How do we fight homophobia?

[Stranger Than Paradise]

From my experiences at school I find most boys are very homophobic as teenagers. From a young age they seem pressured by their peers to be homophobic. When challenging these people I discover they don't really understand why they hate gay people so much, It seems they do it out of peer pressure. What are your experiences with homophobia and how do we fight it?

[teenagebricks]

I have a friend (though I wouldn't exactly call him a friend these days) who has been very homophobic since I've known him, which is about nine years. I always though he would grow out of it but he's 23 or 24 now and still isn't showing any signs of letting up. While some people are naturally gay I do not believe that anybody is naturally homophobic, like racism it is something that develops very subtly, usually at a young age, so it really needs to be tackled at a young age too, whether it be in school, by parents, or through other means. Since more people are openly gay these days that means future generations will have more gay relatives, which obviously helps, I'm not saying the problem is just going to disappear, but I suppose it's a start.

[Jack]

This thread is sooo gay.

But honestly most people who ever meet a homosexual usually drop their homophobia. It's important to build a culture that is against homophobia, just like racism is out now (well, a small minority) because our culture is anti-racist.

[Stranger Than Paradise]

I have a friend (though I wouldn't exactly call him a friend these days) who has been very homophobic since I've known him, which is about nine years. I always though he would grow out of it but he's 23 or 24 now and still isn't showing any signs of letting up. While some people are naturally gay I do not believe that anybody is naturally homophobic, like racism it is something that develops very subtly, usually at a young age, so it really needs to be tackled at a young age too, whether it be in school, by parents, or through other means. Since more people are openly gay these days that means future generations will have more gay relatives, which obviously helps, I'm not saying the problem is just going to disappear, but I suppose it's a start.

Yep it definitely starts early. It's weird cos it's like with age homophobia seems to become less common but I think it's the other way round for racism.

[Patchd]

What I've generally found to be a good way of opposing homophobia is to whack em in the mouth, or at least mouth off to them back if they say something to you. It usually puts it in their mindset that LGBT people aren't people who they can simply shout slurs at and get away with it.

I knew some trans people who used to carry knives, and it was understandable, out of LGBTQ peoples, trans people in Britain face extremely brutal and harsh discrimination.

[Stranger Than Paradise]

What I've generally found to be a good way of opposing homophobia is to whack em in the mouth, or at least mouth off to them back if they say something to you. It usually puts it in their mindset that LGBT people aren't people who they can simply shout slurs at and get away with it.

I knew some trans people who used to carry knives, and it was understandable, out of LGBTQ peoples, trans people in Britain face extremely brutal and harsh discrimination.

What are transpeople? Sorry if this sounds stupid I genuinely don't know.

[h0m0revolutionary]

What are transpeople? Sorry if this sounds stupid I genuinely don't know.

Trans is an umbrella term for those who present, identify or come outside of the gender label they were assigned at birth

Some examples you'll recognise: Transvestities, Transexuals, Trangendered peoples etc.

:)

[Stranger Than Paradise]

Trans is an umbrella term for those who present, identify or come outside of the gender label they were assigned at birth

Some examples you'll recognise: Transvestities, Transexuals, Trangendered peoples etc.

:)

Ok thanks.

[bruno]

I think homosexuality is an illness, it's abnormal. Bad environmental effects and genetic defects create it. am I homofobic?

[h0m0revolutionary]

I think homosexuality is an illness, it's abnormal. Bad environmental effects and genetic defects create it. am I homofobic?

It makes you homophobic, a troll and not a very clever one at that.

=/ delete plz.

[Patchd]

I think homosexuality is an illness, it's abnormal. Bad environmental effects and genetic defects create it. am I homofobic?

Yes, and frankly you should also fuck off.

[bruno]

Yes, and frankly you should also fuck off.
Why "fuck off"? This is my idea. May be you can change my idea, if you are not an animal.

[h0m0revolutionary]

Forgive us if we're not jumping at the opportunity to debate with someone who views us as:


[having an] illness, abnormal.. [causing] Bad environmental effects and genetic defects create it.

homosexuality is a historically proven natural phenomina, if you think otherwise that's your downfall, not mine. You're the one who will have to reconcile your bigotry with your political views.

[bruno]

It makes you homophobic, a troll and not a very clever one at that.

=/ delete plz.

You must explain why. I can't understand why you are so angry.

[teenagebricks]

bruno, I understand you are new to the left (your words, not mine), but if you come to a forum full of people who advocate revolutionary progress and preach against gays, you are really asking to have people direct angry posts at you. Not only that but your homophobia probably belongs in the opposing ideologies (http://www.revleft.com/vb/opposing-ideologies-f18/index.html) section, though I would argue that it doesn't belong on this forum at all.

[Stranger Than Paradise]

Yes, and frankly you should also fuck off.

Yes I agree

[Pirate Utopian]

I think homosexuality is an illness, it's abnormal. Bad environmental effects and genetic defects create it. am I homofobic?
Enjoy the ban.

[bruno]

Perhaps, I chose wrong words.

I think this matter also related with cultures not only ideology. Actually, I'm not new to the left but I'm new to the "left in English"(!). I'm trying to understand other "left"s.

I discussed this matter for scientific arguments(is it illness, are genetic and environmental factors dominant etc.) in my language in my country, they never told me "fuck off".

In addition, I didn't say "I hate gay people". I think this is an illness, not normal, it's adverse to evolution. So you think that I'm not Marxsist or leftist ?

[RedAnarchist]

I've banned bruno for being an homophobic troll.

[Nakidana]

Perhaps, I chose wrong words.

I think this matter also related with cultures not only ideology. Actually, I'm not new to the left but I'm new to the "left in English"(!). I'm trying to understand other "left"s.

I discussed this matter for scientific arguments(is it illness, are genetic and environmental factors dominant etc.) in my language in my country, they never told me "fuck off".

In addition, I didn't say "I hate gay people". I think this is an illness, not normal, it's adverse to evolution. So you think that I'm not Marxsist or leftist ?

Homosexual people don't feel ill. Who are you to say that they are?

And why do you care what other people do in their bedrooms? Are you afraid that you might be homosexual?

[The Feral Underclass]

I hate gays.

[h0m0revolutionary]

I hate gays.

But Joe, you're a MASSIVE gay!

:P

[Patchd]

but joe, you're a massive gay!

:p
ban!

[h0m0revolutionary]

ban!

Right i'm with-holding sex for a YEAR!

[pastradamus]

From my experiences at school I find most boys are very homophobic as teenagers. From a young age they seem pressured by their peers to be homophobic. When challenging these people I discover they don't really understand why they hate gay people so much, It seems they do it out of peer pressure. What are your experiences with homophobia and how do we fight it?

An excellent topic. You both present a bold questioning as well as a good sociological study/topic. It comes down to age really. I remember when I was in school how many people were assumed to be "gay" and were actually straight. I also remember how many of the most popular guys actually turned out to be "gay". On the whole note of recalling events of the past I remember a guy, who happened to be a pretty popular and apparently had this "toughest guy in the school" individual aura about him. He challenged me to a fight one day just for the sake of proving he could beat me up. So I initially laughed at his request. But due to persistent chauvinism I accepted and kicked his ass. The individual later turned out to be homosexual and has good respect for me since and I would actually describe him as a personal friend. He also developed a camp voice compared to his previously pretentious "tough voice".....I still have trouble understanding this concept though. lol!

[Rosa Provokateur]

You must explain why. I can't understand why you are so angry.

Well hun, what if I called your relationships ill and abnormal. It's our ability to fall in love and I'm sure you mean well but if somebody did it to you you might see why it hurts.

[ML_PARTY_CANADA]

Getting in late but wee all one race human, we have our differences and that does not change who we are, "freedom" to be our own individual.
Life is full of hate already and gay bashing has been going on to long.
Gays here stay quiet, NS like to stomp them, fascists bastards. I'm straight but have friends who treat me better then heteros, it's just not in humans but through out nature, so I guess some feel it's a disease of nature!

Yours in the struggle

[Hoxhaist]

Homophobia is a disease itself. It is a disease supported by the elite in order to divide the lower classes against each other. just another wrench to stumble revolutionary progress like racism, sexism, and nationalism

[Patchd]

Homophobia is a disease itself. It is a disease supported by the elite in order to divide the lower classes against each other. just another wrench to stumble revolutionary progress like racism, sexism, and nationalism
AAARGGGHHH, sorry, didn't read your post properly!

My apologies! Sorry sorry sorry sorry, ma bad! Tiredness see ;)

[Hoxhaist]

You can fuck right off you elitist ****. A disease? What proof have you got there? The wise Godly words of Engels?

I knew there was something wrong with you.

What??? I'm saying anti-gay activism is promoted by people who want to divide society into pro-gay and anti-gay segments. Looking at CA is that not a correct observation, look at the activities of the Mormon Church during the referendum. I'm saying Homo PHOBIA is the disease not homosexuality, I have no idea what that is and people can love who ever they want. I'm NOT BRUNO!!!!

[Patchd]

I know! Sorry, I corrected my last post. My deepest apologies :lol: Tiredness isn't good :P

[Hoxhaist]

AAARGGGHHH, sorry, didn't read your post properly!

My apologies! Sorry sorry sorry sorry, ma bad! Tiredness see ;)
oh ok, I was really confused for a second PEACE, comrade :)

[Rosa Provokateur]

Homophobia has to do with behavior and the response to it; males are expected to be masculine and are raised with some sort of idea concerning this masculinity. When another male is perceived as not meeting the masculine criteria it threatens the masculine comradery built between males and the reaction is alienation, sometimes even violently.

I think that if society keeps in the same direction it's at, homophobia will go the way of racism; still in existence but sapped of any real power.

[Stranger Than Paradise]

An excellent topic. You both present a bold questioning as well as a good sociological study/topic. It comes down to age really. I remember when I was in school how many people were assumed to be "gay" and were actually straight. I also remember how many of the most popular guys actually turned out to be "gay". On the whole note of recalling events of the past I remember a guy, who happened to be a pretty popular and apparently had this "toughest guy in the school" individual aura about him. He challenged me to a fight one day just for the sake of proving he could beat me up. So I initially laughed at his request. But due to persistent chauvinism I accepted and kicked his ass. The individual later turned out to be homosexual and has good respect for me since and I would actually describe him as a personal friend. He also developed a camp voice compared to his previously pretentious "tough voice".....I still have trouble understanding this concept though. lol!

That's really interesting. So he was like the tough guy of the school and he turned out to be gay? That's sad, from what you've said it seems he tried to portray himself as the tough guy so no one knew he was gay. Apologies if it was completely different.

Also, what I found is that in most cases it seems to dissipate with age. I found that in my school when it came to the last year all the people who were perceived as really tough would be the ones who would be very playful with each other and loving and maybe the less conservative with their feelings.

[Sean]

Also, I've used this study since I first heard about it in psychology class, but its just saying "no YOU'RE guy" so its not really fighting views on homosexuality in a positive way.

The authors investigated the role of homosexual arousal in exclusively heterosexual men who admitted negative affect toward homosexual individuals. Participants consisted of a group of homophobic men (n = 35) and a group of nonhomophobic men (n = 29); they were assigned to groups on the basis of their scores on the Index of Homophobia (W. W. Hudson & W. A. Ricketts, 1980). The men were exposed to sexually explicit erotic stimuli consisting of heterosexual, male homosexual, and lesbian videotapes, and changes in penile circumference were monitored. They also completed an Aggression Questionnaire (A. H. Buss & M. Perry, 1992). Both groups exhibited increases in penile circumference to the heterosexual and female homosexual videos. Only the homophobic men showed an increase in penile erection to male homosexual stimuli. The groups did not differ in aggression. Homophobia is apparently associated with homosexual arousal that the homophobic individual is either unaware of or denies.



http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8772014
I like this ad campaign and it won an award recently in fact. This line of education is probably the way to go.

uEpBYKOs3ys

[Demogorgon]

Homophobia in early to mid teens is a difficult one because it seems to be a phase teenage boys go through while they cope with uncertainty regarding their own sexuality. It isn't hard to see why uncertainty and confusion manifests itself in outward hostility when it comes to boys in testosterone overdrive. They just need to have their understanding of the subject increased and have experience with actual gay people.

Adult Homophobia is a harder one, but attitudes are changing. As with racism we just have to work at it.

[Pirate turtle the 11th]

I must say that homophobia in school seems to be decreasing as kids get older.

[Pogue]

That ad is really good, and is basically the line I have been taking for a few years now.

You find alot of homophobia in certain people at a young age. There was alot of it in my school from all types of kids, because its seen as 'un macho'.

Theres some really absurd beliefs in regards to homosexuality. One of them is males who fear that a gay man will try to 'bum them'. I see that 'fear' come up alot. Hence 'homophobia', fear of a gay person doing that to you. Its ridiculous and baseless. Its like fearing being in a room full of females in case they strap you down and try to molest you.

I find there are different types of people in regards to homophobes. There's those who have general deep down predjudices that fit in with racism, sexism etc, i.e. a belief in being better, superior, and that anything which deviates from what you are and believe is inherently wrong. This is the more aggresive homophobia and I've seen it come from general racist types. It fits into the whole far-right ideology of 'Different = bad'. These are the thuggish types who aren't worth bothering with most of the time because they come from far right wing families.


Then you get your general homophobes, which there are lots of, especially amongst adolescent males. They usually fit into the 'Eurgh, its dirty' line but don't deviate from that much. Mostly I've found this fear comes from a fear of participating in homosexual acitivities, i.e. sex with another male, kissing another male, etc. I have found these types easier to talk down, because often they end up admitting their belief is irrational. I take the line of 'Yeh, you might not like the idea of kissing a male or having gay sex, but why can't you just accept that other people enjoy it?'
Theres been times when people have accepted this, and I think from there on in you could get the homophobia out of them. Its not that strong in alot of people antway, they just go along with it. I think with alot of them, if they met a gay person and spent time with them eventually it'd go. But some, arogant, idiotic types like a bunch of right proper geeks I met lately (typical posh, arogant nerdy pathetic homophobe types, enraged me) refuse to give it up because generally they're just too thick and pathetic to accept the truth in front of there eyes.

I guess religious types could form their own category. They might not be the hardcore predjudiced 'Anything not white-hetrosexual-masculine and NATIONALIST is wrong', but they're not kids going along with the crowd who can be talked down. They base their ideas on a single tome they accept as absolute truth to be accepted and abided by on pain of eternal suffering, so their beliefs tend to stay really into them. You could try talking about the general hypocrisy and baselessness of the bible to them but I doubt it'd be succesful.

I can't really speak for lesbianphobia amongst girls personally.

I don't think homophobia is that widespread where I am from. Most people tend to accept it after a while, but you do see quite a lot mainly young males who are heavily homophobic. I think alot of people grow out of it but like all reactionary ideology there are a few idiots who latch onto it for various reasons usually stemming from a lack of self-esteem and alot of repression.

In a revolutionary society, and obviously before hand, we need to fight it when it exists but I think we could do it as most people are rational and I'd say the majority have realised that it doesn't matter who finds who attractive.