How Homophobia and Transphobia Hurt Everyone
DISCUSSION: How Homophobia and Transphobia Hurt Everyone
25 min
How Homophobia and Transphobia Hurts Everyone
Within the numerous forms of oppression, members of the target group (sometimes called “minority”) are OPPRESSED, while on some level members of the dominant or agent groups are HURT. Although the effects of oppression differ qualitatively for specific target and agent groups, in the end everyone loses.
Homophobia and transphobia lock all people into rigid gender-based roles that inhibit creativity and self-expression.
Homophobic conditioning compromises the integrity of heterosexual people by pressuring them to treat others badly, actions contrary to their basic humanity.
Homophobia and transphobia inhibit one’s ability to form close, intimate relationships with members of one’s own sex.
Homophobia and transphobia generally restrict communications with a significant portion of the population and, more specifically, limits family relationships.
Societal homophobia and transphobia prevent some lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people from developing an authentic self identity, and adds to the pressure to marry and/or have children, which in turn places undue stress and oftentimes trauma on themselves as well as their spouses and children.
Homophobia is one cause of premature sexual involvement, which increases the chances of teen pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Young people, of all sexual identities, are often pressured to become heterosexually active to prove to themselves and others that they are normal.
Homophobia and transphobia, combined with sex-phobia (fear and revulsion of sex), results in the elimination of any discussion of the lives and sexuality of LGBT people as part of school-based sex education and general education programs, keeping vital information from all students. Such a lack of information can kill people in the age of AIDS.
Homophobia and transphobia can be used to stigmatize, silence, and, on occasion, target people who are perceived or defined by others as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, but who are, in actuality, heterosexual.
Homophobia and transphobia prevent heterosexuals from accepting the benefits and gifts offered by LGBT people: theoretical insights, social and spiritual visions and options, contributions in the arts and culture, to religion, to family life, indeed, to all facets of society.
Homophobia and transphobia (along with racism, sexism, class-ism, sex-phobia, etc.) inhibit a unified and effective governmental and societal response to AIDS.
Homophobia and transphobia divert energy from more constructive endeavors.
Homophobia and transphobia inhibit appreciation of other types of diversity, making it unsafe for everyone because each person has unique traits not considered mainstream or dominant. Therefore, we are all diminished when any one of us is demeaned.
Adapted from: Warren J. Blumenfeld, co-author Looking at Gay and Lesbian Life and editor of Homophobia: How We All Pay the Price (blumenfeld@educ.umass.edu)
