What is homophobia?
Homophobia is the term for the hatred or fear of people who are lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals or intersexuals. This hatred can lead to several types of discrimination, ranging from “gay” jokes and the promotion of intolerant ideas, to acts of physical and sexual violence. Homophobia has taken lives.
For and against:
It has been suggested that cultural, social, psychological factors, as well as religious doctrines are all possible factors that could contribute to the creation and continuation of homophobia. Groups who support homophobia tend to be religious or conservative groups, such as the Christian Democratic Party. Many mainstream faiths such as Christianity and Islam have passages against homosexuality in their holy books. Interest groups from the homosexual community, as well as human rights groups such as Amnesty International are examples of those working to combat homophobia.
Homophobia: A worldwide issue?
According to Pink News, there are 77 countries in the world where it is illegal to be homosexual. In these countries homosexuality is often criminalised under the term “sodomy” and can be punishable by imprisonment or execution. These arrests are sometimes associated with police brutality and deaths in custody.
In addition to homophobic laws, many countries have religious and cultural beliefs that encourage a climate of homophobia.
Even in western countries where homosexuality is legal, and discrimination is illegal, homosexuals still experience verbal abuse and violence. Many westerners who don’t consider themselves homophobic or discriminatory still encourage homophobia by making jokes, negative comments, or using limited sterotypes when talking about homosexuals.
What are some of the consequences of homophobia?
Amnesty International cites many different kinds of homosexual discrimination around the world. Some workplaces refuse to hire homosexual employees. In some instances homosexual parents have their children taken away from them. Hospital treatment may be refused, or homosexuals seeking protection from abuse may be turned away.
Imprisoned homosexuals may be raped and tortured. There have been other instances of lesbians being raped to “cure” them of homosexuality, which even has been performed or requested by members of the victim’s family.
In some cases individuals are so tormented by their communities that they are driven to suicide. Others are the victims of hate crimes and are killed in the street.
What is being done?
Homophobia is difficult for the United Nations to address because many member countries of the United Nations still consider homosexuality to be a criminal act. However, there is continued pressure from the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission for the decriminalisation of homosexuality internationally – that is, to make it illegal for any country to make homosexuality illegal.
Amnesty International considers sexuality a human right, and believes all people who are harmed or imprisoned because of their sexuality to be political prisoners, or prisoners of conscience. Amnesty International is working around the world to support or free these prisoners, and is campaigning for the international removal of all sodomy and anti-homosexual laws.
The International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) is held on 17 May each year, as a symbol for the need to end homophobia worldwide. There has traditionally been a minute of silence at these IDAHO demonstrations, to remember victims of homophobic crime, but they now ask for a minute of noise – to express the anger people feel about homophobia.
In Australia, on IDAHO 2008, the federal government changed 58 financial and work-related laws that discriminate against gay and lesbian couples and their children, and changed a further 40 discriminatory laws at the suggestion of the Australian Human Rights Commission. A homosexual person now has the same rights as a heterosexual person, except that a homosexual couple’s union cannot be called a “marriage”.
The next challenge for those working against homophobia is to create a sense of acceptance in the wider community.
If this issue is affecting you or someone you know, check out our sister site www.reachout.com.au
How do I know this?
Amnesty International website, ‘Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity’
www.amnesty.org/en/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity, viewed Dec 4, 2008.
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights website, ‘Memo on the UN Secretary General’s Study on Violence Against Women.’
www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/vaw/ngocontribute/International%20Gay%20and%20Lesbian%20Human%20Rights%20Commission.pdf, viewed Dec 4, 2008.
Australian Human Rights Commission Media release, ‘International Day Against Homophobia has special significance in Australia in 2008’
www.hreoc.gov.au/about/media/media_releases/2008/57_08.html, viewed Dec 4, 2008.
UN’s High Commissioner on Human Rights website, ‘International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights’
www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/a_ccpr.htm, viewed Dec 4, 2008.
Pink News org website, ‘Campaigners petition UN over homophobic countries’
www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-3031.html, viewed Dec 4, 2008.
Anti Defamation League, ‘What is homophobia?’
www.adl.org/hate-patrol/homophobia.asp, viewed Dec 4, 2008.
About Equal Opportunities website, ‘Homophobia’
www.aboutequalopportunities.co.uk/what-is-homophobia.html, viewed Dec 4, 2008.
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission website,
www.iglhrc.org/site/iglhrc/section.php?id=1, viewed Dec 4, 2008.
The Christian Democratic Party website,
http://www.cdp.org.au/fed/NationalCharter.asp, viewed April 9, 2009.
