(This information was received from http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/phobdefn.html
)
Definitions:
Homophobia and Heterosexism
"Heterosexism and homophobia are terms that are used generally
to refer to hostility and prejudice against both homosexual behavior
and gay and lesbian people. The terms are used in a variety of ways
and no standard definition has yet been agreed on for either word.
Homophobia
Of the two terms, homophobia was the first to be coined. George
Weinberg, in Society and the Healthy Homosexual (1972), used it
to characterize heterosexuals' dread of being in close quarters with
homosexuals as well as homosexuals' self loathing.
The American Heritage Dictionary (1992 edition) defines
homophobia as "aversion to gay or homosexual people or their
lifestyle or culture" and "behavior or an act based on this aversion."
Other definitions identify homophobia as an irrational fear of
homosexuality.
Although homophobia is widely used, it is a problematic term for at
least two reasons.
First, empirical research does not indicate that heterosexuals' antigay
attitudes can reasonably be considered a phobia in the clinical
sense. Indeed, the limited data available suggest that many
heterosexuals who express hostility toward gay men and lesbians do
not manifest the physiological reactions to homosexuality that are
associated with other phobias (see Shields & Harriman, 1984).
Second, using homophobia implies that antigay prejudice is an
individual, clinical entity rather than a social phenomenon rooted in
cultural ideologies and intergroup relations. Moreover, a phobia is
usually experienced as dysfunctional and unpleasant. Antigay
prejudice, however, is often highly functional for the heterosexuals
who manifest it.
Heterosexism
More recently, heterosexism has increasingly been used as an
alternative to homophobia. The American Heritage Dictionary
(1992 edition) defines it as "discrimination or prejudice against gay
or homosexual people by heterosexual people." Heterosexism has
also been defined as the ideological system that denies, denigrates,
and stigmatizes any non-heterosexual form of behavior, identity,
relationship, or community (Herek, 1990). Using the term
heterosexism highlights the parallels between antigay sentiment and
other forms of prejudice, such as racism, anti-Semitism, and sexism.
Heterosexism is manifested both at the cultural and individual levels.
Cultural heterosexism, like institutional racism and sexism,
pervades societal customs and institutions. It operates through a
dual process of invisibility and attack. Homosexuality usually
remains culturally invisible; when people who engage in homosexual
behavior or who are identified as homosexual become visible, they
are subject to attack by society.
Examples of cultural heterosexism in the United States include the
continuing ban against lesbian and gay military personnel;
widespread lack of legal protection from antigay discrimination in
employment, housing, and services; hostility to lesbian and gay
committed relationships, recently dramatized by passage of federal
and state laws against same gender marriage; and the existence of
sodomy laws in nearly one half of the states.
Psychological heterosexism is the individual expression of cultural
heterosexism. It is manifested in heterosexuals' hostility, feelings of
personal disgust, and condemnation of homosexuality and of
lesbians and gay men. Public opinion data indicate that
psychological heterosexism is widespread. Psychological
heterosexism also is expressed behaviorally, through verbal abuse,
discrimination, and physical assault of people because of their
presumed sexual orientation."
Background: Since the birth of the modern gay liberation movement in the 60's a large body of data on anti-gay violence and other victimization has developed.
Dr. Howard Ehrlich in 1992, stated
that when a group becomes more visible levels of conflict increase.
For example the Holocaust memorial services on campuses increased anti-Semitic
incidents. In the case of homosexuals he pointed
out factors such as openly gay public officials and the emergence of Aids
and the growth of churches like Metropolitan community churches that are
predominately gay has increased gay violence. The rise in hate crimes escalated
in the mid 1980's after the focus of violence for the American society
changed from property damage to more personal attacks.
The increase in anti-gay violence
is also linked to assertive homosexual groups, such as ACT-UP [AIDS Coalition
to Unleash Power] because of their increased visibility. These groups
target institutions, Catholic churches, and campaigns that discriminate
against homosexual employment, housing, inheritance, health insurance rights
for "gay marriages."
Perpetrators: These
individuals are generally homophobic males in their teens to early twenties.
They also generally come from middle-class backgrounds. The cause
of homophobia is socially encouraged. The social roles parents give
children greatly contributes to what is excepted and what is not excepted
by society. For example, boys play with trucks and are expected to
be "tuff" and unemotional, while girls are encouraged to play with dolls,
be sweet little angels and show their feelings. While children grow
up their constantly reminded of how to act, regardless of where they are.
When a homosexual grows up they are constantly reminded that they can't
be themselves, but what society wants them to be.
Religion also plays a part in homophobia.
In some churches ministers preach "homosexuality is wrong and is against
the word of God." They also state that homosexuals are evil and not
worthy to live. Those religious individuals in turn pass on that
message to their children, causing them to believe homosexuality is wrong,
different, and unexpected. Individuals who believe strongly in their religion
might believe they are doing God a favor by punishing those who go against
his word. Some offenders use their religion as an excuse for their hate.
Although perpetrators are mostly under
the age of 25, they usually do not belong to a hate group, therefore making
it hard to identify the perpetrators. Anti-gay violence is more times
than not unplanned, causing the gay or lesbian individual to live in constant
fear.
Vague laws also cause anti-gay violence,
almost making it "ok" to beat up a homosexual. In some states it
is not clearly stated what a hate crime against a homosexual is.
The criminal justice system also allows leniency on these offenders.
Some judges have been known to allow leniency on these particular offenders
on the assumption that these kids who should not be burdened by a criminal
record.
This information was received from: Set 7b Authored by: Kevin T. Berrill
Victims: "Thousands
of episodes- including defamation, harassment, intimidation, assault, murder,
vandalism and other abuse have been reported to police departments and
local and national organizations. Many thousands more incidents have gone
unreported. The first national study focussing exclusively on anti-gay
violence was conducted by the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force in
1984. The study sampled 1420 gay men and 654 lesbians in eight U.S.
cities: Boston, New York, Atlanta, St. Louis, Denver, Dallas, Los
Angeles, and Seattle. Among those surveyed, 19% reported having been
punched, hit, kicked, or beaten at least once in their lives because of
their sexual orientation; 44% had been threatened with physical violence.
In addition, 94% had experienced some type of victimization (including
being verbally abused, physically assaulted, abused by police, assaulted
with a weapon, having property vandalized, being spat upon, being chased
or followed, or being pelted with objects), and 84% knew other gay or lesbian
individuals who had been victimized because of their sexual orientation.
Many respondents
had been multiply victimized. For example, 92% of those who were
the targets of anti-gay epithets noted that they had experienced such harassment
"more than once" or "many times". More than two thirds (68%) of those
who had been threatened with violence and nearly half (47%) of those who
had been physically assaulted reported multiple experiences of such episodes.
The threat of
anti-gay violence had a major impact on the attitudes and behavior of those
surveyed: 83% of the men and women believed that they might be victimized
in the future, and 62% said that they feared for their safety. Also,
45% reported having modified their behavior to reduce the risk of attack.
For example, they took a self-defense class, avoided certain locations,
or avoided physical contact with friends or lovers in public places.
Altogether,
62 homicides involving gay victims were reported to the NGLTF by local
organizations for the year 1989. Of these, 15 were classified as
unambiguously anti-gay by local groups or police. The remaining 47
murders were identified as "gay related".
Anti-gay murders
are often marked by extreme brutality. Recalling victims of murder
and other attacks that she has seen, Melissa Mertz, director of Victim
Services at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, observed that "attacks
against gay men were the most heinous and brutal I encountered. They
frequently involved torture, cutting, mutilation, and beating, and showed
the absolute intent to rub out the human being because of his [sexual]
preference (M. Mertz, personal communication, March 12,1986).
Helpful Hints:
Conclusion:
It seems everyone has an opinion about the sexual orientation of homosexuals. Homosexuals are not only a victim of society, but also a victim of themselves. They're damned if they come out of the closet and damned if they stay in the closet. If they come out society tortures them including; family, friends, and employers. If they choose to remain silent about their sexual orientation they become their own offender. They are forced to live an unhappy life by pretending they're something they're not. Some even choose suicide as a means of ending their unhappiness because of the fear of society. Who are we as society to play God. Why should we pressure homosexuals into an unhappy life and reject them if they do not conform to our beliefs. When we as a society act this way toward homosexuals we are no better or different than any hate group out there!
Links:
Anti-Gay and Lesbian
Violence
http://psychology.ucdavis.edu/rainbow/html/phobdefn.html
http://www.ngltf.org/
http://www.qrd.org/
http://gaylesissues.miningco.com/
Works Cited:
Anderson, G. (1993). Gay-bashing is a hate crime. In Hate Crimes. Newbury Park: Sage.
Berrill, K. (1992). Anti-gay violence and victimization
in the United States: An overview. In
Hate Crimes. Newbury
Park: Sage.
Rauch, J. (1993). Anti-gay violence should not be
labeled a hate crime. In Hate Crimes. Newbury
Park: Sage.