Homophobia: Fear of the Third Sex

It has only been relatively recent that homosexuality has come to be accepted by many in society. Even religion no longer actively condemns homosexuality as a sexual orientation as an abomination. Christianity for example, generally calls for the acceptance of the homosexual as a human being and only condemns same sex acts as sinful. With this growing societal acceptance, homosexuals have found their voice in their struggle for the total recognition of their rights and their way of life.

It is expected of course that with the growing acceptance of what was once unacceptable, opposite reactions may also develop and thrive. In the last leg of the 1960s for example, a new term, homophobia, came to be commonly used to describe a set of attitudes and behavior that are implicitly or explicitly directed towards circumventing the social, moral and legal acceptance for homosexuality. Homophobia has generally been seen as the first and primary stumbling block in the struggle for homosexual rights.

A homophobic is generally someone who fears and avoids homosexuals. Such fear and aversion may also translate to acts of passive or active discrimination. The reason for the use of the word homophobia itself to denote such fear and discrimination is not clear. Tracing the origin of its meaning, homophobia from homo means man in Latin and same in Greek. Phobia as many may already know is fear in Greek. It was George Weinberg, a psychologist who first used the word in its modern usage. Just like other phobias, homophobia is generally seen as irrational.

The use of the word itself has always been disputed. Some of those who oppose homosexuality seem to believe that the term has simply been popularized by pro homosexual groups and individuals to create the illusion that all opposition for homosexuality and homosexual acts is irrational. This effectively simplifies the anti gay stance, without consideration for the complexity of moral and legal issues.

There are some who prefer the terms heterosexism, homonegativity and sexual prejudice as alternative terms. Although all terms imply some form of disapproval for some or all aspects of homosexuality, these terms are less likely to be seen as irrational in nature when used to label people. In effect, this is tantamount to saying that opposition for homosexuality is not irrational at all but is based on solid moral and legal grounds. Even among opposing groups however, the dispute over terms has never been thoroughly settled because some homophobics do not mind being known as such and are even proud of their stance.

Pro homosexual groups tend to see the issue on terminology as merely a play of terms and maintain that terms such as homonegativity and the like still involve aspects of homophobia. Regardless however of whatever term is used, it is believed that arguing over terminology is equivalent to skirting the real issues, the most crucial of which are gay rights.

It is supposed that because of homophobia, many homosexuals have been denied complete legal, moral and social recognition.