores were related strongly with religion. The most homophobic religion was Baptists’ compared to other religious people such as Catholics and Protestants. In relation to politics, homophobic scores were much larger in the Republican Party than in the Democratic Party and all other political party affiliations. Another factor in determining homophobic levels in individuals was if those individuals knew someone with HIV/AIDS or someone that was homosexual. The relation to these people significantly decreased their homophobic score. These scores were identical to not only homophobia, but fear of AIDS as well, except for the political party demographic (Walch, Orlosky, Sinkkanen, & Stevens, 2010). A different source revealed that in addition to those factors determining levels of homophobia, culture and ethnicity have a lot to do with the treatment of homosexuals one gives. In Latin America, they believe in a ‘machismo’ culture. This is the belief that males need to be very masculine. This machismo view is a direct cause of violence against homosexuals in Latin American culture. It was estimated in 2005 that about every two days, a gay man was killed in Latin America due to his homosexuality. From this statistic came something beneficial to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, however. Every Latin American country has eliminated laws criminalizing same sex relations. This is an effort being made by the countries to try to protect the rights of the LGBT community. The astounding numbers of those harmed because of their sexuality in this culture has even forced the governments to acknowledge what is happening and to support civil society groups and campaigns to promote LGBT rights. Not only is homophobia an issue in Latin America, but it is a prominent issue in India as well. Homosexuality was a crime in India as recently  as 2009. In the recent past, that law was abolished, and the government is working to reduce the persecution of the LGBT community in India. However, many countries still consider homosexuality to be illegal; over eighty countries still have a law that they can persecute homosexuals, potentially with death (Avert, 2011). This shows that the government supports homophobia, and it is legitimized. ** Homophobia in Communication ** Homophobia can come in many forms, one of which is verbal attacks. In today’s culture in America, many young males use the word gay to refer to something that is feminine, stupid, or worthless. Young males also use words such as 'faggot' and 'queer'. The degree of derogatory words about homosexuals is mediated by the norms of the surroundings one is in. The more one person speaks negatively about homosexuals, the more they believe that other people near them will want to engage in similar language. Males choose to use homophobic terms more often when they are in a situation where they feel gender identity is important (Hall & La France, 2008). It is a way of communicating masculinity. Men who find masculinity very important found it more appropriate and acceptable to use homophobic terms and were less offended by the use of them from others; they believe that is how a man should speak (Hall & La France, 2008). ** Homophobia and the Media ** In the media, there is a drastic underrepresentation of the homosexual community. One study revealed that only 2% of characters on television were non-heterosexual, and all of the homosexual characters were gay males. This does not represent how the population in the real world is today. This can lead to homophobia because with only a 2% population of homosexuals on television, it allows people to believe they are the minority, and that it is very abnormal to be gay. Additionally, with only gay males being represented, heterosexual male viewers of the television programs may develop fear-based homophobia because they will relate homosexuality with male power. The lack of homosexual characters as a whole on television provides a disadvantage for homosexuals viewing because they will lack the same role models that heterosexuals get through watching programs. Also, it promotes homophobia because it is not representing and not exposing the public to how the actual homosexual community is today (Fouts, 2005). ** Homophobia and AIDS ** <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">AIDS is a well-known disease in the world that is linked with attitudes towards gay men. Homosexual males as a whole are infected with HIV/AIDS more than most other populations in the world. People everywhere became angry with homosexuals after the AIDS epidemic began because homosexuals were considered responsible for the spread of the virus. The AIDS epidemic among the gay community led to anti-gay <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px;">press in the media and anti-gay campaigns. This is the only form of communication the public was receiving about AIDS; they formed negative views on homosexuals. In the 1980’s, groups formed to raise public awareness about AIDS in America and to monitor homophobic violence (Avert, 2011). Homophobia is still considered to be a main barrier at ending the AIDS epidemic. ** <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Eliminating Homophobia ** <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Eliminating homophobia would be very difficult due to the fact that it must be eradicated from many different aspects in all areas of society. Avert (2011) stated, “ Political leaders, police forces, health services, broadcasters and employers can all positively influence the way that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are treated”. With the support of these people, homoph  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 32px;">obia can be reduced. Politicians and governments could help reduce the discrimination LGBT people feel by retracting laws that criminalize homosexuals. This will reduce society’s homophobic beliefs and actions. Public campaigns and schools are two very important modes of communicating to the public to challenge homophobia. Public campaigns can speak to many people at one time to address the issue of homophobia and help influence positive behavior. Schools have the responsibility of gaining awareness for the issue and educating students about LGBT issues. This can change the prejudices that students may have, or it can allow students who are LGBT to feel welcomed in the population. Teachers will also need to be educated on LGBT topics and issues in order to properly communicate the knowledge to his/her students and to become comfortable discussing theses topics in the classroom (Avert, 2011). ** <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">References ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">AVERTing HIV and AIDS (2011). Homophobia, Prejudice, and Attitudes to Gay Men and Lesbians//. //Retrieved from http://www.avert.org/homophobia.htm <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Fouts, G. (2005). // Homosexuality in TV Situation Comedies: Characters and Verbal Comment //s. Journal of Homosexuality, 49(1), 35-45. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Fred Phelps and Romans 9:13 [Photograph]. (2009). Retrieved April 10th, 2011, from: <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">http://www.aqurette.com <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Hall, J., & La France, B. (2008). That's Gay! Masculinity, Gender Identity Salience, and Homophobic Communication Norms. //<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;"><span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1pt; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">Conference Papers -- National Communication Association //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">, 1. Retrieved from EBSCO//<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;"><span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">host //. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Homophobia [Photograph]. (2010). Retrieved April 10th, 2011, from: http://www.slhs.net <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">No Homophobia Campaign [Photograph]. (2009). Retrieved April 10th, 2011, from: http://idsgn.org <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Sullivan, M. K. (2003). Homophobia, History, and Homosexuality: Trends for Sexual Minorities. //<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;"><span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment //, 8(2/3), 1-14. doi:10.1300/J137v8n02_01 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> Walch, S. E., Orlosky, P. M., Sinkkanen, K. A., & Stevens, H. R. (2010). Demographic and Social Factors Associated with Homophobia and Fear of AIDS in a Community Sample. //<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;"><span style="border-bottom-color: windowtext; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1pt; border-left-color: windowtext; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 1pt; border-right-color: windowtext; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 1pt; border-top-color: windowtext; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 1pt; padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;">Journal of Homosexuality //, 57(2), 310-324. doi:10.1080/00918360903489135 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">