The word homophobia comes from the phrases “homo” and “phobos” (fear of similar things). In psychiatry, this disorder is defined as an unreasonable fear of thoughts and objects related to non-traditional relationships between representatives of the same sex. Simply put, a homophobe is against gays and lesbians.
Signs of the disorder
Homophobia is a psychological disorder that is not consciously recognized by the individual. Signs:
- Refusal of relatives to accept that their child is a member of sexual minorities. They take various steps to eliminate the perceived problem, even going as far as committing the person to a mental institution.
- Incorrect expressions from men towards homosexuals, as well as physical violence against them. Women also express aggression towards representatives of sexual minorities, however, there are not so many of them. The definition of what homophobia of girls is is not considered separately.
- There is rejection of lesbians and gays in the collective and society. They are ignored in companies, their opinions are not taken into account, and they are morally humiliated.
- Religious aspect. Rejection of representatives of non-traditional orientation is expressed in religious states, especially countries that worship Islam.
Homophobia and homosexuality: what's the difference?
A homosexual is a person whose sexual orientation differs from the traditional, generally accepted one. Such people are born, this happens at the genetic level, when the child’s genes created specific combinations with the mother’s genes.
A homophobe is a person who hates, does not accept, is afraid of people with non-traditional orientation through social experience, his own psyche, which is influenced by various factors. If a person says that he is not afraid of gays, but simply hates them, he is a homophobe. And this is a disease.
If homosexuality is a process that cannot be reversed or stopped, then the disease can be treated.
Causes of homophobia
And now psychotherapists have different opinions about the main causes of homophobia. It is generally accepted that all human fears provoke a person to get rid of them as quickly as possible. Aggression by men towards gays, sometimes with physical force, is one confirmation of this.
The dissatisfaction of others with same-sex marriage is due to the contradiction with the foundations of society and norms of behavior that do not allow love between individuals of the same sex. The result of rejection is considered to be a manifestation of heterosexism.
Another reason is xenophobia. The disorder is expressed by fears of the unknown, unlike the usual. Homosexuals behave unconventionally, which causes contradictory attitudes towards themselves.
The religious reason for homophobia is based on a violation of the moral principles of society. All movements condemn such relationships and consider them unacceptable and sinful. This issue is especially tough in Islam.
Causes
Homophobia develops for the following reasons:
- Disguising one's own homosexual inclinations . A person is so afraid of opening up to society that he actively promotes traditional orientation. He masks his feelings and emotions.
- Fear of being homosexual. Such people in adolescence could discover signs of same-sex love in themselves, but suppressed them.
- Not wanting to stand out also pushes people to become homophobic. If it is customary in society to condemn homosexuality, a person submits to the influence of the crowd and adopts the views of others.
- Instructions in childhood. The child could be told that only a man and a woman can love each other. Growing up, a person understands that same-sex love is a disorder and a disease. Internal attitudes lead to homophobia.
What is the fear of doctors called? Find out the answer right now.
Homophobia in diagnosis
The disorder is diagnosed as the presence of hostility towards individuals who prefer same-sex love. Disgust is accompanied by aggression and unconscious fear. What is homophobia: a disease or rejection of a certain action? Experts classify it as the first category, but it does not require mandatory treatment. To leave everything as it is or to change the opinion about gays and lesbians is a matter for each individual.
Most often, homophobia manifests itself as a verbal expression of dissatisfaction, which does not cause much harm. People who are not tolerant of homosexuality, but also do not infringe on the rights of others, do not react aggressively to representatives of sexual minorities (homonegativists). They prefer traditional marriages, but do not speak categorically about same-sex relationships.
Homophobia as a diagnosis.
Any phobia is a disease, a fear of some situation that cannot be controlled, is difficult or cannot be explained - a reason to consult a specialist to find the roots of the problem and get rid of a mental disorder. In fact, living without phobias is much easier.
It is difficult to say what homophobia is in this case. Essentially, it is a disease, but since many people perceive the concept differently and, in general, the understanding of homophobia is very different for each person, it is difficult to find the line where this condition is a mental disorder and where it is a negative attitude.
If a person begins to doubt his sexual orientation and eventually comes out - voluntary, open acceptance of a new orientation, a new way of life, then obviously there is no homophobia. If one’s own desires frighten and cause severe discomfort, a person becomes aggressive and does not accept himself, we are talking about an illness.
Psychological aspects of phobia
What homophobia means began to be discussed back in the 70s of the last century. George Weinberg characterized such individuals as afraid to enter into any contact with representatives of sexual minorities. Among homosexuals, the term is perceived as self-contempt.
Unconventional inclinations have occurred at all times. The disgust towards them continues into the 21st century. The main reasons for homophobia are indicated above, but there is an opinion that ardent representatives of this category themselves belong to latent gays. It is impossible to reliably confirm this, due to denial by aggressive individuals.
It was believed that homosexuality was inherent from birth and could not be treated. In-depth research in psychology has shown that this assumption is not supported by clear evidence.
The formation of homosexuality is influenced by the habitat, upbringing, and social circle. Homophobia manifests itself as an antipode and fears of desires for non-traditional relationships or aversion to them.
Types of phobias
There are different types of phobias. They have not been fully studied; active research continues around the world.
There are homophobes who are truly adherents of traditional orientation .
They never imagined themselves in relationships with people of the same sex. Moreover, there were no signs of attraction to the same sex, only to the opposite.
But there is another type of homophobe - internal homophobes . These people actively promote traditional orientation, but deep down they do not recognize it. They are attracted to people of the same sex and cannot get rid of it.
Such people may not be aware of same-sex attraction, but at the subconscious level there are signs of homosexuality. These are unhappy people who are afraid to talk about their feelings, are forced to hide, and not declare their existing relationship.
In some cases, they are horrified to discover same-sex attraction. It takes them a long time to admit to themselves that they are homosexual.
How to cure homophobia?
Medicines will not help in this case. For effective treatment, the individual must be fully aware of his hatred or fear of gays. If the latter factor is present, in addition to methods of persuasion and promotion of tolerance, it is recommended to use hypnotherapy.
With the help of various trance induction techniques, almost all common phobias are eliminated. Immersion in the world of a person’s subconscious allows one to find the root cause of fear and make the right decision about the methods and duration of treatment.
How to get rid of homophobia?
There is no clear answer to this complex question. Many people believe that there is no point in treating this disorder, since it is not a disease as such. If we take into account the fight against homophobia in society, propaganda methods are used here in terms of developing tolerance. The result depends on the characteristics of the individual and the traditions accepted in a particular country. Is it not so important whether homophobia is a disease or not? To eliminate symptoms, a conscious desire of the person himself is necessary, as well as an understanding that all people are different and same-sex relationships can exist.
A specialist who relieves various fears and phobias, Nikita Valerievich Baturin.
Why homophobia is bad6
This phenomenon is as terrible as national, religious hatred or hatred of women as “low” beings. This whole “bouquet” is accompanied by a low cultural level, so-so upbringing and education, which was received at a vocational school, or rather, standing with a cigarette behind the garage next to it.
People who are not very educated and well-mannered usually “look for the extreme.” It will be gays, lesbians, the government, women, men or someone else - it doesn’t matter. When communicating with such people, it is important to understand that:
- This person cannot take responsibility for any problems in his life;
- He does not concentrate on any positive aspects, but is in an eternal search for those to blame;
- He cannot pull himself together and begin to solve problems; it is more convenient for him to hate those around him, no matter who;
- The person does not see his real problems. He masks fears and insecurities under the guise of hatred “for the wrong people.” Such people do not go to psychologists, do not want to understand, and consider negativity to be the norm;
- In men, homophobia is often accompanied by deep depression about their place in life and the inability or unwillingness to improve it. Such people believe that everyone - the government, politicians, those around them - owes them. But they can't take courses to get a new job, won't even think about moving, and won't want to change anything in their lives.
Homophobia: what in the world is it?
All over the planet, opponents of relationships between representatives of the same sex show obvious negativism. The symbol of allies of homophobia is a rainbow flag, like that of sexual minorities, but the rainbow is crossed out by a large black line in a circle. In some Muslim societies, homosexuality is punishable by death. The most dangerous countries for bisexuals, gays, lesbians, transgender people: Pakistan, Uganda, Afghanistan, Yemen, Sudan.
Briefly about homophobia in the USA
In an active and dynamic country, the day against homophobia traditionally begins with a minute of silence. It is dedicated to those who died from HIV at the hands of aggressive people against LGBT people. Despite the modern structure of the country, until recently in some states there was a ban on same-sex relationships, not to mention marriage. Now this issue has been resolved, but homophobes have not gone away; many individuals despise and beat sexual minorities.
What is homophobia in Europe?
Gay activists celebrate the day of struggle against their opponents on May 17. This date symbolizes the memory of the removal of homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses. An event with parades and protests provokes an active surge of aggressive people.
According to research by companies protecting sexual minorities, the level of homophobia continues to remain high in Europe. Figures indicate that about 27 percent of surveyed people of non-traditional orientation were subjected to violence from citizens of traditional relationships. About 30% were discriminated against during a job interview or immediately after employment.
What does homophobia mean in Russia?
In our country, homophobia is not considered a problem as such. This is due to centuries-old traditions and the corresponding social structure, in which any non-traditional relationships between people are not welcome.
Repeated attempts to hold gay rallies and meetings led to waves of protests with eggs, stones and other objects thrown at LGB activists. In 2013, an official resolution was adopted banning the promotion of non-traditional relationships, same-sex marriage, and the holding of related events and parades. In the West, Russia is often compared to a “hotbed of homophobia.”
What is homophobia
You can understand what homophobia is from the translation of this word, which consists of the ancient Greek words: ὁμός (similar) and φόβος (fear). Among the definitions of phobias, of which there are many, this term causes a lot of controversy. On one level, it is viewed as political and is placed on the same level as the concepts of anti-Semitism or racism. In another context, it is indicated as an irrational fear of mentally ill people.
Attention! The fear underlying homophobia can have two origins. First, it is caused by the appearance of homosexual thoughts, behavior or feelings in an individual. The second is the fear of people of non-traditional sexual orientation.
The founder of the definition of “homophobia” is George Weinberg, a psychotherapist from America. He noticed that his fellow professionals, psychologists and psychotherapists, experienced discomfort and hidden fear when in the company of homosexuals. He believed that this fear was caused by the fear of infection and anxiety about the devaluation of the institution of family and religious foundations. The American psychotherapist explains in detail the meaning of the word “homophobia” in his monograph “Society and the Healthy Homosexual,” published in 1972. The title of the publication is translated into Russian as “Society and a healthy homosexual.”
The dubious term "homophobia"
By the way. Research in recent decades has shown that the term “homophobia” is used as a measure of repression. Sexual minorities blame homophobia on those who do not accept or show tolerance to the increasing establishment of such a lifestyle in society.
Is it necessary and how to combat homophobia on television?
The manifestation of disgust towards sexual minorities is not so scary. Social popular moments are much more dangerous. Many leading film and television stars are ardent homophobes.
Mel Gibson considers himself a religious and devout person. However, because of insulting gays, he repeatedly found himself in scandalous situations, even completely breaking ties with his homosexual brother.
Homophobia is a kind of disease that directly affects show business. The famous rapper Eminem has repeatedly spoken negatively about members of the LGBT community in his lyrics.
Other controversial homophobic celebrities:
- P. Hilton often compares gays to “monkeys” and other unflattering images in his tweets.
- Chris Brown takes the term homosexual as an insult.
- Alec Baldwin was not spared homophobia either. He is known for his derogatory remarks towards gay politicians.
Who is a homophobe
From ancient Greek the word “ homo ” is translated as similar , into “ phobia ” as fear , so the term homophobia was originally used to refer to an individual’s pathological fear that others will suspect him of homosexuality.
This word first appeared in print on May 5, 1969. It was used by gay activists Jack Nichols and Lee Clark to express the fear of heterosexual men that they might be mistaken for homosexuals.
The term was first used in a scientific publication by Kenneth Smith, “Homophobia: A Preliminary Personality Profile” in 1971 . The term homophobia was strengthened by the famous American psychologist George Weinberg, who often used it in his articles and scientific works.
George Weinberg - popularizer of the concept of "homophobia"
Nowadays, the word homophobia has begun to be used in a different context. Now people who are aggressive towards individuals with non-traditional sexual preferences more often homophobes
Interesting Facts
What is a homophobic person afraid of? First of all, he is afraid of the risk that his family or friends will fall into this category. Also, a homophobe zealously supports traditional relationships in the family, and on a subconscious level despises all representatives of non-traditional orientation. Against this background, fighters for tolerance are becoming more active and achieving good results.
Homosexuality was removed from the list of psychiatric diseases back in May 1990. This date became the International Day against Homophobia. For a long period, LGB representatives continued to seek their rights. The reasons were the most difficult conditions for representatives of sexual minorities:
- discrimination against same-sex marriages (they were banned in more than 80 states);
- active oppression of gays, lesbians, transgender people in the USA and USSR;
- intimate relationships with a person of the same sex were punishable by up to 10 years in prison, in some countries for life;
- homophobia in certain regions of Africa and the East became the most severe (the charge of unconventional relationships was punishable by death).
Homosexuals, with their zeal, tried to achieve equality in society, lead a full life, and not be subjected to moral and physical violence.
What is homophobia in simple words? This is fear of non-traditional relationships, contempt for people belonging to this trend, possible latent homosexuality. There is no 100% cure for this manifestation, since it does not apply to obvious mental illnesses. You can reduce the activity of symptoms and rage with the help of an experienced hypnologist or psychotherapist.
International Day Against Homophobia
Since May 17, 1990, the International Day Against Homophobia has been celebrated annually to celebrate the removal of homosexuality from the list of mental disorders. Homosexuals have tried and are trying to achieve equal rights with other people, protect themselves from cruelty and violence, overcome discrimination in employment, etc. The holiday is celebrated in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, USA, Germany and other countries.
What to do on this day:
- seminars and lectures,
- conferences,
- flash mobs,
- charity events,
- parades.
The fight against homophobia is aimed at overcoming hostility from society, providing social, labor and political protection to representatives of sexual minorities. The symbol of the holiday is an LGBT rainbow inserted into a black triangle, and decorated with a black exclamation point in the middle.
