The word homophobia means repulsion or prejudice against homosexuality and/or homosexuality. This term would have been used for the first time in the United States in the mid 70's and, from the 90's, it would have been diffused around the world. The word phobia refers to a kind of “irrational fear”, and the fact that it was used in this sense is still a matter of discussion among some theorists regarding the use of the term. Thus, it is understood that the concept should not be reduced to this meaning.
We can understand homophobia, as well as other forms of prejudice, as an attitude of putting the other person, in this case, the homosexual, in the condition of inferiority, of abnormality, based on the domain of heteronormative logic, that is, of heterosexuality as a standard, standard. Homophobia is the expression of what we can call the hierarchy of sexualities. However, the legitimacy of the homosexual form of expression of human sexuality must be understood.
Throughout history, numerous denominations have been used to identify homosexuality, reflecting the prejudiced character of societies that coined certain terms, such as: mortal sin, sexual perversion, aberration.
Another component of homophobia is projection. For psychology, projection is a defense mechanism for human beings, which places everything that threatens human beings as something external to them. Thus, evil is always something that is outside the subject and yet, different from those with which it identifies itself. For example, for many years, it was believed that AIDS was a disease that exclusively infected homosexuals. Thus, the “aidetic” was the one who had homosexual relationships. Thus, people could feel protected, since the evil of AIDS would not reach them (heterosexuals).
The AIDS issue is little discussed, keeping confusions like this in place and sustaining unfounded ideas. Some research also points to the fear that the homophobic has to feel attracted to someone of the same sex. In this sense, desire is projected outwards and rejected, based on homophobic actions.
representations of homophobia
Thus, we can understand the complexity of the phenomenon of homophobia, which ranges from the well-known “jokes” to ridicule to actions such as violence and murder. Homophobia also implies a pathological view of homosexuality, subjected to clinical looks, therapies and attempts at “cure”.
The issue is not limited to homosexual individuals, that is, homophobia also includes issues in the public sphere, such as the fight for rights. Many homophobic behaviors they arise precisely from the fear of the equivalence of rights between homosexuals and heterosexuals, since this means, in a way, the disappearance of the established sexual hierarchy, as we discussed.
We can understand then that homophobia comprises two fundamental dimensions: on the one hand, the affective issue, a rejection of the homosexual; on the other, the cultural dimension that highlights the cognitive issue, where the object of prejudice is homosexuality as a phenomenon, and not the homosexual as an individual.
stable union
In May 2011, the Supreme Court recognized the legality of a stable union between people of the same sex in Brazil. The decision resumed discussions about the rights of homosexuality, in addition to putting the issue of homophobia on the agenda.
Despite the achievements in the field of rights, homosexuality still faces prejudice. The legal recognition of homosexual unions has not been able to end homophobia, nor has it protected countless homosexuals from being rejected, often violently.
*Image credits: Alexandros Michailidis | Shutterstock
Juliana Spinelli Ferrari
Brazil School Collaborator
Graduated in Psychology from UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista