 Saturday was International Day Against Homophobia, and in this special
feature compiled by TasCAHRD and Working It Out, we look at some of the
issues around this particular kind of fear/hatred, including its
consequences.
What is Homophobia?“It happens every day,
it’s the way people look at you when they find out; it’s the way people ignore
you, shun you; make you feel little, different and inferior. It’s the way work
administers the roster and the way the school fails to curb bullying.”
- Joey, 18 years
Homophobia is the unreasonable fear or hatred of gay, lesbian and bisexual
people, and similarly transphobia is the fear and hatred of transgender people,
and these attitudes result in prejudice and discrimination and at worst verbal
and physical assaults on members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and
intersex (LGBTI) communities.
Homophobia is not a phobia in the literal sense, it is
characterised more by anger and contempt than fear. It is a useful term for
describing the emotional tension about sexual identity that is widespread
amongst heterosexuals. While not everyone who is homophobic engages in
discriminatory behaviour towards gay men and lesbians they are more likely to
contribute to a general attitude of intolerance.
The Effects of
Homophobia
“I was hit in the face
and thrown down a flight of stairs and called a poofta and a queer weirdo. This
was at high school in year 8. I didn’t even associate myself as gay at the
time. In both incidents I went to teachers for help and none was given. It was
all given a blind eye. I felt hurt and upset that nothing was done.”
- Zac, 19 years
Homophobia has very serious consequences for the lives of LGBTI
people, as Michael Flood explains:
‘Gay men and Lesbians
experience cultural invisibility, they are routinely told that their innermost
feelings and desires are disgusting, dangerous, just a phase or non-existent,
they are denied civil and legal rights and the recognition of their partners
and relationships, their consenting sexual relations are criminalised and
policed, and they are subject to verbal and physical harassment, bashings and
even murders.’
In 2004, a report commissioned by the NSW Attorney-General’s
Department, ‘You Shouldn’t Have to Hide to be Safe’ found that:
- During
the previous 12 months 56% of homosexual people experienced homophobia and
violence;
- During
their lifetime 85% of gay men and lesbians experienced harassment or
violence; and
- One
in four gay men and lesbians has been physically attacked sometime in
their life.
The effects of homophobia on same-sex attracted young people
(SSAY) are especially worrying, as according to a recent study SSAY in
Australia are six times more likely to attempt suicide and self-harm than the
population as a whole.
This illustrates that community hatred can be internalised
as self-hatred, which can then lead to self-harming and risk taking behaviours.
Challenging
Homophobia
“For myself, I have no
fears. The reason I try to fight homophobia and wish to educate people is
because of what ignorance and hate has done to other people, to people I’ve met
for a brief second, to my friends, to my lover. No one should suffer like they
have. One incident of hate can have a deep effect on people – I’ve seen it.”
- Nikki, 17 years
We have every right to celebrate and be proud of our
sexuality and gender identity, and although it can be difficult to challenge
homophobia, remember that you are not alone, these contacts can help you.
Contacts
Working It Out – Tasmania’s gender and
sexuality support service
Provide free counselling for any one related to their
sexuality or gender identity. Also available to provide information, resources
and training to your workplace, parents group, community organisation or service
provider.
Hobart
Ph: 6231 1200, Launceston Ph: 6334 4013, Burnie 6432 3643
Web www.workingitout.org.au
Gay Men’s Health
Program Coordinator at TasCAHRD
(Tasmanian Council on AIDS, Hepatitis &
Related Diseases) - Provides free support to gay men and other men who have sex
with men (MSM) regarding issues of
health and well-being particularly in relation to HIV education and prevention.
Also provides individual, group, face to face, telephone and online support.
319 Liverpool
Street, Hobart.
Tel (03) 6234 1242 or Free Information & Support Line
1800 005 900
Email
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Web www.tascahrd.org.au
Hobart Women’s Health Centre
Offers same-sex attracted women counselling, support and
referrals.
The Lounge Social
Group for same sex attracted women
Every 2nd and 4th
Tues of month at 5:30pm
Contact Jen Ph: 6231 3212
Email:
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Tasmanian Gay and
Lesbian Rights Group
Political advocacy for the GLBTI community.
Contact Rodney Croome Ph: 6224 3556 M: 0409 010 668
Email:
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Web www.tglrg.org
Coming Out Proud
Program (COPP)
Community liaison committee’s advocating GLBTI issues at
local and regional levels within Tasmania
(four regions)
Tel (03) 6239 6606
Email
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Web www.comingoutproud.org
Sources
Hillier et al. 2005 ‘Writing Themselves In Again’.
Flood M. & Hamilton C. 2005 ‘Mapping Homophobia in Australia’,
Australia Institute.
Quinn K. 2003, ‘Rural suicide and same-sex attracted youth’,
Rural and Remote Health 3 Online.
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