In our homophobic, heterosexist, discriminatory culture, we may learn negative ideas about homosexuality and same-sex attraction. This can lead to feelings of self-disgust and self-hatred.
Hearing and seeing negative depictions of LGB people can lead us to internalise, or take in, these negative messages. Some LGB people suffer from mental distress as a result. A general sense of personal worth and also a positive view of your sexual orientation are critical for your mental health.
You, like many lesbian, gay and bisexual people, may have hidden your sexual orientation for a long time. Research carried out in Northern Ireland into the needs of young LGBT people in revealed that the average age for men to realise their sexual orientation was 12, yet the average age they actually confided in someone was It is during these formative years when people are coming to understand and acknowledge their sexual orientation that internalised homophobia can really affect a person.
Internalised homophobia manifests itself in varying ways that can be linked to mental health. Examples include:. Contempt for those that are not like ourselves or contempt for those who seem like ourselves. Sometimes distancing by engaging in homophobic behaviours — ridicule, harassment, verbal or physical attacks on other LGB people.
School truancy or dropping out of school. Also, work place absenteeism or reduced productivity. Separating sex and love, or fear of intimacy. Sometimes low or lack of sexual drive or celibacy. Some of these examples include:. Heterophobia: putting down or even avoiding heterosexuals is an example of reverse discrimination from some gay and bisexual people to heterosexual people.
When this pattern of being attracted to unavailable men is repeated over and over, it may be the result of internalised homophobia. How can you cope with being the victim of homophobia?
Below are some tips to help you manage the reactions of others and how you respond in a way that promotes understanding instead of division. It's always important to find people who support and love you for who you are. If your friends and family are not supportive, consider joining a support group local or online to meet other people going through the same struggles as you.
While this is easier said than done, try to eliminate negative self-talk and don't buy into stereotypes that harm you and your self-esteem.
If you are dealing with homophobia directed at you by someone who claims that their religion forbids it, you can choose to try to share different perspectives. For example, you could share about religions that promote full acceptance and inclusivity or talk about how you just want to have the same rights and privileges as heterosexual individuals. If homophobia has had a negative effect on your mental health, consider seeing a mental health professional such as a psychologist or counselor who can help you to develop coping strategies.
If someone is directing homophobic comments toward you, avoid becoming defensive. Instead, try to respond in a positive way so that you are not stooping to their level so to speak.
If responding positively feels like too much of an effort, you could choose instead to simply walk away from the situation or the person. If it's a person who you can't walk away from for some reason e.
Homophobic insults are considered harassment or abuse and need not be tolerated. If someone has made you feel uncomfortable with their comments, but you don't think they are aware of their homophobia, consider sharing with them how their words are affecting you. Talking openly about your feelings may help them to realize the impact that they are having, without needing to get upset or be confrontational. When a person ceases to be a stereotype and is instead viewed as an individual, it will be harder for you to hold on to incorrect negative assumptions.
Are you looking for some good arguments against homophobia for the next time someone expresses this view? Here are some talking points to keep in mind. Remember that you likely won't change someone's mind with one conversation, but if you keep talking to them, you might eventually shift some of their long-held beliefs.
Whether you are a victim of homophobia or concerned about how homophobia is affecting others, there are actions that you can take to improve your situation. Know that you are not alone and that change can happen both at an individual level as well as at a community, institutional, and cultural level. While change may take longer than you would like, it is true that every step toward inclusivity and acceptance means one step away from hatred, violence, contempt, anger, and inequality.
Once you make a commitment to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem whether that is internalized, interpersonal, institutional, or cultural-based , you will begin to appreciate how even the smallest act can make a difference. While everyone is raised with different ethics and morals, questioning the status quo and thinking for yourself reflects a higher level of understanding and appreciation for the fact that everyone deserves to live their lives free of fear for simply being themselves.
Homophobia is what stands in the way for many individuals to do something as simple as that and the first step toward change is to realize that fact. Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Burton N. Is homophobia associated with homosexual arousal?.
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I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. What Is Homophobia? But the study does suggest that people who cling to homophobic views have some psychological issues, said lead researcher Emmanuele Jannini, an endocrinologist and medical sexologist at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. Earlier research has found homophobia to be a complex subject, with some studies suggesting that people with visceral negative reactions to gays and lesbians often harbor same-sex desires themselves.
Other studies, though, contest that idea , and suggest that homophobic people are truly averse to same-sex attraction. Other factors — such as religiosity, sensitivity to disgust, hypermasculinity and misogyny — seem to play a role in anti-gay beliefs, Jannini and his colleagues wrote in an article published Sept.
But no one had ever looked at the mental health or psychopathology of homophobic people. In the new study, the researchers asked Italian university students, ranging in age from 18 to 30, to fill out questionnaires on their levels of homophobia as well as their psychopathology, including levels of depression, anxiety and psychoticism.
The homophobia scale required participants to rate how strongly they agreed or disagreed on a 5-point scale with 25 statements, such as: Gay people make me nervous; I think homosexual people should not work with children; I tease and make jokes about gay people; and It does not matter to me whether my friends are gay or straight.
The students also answered questions about their attachment style , which categorizes how people approach relationships. The "healthy" attachment style is known as secure attachment, in which people feel comfortable getting close to others and having others get close to them. People who are insecurely attached, on the other hand, might avoid intimacy, become too clingy or desire closeness but feel uncomfortable trusting others.
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