Before you can combat or prevent any kind of phobia you first have to understand it. Most of the time those who are homophobic are not sure why they are, they haven't fully taken time to understand what it is about gay and lesbian people that they dislike or fear.

For some, homophobic attitudes have been spoon fed from their parent's lack of understanding towards same sex couples during upbringing. This normally stems from a lack of contact with gay or lesbian people. Those who have had a strict religious upbringing have been indoctrinated into their faiths attitudes and interpretation of holy texts and scriptures.

Anyone that gets to know a gay or lesbian person well will soon find that they are not what they expect. Everyone has preconceived ideas and stereotypical images of what we think a gay or lesbian person should be. More often than not, we're mistaken.

To prevent homophobia, we have to start accepting that gay and lesbian people are the same as everyone else, that they do not want special attention. We have to ensure that images of same sex couples are common place and not an oddity, for when something becomes ordinary; it ceases to have a fascination.

Gay people and couples being portrayed in the media and via drama programs or even through entertainment shows, are an excellent example of how general society can become acclimatised to the idea of seeing two men or women together. In the same way that mixed marriages or couples from diverse ethnic backgrounds are now viewed as ordinary and commonplace. No one thinks twice anyone about inter-racial relationships. Another way to combat and prevent homophobia is to challenge bad or threatening behavior, if you hear someone making homophobic comments, challenge it! Point out how stupid and damaging their attitude is.

This same goal can be achieved if more gay and lesbian people come out of the closet and heterosexual people take the time to get to know gays and lesbians for what they really are, and that is ordinary people with lives to lead. All that is needed is exposure to the differences that heterosexual people share with homosexuals. We are all athletes, doctors, school teachers, office workers, actors, models, singers, record store assistants, plumbers, street sweepers, carpenters and construction workers. We all have bills to pay, health issues of one kind or another, mortgages or rent, jobs, friendships, family, car problems and we all, regardless of sexuality, have a common need to love and be loved in return.

Learn more about this author, Mike Deakin.
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