by newcomet

Created on: July 30, 2009   Last Updated: August 06, 2009

Homophobia is a lot like racism. It is a process through which the prevailing majority in a culture exercizes bigotry, power and control over a minority. In our culture, historically, white heterosexuals have regulated laws, practices, schooling, and employment to oppress blacks, gays and many others. Homophobia is not just a phobia or "fear" of homosexuals but an actual set of oppressive behaviors that have existed for centuries.

Policies geared to keep homosexuals from enjoying the same civil rights as heterosexuals are less entrenched in our laws than at any time in history. But they are still, unfortunately, alive and well. Dont Ask, Don't Tell is a military policy that has not kept highly trained and qualified personel from being discharged from the armed forces for no reason whatsoever other than that they are gay. Gays are not allowed to marry legally or enjoy social security spousal benefits under federal law. Homosexuals are often compared to humans having sex with animals by the right wing fear mongers when they petition for fundamental civil rights. These are just a few ways the culture at large has not emerged from bigotry, oppression and sometimes outright hatred.

So when we consider the idea of heterophobia, it is somewhat like saying a black person is racist. A black person or a gay person may have very strong reactions, wounds, and form their own biases after being on the receiving end of unfair, unjust and even murderous abuses from the larger culture. They do not, however, have the power to deny straight people the right to marry, to collect social security benefits after the death of their spouse, they cannot take their employment away for the shocking offense of being heterosexual, or even to claim their spouse's body or visit a spouse in the emergency room. Essentially, they have no power to affect heterosexuals negatively at all.

So that leaves heterophobia as a constellation of feelings resulting from a lifetime of discrimination and abuse. I would suggest this is a misnomer for trauma and disillusionment. These feelings could be healed somewhat by understanding and also by working actively for one's own civil rights. Some of the staunchest advocates for gay civil rights are straight people. They are invaluable allies in changing the oppression that still exists and learning not to tar all straight people with the brush handed to us by a few bigots. I can think of nothing sadder than becoming like the people who have demonstrated such prejudice and injustice.

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