Fighting Homophobia
Homophobia has been a prevalent issue for many years. It was of a particular commonality among many individuals in the early 20th century, before many people began to come out of the closet with their feelings. Particularly in a Christian nation like United States, homosexuality is seen as a condemned and sinful act. It was widely rejected. Homosexuality is still not accepted by many individuals or in some groups to this day, even though many have some to consider homosexuality as socially acceptable.
There are different types and levels of homophobia. In general, homophobes see gays as simplistic, weak, feminine, and possibly inferior. Many straight people display homophobia as a hatred, disrespect, or upfront rejection and desiring to have nothing to do with them. Gay bashing and ridicule are common among homophobes. Like any phobia, there is a fear involved. There could be a fear of that type of sexuality, or just a fear of that type of lifestyle. They see it as too bizarre, unnatural, freaky and scary. Extreme cases of homophobia display anxiety over the gay problem and tend to exaggerate the behavior of gays and overact in their presence.
Another, very interesting type of homophobia is the type that gays have to fight within themselves. Gay bashing does not only take place when straight people speak out against gays. It is also true that some gay men will bash other gay men or themselves. Sometimes men who feel that they are gay are not happy with the fact. The struggling homosexual then begins to reject the idea of homosexuality, relationships, and sex. They believe that they are gay, but dont want to be.
Those gays who struggle with homophobia against themselves might completely withdraw. They might avoid sex, relationships with partners and even distance themselves from family and friends as well. Some may try to fight the issue by indulging in promiscuity to try to shake that struggle. Wallowing in the self-hatred of homophobia, many gays have indulged in self-destructive behaviors (both sexual and non-sexual).
Another way that this homophobia can be manifested is towards other gays. They might cheat on their partner, as a destructive behavior. Some might out other gays. Announcing someone as homosexual when they dont want to announce it themselves is to say that being gay is bad or embarrassing.
Homophobia among straights may not be on the surface. There are ways of disguising homophobia and making gays feel uncomfortable about themselves. Withholding approval, offering negative criticism, and denying sympathy or affection are some of the ways that homophobes secretly display their fear or hatred for gays. These actions or inactions cause pain, shame and uncomfortable self-loathing for some gays.
All kinds of homophobia have negative impacts on the gay community, particularly the kind that gays impose upon themselves. No phobia is necessarily healthy. They all have negative affects on the way that a person conducts their everyday life and thinks about life and themselves overall. Phobias in general are typically exaggerated views and irrational fears.
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