Homophobia

Submitted by Jeff Novak D. C, Faculty Clinician, University Health Services

A summary of a presentation that I attended at the 2008 Multicultural Forum summarized at the request of the NWHSU Diversity Commission.

Let’s talk about Homophobia: A personal and professional exploration to harness winds of change.  Presented by Scott Fearing at the 2008 Multicultural Forum.

Definition of Homophobia:
- The irrational fear of homosexuals and homosexuality
- Negative actions/behaviors/responses against GLBT
- This is about personal actions/responses.

Root Components of Homophobia:
- Sexism: Gay men are not real men. Lesbians are not real women.
- Eroto (sex) phobia: Fear of sexuality.
- Xenophobia: Fear of difference.

Definitions of Heterosexism & Privilege
- Heterosexism - The superiority of heterosexuals
- Privilege - Life with comfort.
- We all have privilege in some aspect of our life.

Manifestations of Transgender
Cross dresser
- Identifies with male and female

Transsexual
- Hormonal
- Often pursues sexual reorientation surgery (not appropriate to call it a sex change operation)
- Androgenous - Having both male and female anatomy.

Drag queen/king
- Theatrical
- Over-the-top

Transvestite
- Outdated term
- Cross-dress for sexual pleasure

Aspects of Identity
Gender (sex)
- 37 variations on the XX/XY chromosome.
- In the 1st 54 days of gestation we’re the same.

Gender identity
- Whether you feel like a male or a female

Gender expression
- How we express ourselves to the world
- Masculine or feminine

Sexual orientation
- Who we’re attracted to
- Heterosexual
- Homosexual
- Bisexual

Sexual behavior
- What we enjoy or find stimulating
- This aspect is not for the workplace.

Stress
Issues above the waterline are what we are comfortable with.
Issues below the line we are unaware of.
Issues at the waterline are stressful and what we identify the most with.

Examples of stress responses
While interacting with an openly gay co-worker, a straight employee keeps thinking about his sexuality and identity

Changing your seat because a GLBT person sits in the chair next to you.

Assuming that everyone you meet is heterosexual.

Not confronting an anti-GLBT joke or comment for fear of being identified as a GLBT person.

Being afraid to show physical affection to someone of the same gender. (Even a family member.)

Being careful about the kinds of clothes you wear, or your mannerisms so that you do not have that “look.”

Assuming that if a GLBT person shows friendliness towards you, they are making a sexual advance.

Not asking about your GLBT co-worker’s partner, although you regularly ask about your heterosexual co-worker’s spouse.

Attitudes Toward Differences“The Riddle Scale”
Repulsion
People who are perceived as different are sick, strange, crazy and aversive.

Pity
People who are perceived as different are somehow born that way and that is sad and pitiful.

Tolerance
Being different is an “abnormality” of species; the difference is understandable, but still unfortunate.

Acceptance
Accommodation is made for another’s differences. Acknowledgement that another’s identity may have the same value as their own.

Admiration
Acknowledges that being “different” in our society takes strength.

Appreciation
Values the diversity of people and is willing to confront the insensitive attitudes of others and social systems.

Nurturance:
Feels that “differences” in people are valuable; even indispensable in society. Works to safeguard the rights of those perceived as different.

Final Agreements
Marginalization, discrimination, harassment and violence are all points on the same continuum.

These actions are not part of healthy relationships; personal or professional.

They affect and hurt everyone.

Ending them will benefit everyone.

No individual is to blame for oppression occurring.

Each of us can facilitate it’s continuance.

Each of us can help to stop it.

Those who commit these acts of violence upon others are responsible for their actions and must be held accountable.

Those who commit these acts of violence upon themselves need a gentle hand to educate them and discourage such actions.

In Closing
“Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not, himself, find peace.” – Albert Schweitzer