On the International Day Against Homophobia, and Alexander Lowe looks at how it continues to affect our daily lives.
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The 17th of May is the International Day Against Homophobia, also known as IDAHO. The date was not chosen randomly – homosexuality was removed from the list of mental disorders by the World Health Organization as recently as 17 May 1990. The American Psychiatric Association did the same back in 1973.
The neologism ‘homophobia’ was first used in 1969 by the psychiatrist George Weinberg, who has described it as “The fear expressed by heterosexuals of being in the presence of homosexuals, and the loathing that homosexual persons have for themselves.”
Phobias are usually of the irrational fear of something perceived to be potentially threatening, disgusting or both; like arachnophobia (fear of spiders) or acrophobia (fear of heights). There are dozens if not hundreds of different other phobias and we would naturally sympathize with a person affected with such condition. And back in the ‘70s, the majority of people would have a different understanding and feelings about the word homophobia. Around that time, homosexuals were considered sick, filthy and contagious; it was considered quite natural to have a phobia of getting in contact with them.
However, the concept that we could be afraid of homosexuality, rather than simply be despising, was empowering. Weinberg said that the term he coined, “…made all the difference to city councils and other people I spoke to. It encapsulates a whole point of view and of feeling. It was a hard-won word, as you can imagine. It even brought me some death threats.”
With time, the word became stronger and stronger, eventually implying that the fear was irrational and that homophobic remarks and acts indicated ignorance and a Neanderthal conservatism. The word now sounds as strong and insulting as the objectionable word homo, but contrary to the latter it is a legalized insult.
So the word ‘homophobia’ has become a powerful weapon, and as all other weapons, it should be used with caution, only in proportion to the gravity of attack rather than a method of silencing opponents in a discussion.
There are also doubts about the accuracy and correctness of the actual word homophobia and its reference to a mental disease. Two years ago, the Associated Press (AP) recommended to exclude the use of the word ‘homophobia’ in the media, replacing it with ‘anti-gay’. Would it be correct to suggest that homophobia, like smallpox, in its original sense has been eradicated? Should we then consider cancelling the day against homophobia too?
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It is too early for that. In the USA, crimes based on sexual orientation remain the second most common type of hate crime, accounting for nearly 20 percent. The website nohomophobes.com measuring casual homophobia on-line shows that the word ‘faggot’ gets tweeted over 40,000 times a day and phrases like ‘no homo’ and ‘so gay’ nearly 10,000 times each.
Dr Weinberg still insists that fear is the primary reason behind homophobia: “Is homophobia always based on fear? I thought so and still think so. Maybe envy in some cases. But that’s a psychological question. Is every snarling dog afraid? Probably yes.”
If homophobia is a disorder, should we reconsider strategies of combating it and attitudes towards those affected by it? As with any other phobias, individual may not be aware of even carrying it, due to denial and avoidance. If anyone can have it and gay people themselves are far from being immune, why don’t we learn more about this condition?
How dangerous is it? It could be deadly; both to the individual affected as well as to people they are in contact with. Is it hereditary? Is it infectious? It is both. Homophobia passed through generations and parental influence and peer pressure can be pivotal. Internalized homophobia is a product of heterosexist education which imposes heterosexuality as the norm and homosexuality as deviant. The notion is enforced by people, institutions and sometimes entire nations.
Cycles of the disease can be traced throughout history with epidemics and pandemics of it. Population wise, rural areas, elder and less educated sectors are the most at risk. The easiest time to catch homophobia is during economy downfalls, wars, mass religious conversions and violent outbursts like when contact sports games are being played.
What is the most efficient prophylactic for homophobia? What methods work best for protection, treatment and rehabilitation?
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Education seems to be the key in raising awareness of homophobia and its localization. If an individual gets a disease through contamination, it helps to get them isolated from the harmful environment for a better and faster cure. Similarly with homophobia, changing schools or moving to a different area with different attitudes can help cure an affected child, though it is vital to intervene rapidly as in severe cases, homophobia might be incurable and even lethal.
Behavioral therapy is often very effective against phobias. An individual will be exposed in a controlled environment to face ones fear. It works as an antidote, vaccine, when a person’s organism is taught to cope with affects of the stimulus. In the USA, such shows as ‘Glee’ and ‘Modern Family’ gave positive exposure to LGBT characters and were credited for increasing acceptance of same-sex marriage among their viewers.
Exposure, however, may have an adverse affect with severe phobias, when more radical treatment is required, including psychotherapy and possibly even medication.
Analyzing individual conditions, finding reasons of fear behind anxiety and agitation may require professional help. Usually, explicit external homophobia implies internal one too. Research after research shows that most homophobes are suppressing their own hidden homosexuality. And many of them, even being in denial, still cannot contain themselves.
Archbishop O’Brien, leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland and an outrageous critic of same-sex marriage, had to resign last year after four priests came out accusing him of inappropriate sexual harassment.
Another opponent of the same sex equality, republican senator from Puerto Rico Roberto Arango, had to resign after being caught on gay hook up site Grindr.
Website gayhomophobe.com lists other celebrity anti-gay politicians, priests and conversional counselors that have been caught in gay scandals. Most ironically, FBI chief J Edgar Hoover, in charge of the greatest gay witch-hunt in US history, was reported to be a cross-dresser in relationship with his life long assistant and heir Clyde Tolson.
However, internalized homophobia is embedded into most of gay people as well. Raised within heterosexist culture, many gays relate to the phrase ‘I would not be gay if I had a choice’. Their homophobia may not necessarily be expressed as avoidance of other gay people (like in ‘no femmes, straight acting only’ dating profiles) or in the opposite compensatory feeling of superiority to heterosexuals. It can manifest itself in numerous side effects like low self-esteem, negative body image, depression, fear of intimacy and fixation with sex, promiscuity, unsafe sex practices, substance abuse etc.
A study in Ireland found out that gay males, while discovering their orientation on average at 12 years of age, would usually confide it to another person only when reaching 17. It is during these gap years that homophobia is likely to internalize within gay man’s mind. My personal issue is my self-esteem, feeling of being a failure, not worthy, not good enough. I attempted being an over-achiever in my bid for acceptance, giving it all to a particular task but then still giving it all up, never satisfied with my performance and getting further disillusioned with myself.
We all are likely to battle our own demons and have our own, personal IDAHO story to tell. I do strongly believe that behind the anxiety, anger and hate there is always fear. Paradoxically, homophobia as fear of homosexuality is something common we have with our most hateful opponents. Recognizing reasons and affects of homophobia could help us better understand ourselves and those fighting against us, hopefully getting over our mutual anger, fear and hate and eventually one day recovering from this deadly infectious disease.
Originally published as My Own Private IDAHOat gayexpress.co.nz
—Photo Pink Sherbet/Flickr
