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Homophobia refers to antipathy towards homosexuality and/or fear of gay men and lesbians that stems from the essentialist cultural notion that maleness-masculinity and femaleness-femininity are complementary and normative. Homophobia as a fear of homosexuality can be internalized in gay men and lesbians as well as heterosexuals and bisexuals and persons of any gender or sexual identity. It can be a sedimented perceptor that influences the psychology and behavior or all persons and dominates all cultural institutions.

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Homophobia According to Planned Parenthood

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Homophobia According to Planned Parenthood

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Homophobia is the fear, hatred, discomfort with, or mistrust of people who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual. It can take many different forms, including negative attitudes and beliefs about, aversion to, or prejudice against bisexual, lesbian, and gay people. It’s often based in irrational fear and misunderstanding. Some people’s homophobia may be rooted in conservative religious beliefs or taught to them by parents and families. Homophobic people may use mean language and name-calling when they talk about lesbian and gay people.  In its most extreme form, homophobia can cause people to bully, abuse, and inflict violence on lesbian, gay, and bisexual people.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc. (n.d.). What is homophobia? Planned Parenthood. Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/sexual-orientation/sexual-orientation/what-homophobia

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What are homophobia and sexual orientation discrimination?

The homophobia definition is the fear, hatred, discomfort with, or mistrust of people who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Biphobia is fear, hatred, discomfort, or mistrust, specifically of people who are bisexual. Similarly, transphobia is fear, hatred, discomfort with, or mistrust of people who are transgender, genderqueer, or don't follow traditional gender norms.

Although transphobia, biphobia, and homophobia are similar, they're not the same thing. Both gay and straight people can be transphobic and biphobic, and people can be transphobic without being homophobic or biphobic.

Homophobia can take many different forms, including negative attitudes and beliefs about, aversion to, or prejudice against bisexual, lesbian, and gay people. It's often based in irrational fear and misunderstanding. Some people's homophobia may be rooted in conservative religious beliefs. People may hold homophobic beliefs if they were taught them by parents and families.

Homophobic people may use mean language and name-calling when they talk about lesbian and gay people. Biphobic people may tell bisexual people that it's "just for attention," or that they're inherently cheaters. In its most extreme forms, homophobia and biphobia can cause people to bully, abuse, and inflict violence on lesbian, gay, and bisexual people.

Some LGBTQ people experience discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This may be discrimination from religious institutions, companies, or from our government. Examples include same-sex couples not being allowed to marry, getting legally fired just for being LGBTQ, or not being allowed into certain housing.

LGBTQ people and their allies have fought for equal rights and continue to do so, especially concerning marriage, employment, housing and health care equality, and protection from hate crimes (violence against LGBTQ people because of who they are).

What is internalized homophobia?

Internalized homophobia refers to people who are homophobic while also experiencing same-sex attraction themselves. Sometimes, people may have negative attitudes and beliefs about those who experience same-sex attraction, and then turn the negative beliefs in on themselves rather than come to terms with their own desires. This may mean that they feel discomfort and disapproval with their own same-sex attractions, never accept their same-sex attractions, or never identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual.

People dealing with internalized homophobia may feel the need to "prove" that they're straight, exhibit very stereotypical behavior of straight men and women, or even bully and discriminate against openly gay people.

What is outing?

Outing is the act of revealing someone else's sexual orientation without their permission. If you share information about someone's sexual orientation against their wishes, you risk affecting their lives very negatively by making them feel embarrassed, upset, and vulnerable.

You may also put them at risk for discrimination and violence. If someone shares their orientation with you, remember that this is very personal information and it's an honor that they trusted you enough to tell you. Always ask them what you're allowed to share with others and respect their wishes.

Where can I get support if I'm dealing with homophobia?

People who experience homophobic, biphobic, or transphobic harassment often feel alone and are afraid to tell anyone what's happening. You should never have to face harassment.

You can get support from:

Other LGBTQ people

Your local LGBTQ community center

Online communities of LGBTQ people

Q Chat Space is a way for LGBTQ+ teens to connect with each other through live-chat group discussions - no matter where they are

Trusted LGBTQ adults that you may already know, such as family members or teachers

Straight people who are allies to LGBTQ people

A Gay/Straight Alliance at your high school, if applicable.

LGBTQ organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), The Trevor Project, and Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)

Not everyone lives in a place that has a Gay/Straight Alliance in their high school, or an LGBTQ community center. In this situation, the Internet is super useful in finding communities and support in dealing with homophobia and discrimination.

If you're a young person who's experiencing harassment in school, it's important to tell someone, even if that seems scary. If you don't seek help and just accept it, the harassment will probably continue, or maybe even get worse over time. This can make it hard to keep up with grades, activities, and school in general.

Some schools may have an anti-bullying and harassment policy, and some states have adopted a Safe Schools Law, which means that your school administrators are legally required to stop the harassment. If possible, find a trusted teacher or adult who is an ally to LGBTQ students and ask for their help.

If you're a young person experiencing homophobia and it's causing you to feel depressed or suicidal, the Trevor Project can help.

What can I do to help stop homophobia?

No one has the right to discriminate against or bully another person, or to hurt them emotionally or physically. There are several things you can do to help stop homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia:

Don't ever use negative or offensive language to describe LGBTQ people.

Be careful of how even casual language - such as saying "that's so gay"- can hurt others.

Don't believe stereotypes about LGBTQ people or make assumptions about them.

Be a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ community, regardless of your own sexual orientation and identity. This is called being an ally.

Let the LGBTQ people in your life know that you're a friend and ally.

Educate yourself on LGBTQ issues.

Respect LGBTQ people's decisions about when and where to come out.

Join your school's Gay/Straight Alliance, or start one at your school. GLSEN can help with that.

Remember that being LGBTQ is just one part of a person's complex identity and life.

Show as much interest in your LGBTQ friends' or family members' partners as you would show in a straight person's partner.

If you feel safe doing so, speak up when other people are being homophobic or biphobic, such as making offensive jokes, using negative language, or bullying or harassing someone because of their sexual orientation or identity.

When addressing homophobia in others:

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The homophobia definition is the fear, hatred, discomfort with, or mistrust of people who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Biphobia is fear, hatred, discomfort, or mistrust, specifically of people who are bisexual. Similarly, transphobia is fear, hatred, discomfort with, or mistrust of people who are transgender, genderqueer, or don't follow traditional gender norms. Although transphobia, biphobia, and homophobia are similar, they're not the same thing.

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Homophobia According to UCSF LGBT Resource Center

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Homophobia According to UCSF LGBT Resource Center

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Homophobia is the irrational hatred and fear of LGBTQIA+ people. It includes prejudice, discrimination, harassment, and acts of violence brought on by fear and hatred. It occurs on personal, institutional, and societal levels.

The Regents of the University of California. (n.d.). General definitions. UCSF LGBT Resource Center. Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://lgbt.ucsf.edu/glossary-terms

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Ally: A person who confronts heterosexism, sexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and heterosexual privilege in themselves and others out of concern for the well-being of LGBTQIA+ people.

Asexuality: Generally characterized by not feeling sexual attraction or a desire for partnered sexuality. Asexuality is distinct from celibacy, which is the deliberate abstention from sexual activity.

Biphobia: fear or hatred of people who are bisexual, pansexual, or omnisexual.

Bisexual: A person whose primary sexual and affectional orientation is toward people of the same and other genders, or towards people regardless of their gender.

Coming Out: Refers to voluntarily making public one's sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Cisgender: The prefix cis- means "on this side of" or "not across." A term used to call attention to the privilege of people who are not transgender.

Cross Dresser: A word to describe a person who dresses, at least partially, as a member of a gender other than their assigned sex; carries no implications of sexual orientation.

Drag King: A person (often a woman) who appears as a man. Generally in reference to an act or performance. This has no implications regarding gender identity.

Drag Queen: A person (often a man) who appears as a woman. Generally in reference to an act or performance. This has no implications regarding gender identity.

Gay: A sexual orientation toward people of the same gender.

Gender: A social construct used to classify a person as a man, woman, or some other identity. Fundamentally different from the sex one is assigned at birth; a set of social, psychological and emotional traits, often influenced by societal expectations

Gender Expression: How one expresses oneself, in terms of dress, mannerisms and/or behaviors that society characterizes as "masculine" or "feminine."

Genderqueer: A person whose gender identity and/or gender expression falls outside of the dominant societal norm for their assigned sex, is beyond genders, or is some combination of them.

Heterosexism: The assumption that all people are or should be heterosexual. Heterosexism excludes the needs, concerns, and life experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer people while it gives advantages to heterosexual people. It is often a subtle form of oppression, which reinforces realities of silence and invisibility.

Heterosexuality: A sexual orientation in which a person feels physically and emotionally attracted to people of a gender other than their own.

Homophobia: The irrational hatred and fear of LGBTQIA+ people. Homophobia includes prejudice, discrimination, harassment, and acts of violence brought on by fear and hatred. It occurs on personal, institutional, and societal levels.

Homosexual/Homosexuality: An outdated term to describe a sexual orientation in which a person feels physically and emotionally attracted to people of the same gender.

Internalized homophobia: The fear and self-hate of one's own LGBBTQIA identity, that occurs for many individuals who have learned negative ideas about LGBTQIA+ people throughout childhood. One form of internalized oppression is the acceptance of the myths and stereotypes applied to the oppressed group.

Intersex: People who, without medical intervention, develop primary or secondary sex characteristics that do not fit "neatly" into society's definitions of male or female. Many visibly intersex people are mutilated in infancy and early childhood by doctors to make the individual's sex characteristics conform to society's idea of what normal bodies should look like. Intersex people are relatively common, although society's denial of their existence has allowed very little room for intersex issues to be discussed publicly.

Lesbian: A woman whose primary sexual orientation is toward people of the same gender.

LGBT: Abbreviation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender. An umbrella term used to refer to the community as a whole.

Pansexual/Omnisexual: Terms used to describe people who have romantic, sexual or affectional desire for people of all genders and sexes.

Nonbinary: A gender identity that embraces full universe of expressions and ways of being that resonate with an individual. It may be an active resistance to binary gender expectations and/or an intentional creation of new unbounded ideas of self within the world.

Queer: This can include, but is not limited to, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and asexual people. This term has different meanings to different people. Some still find it offensive, while others reclaim it to encompass the broader sense of history of the gay rights movement. Can also be used as an umbrella term like LGBT, as in "the queer community."

Sex: a categorization based on the appearance of the genitalia at birth.

Sexuality: The components of a person that include their biological sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual practices, etc.

Sexual Orientation: An enduring emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction. Sexual orientation is fluid. Asexuality is also considered a sexual orientation (See above definition of asexuality)

Transphobia: The fear or hatred of transgender people or people who do not meet society's gender role expectations.

Transgender: Used most often as an umbrella term, some commonly held definitions: 1. Someone whose gender identity or expression does not fit (dominant-group social constructs of) assigned birth sex and gender. 2. A gender outside of the man/woman binary. 3. Having no gender or multiple genders.

Transsexual: A person who lives full-time in a gender different than their assigned birth sex and gender. Some pursue hormones and/or surgery while others do not. Sometimes used to specifically refer to trans people pursuing gender or sex confirmation.

Transvestite: This is an outdated and problematic term due to its historical use as a diagnosis for medical/mental health disorders. Cross Dresser has replaced transvestite, see above definition.

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Ally: A person who confronts heterosexism, sexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and heterosexual privilege in themselves and others out of concern for the well-being of LGBTQIA+ people. Asexuality: Generally characterized by not feeling sexual attraction or a desire for partnered sexuality. Asexuality is distinct from celibacy, which is the deliberate abstention from sexual activity.

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Homophobia is "the irrational hatred, intolerance, and fear" of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

These views are expressed through homophobic behaviors such as negative comments, bullying, physical attacks, discrimination and negative media representation. It also may be expressed through actions of the state, such as punitive laws, as well as other social institutions.

Homophobia and HIV. Avert. (2019, October 10). Retrieved December 15, 2021, from https://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-social-issues/homophobia

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Homophobia is the fear, hatred, mistrust of, or discomfort with, LGBTI people.

It is expressed through negative comments, rejection from friends and family, bullying, violence, discrimination, and negative media representation. Some LGBTI people can internalise homophobic attitudes, which is called self-stigma.

It is not only individuals who can be homophobic - governments and institutions can be too. For example, laws that criminalise homosexuality are homophobic laws.

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Many men who have sex with men face high levels of homophobia and making it harder for them to access HIV services. Find out more.