Homophobia
The term "homophobia" is a pseudoscientific term originally intended to portray principalled opposition to the homosexual agenda as an abnormal mental condition. It was introduced into scientific literature shortly before the American Psychiatric Association declassified its diagnosis of homosexuality as a mental illness in 1973. Recent research however, claims that among non-homosexual homophobes, no phobia exists, [1] and most homophobes are homosexual who suffer from "internalized homophobia". The is no agreement within the psychiatric and theraputic profressions on what the term actually means.
The term was invented to impugn and slander opponents of homosexuality. [2] It is primarily used by gay activists to portray opposition to the homosexual agenda as irrational based on fear or hatred, and to smear Christians and others.
The term is intended to sound like a form of mental illness, but unlike actual phobias, it is not a term for any recognized psychological condition. The National Association for Research & Therapy on Homosexuality says,
- "The term "homophobia" is often used inaccurately to describe any person who objects to homosexual behavior on either moral, psychological or medical grounds. Technically, however, the terms actually denotes a person who has a phobiaâor irrational fearâof homosexuality. Principled disagreement, therefore, cannot be labeled "homophobia." [3]
When used in this pejorative sense, the term is offensive and derogatory (see Mockery).
Homosexuality and therapy
The therapeutic community is largely divided between proponents of gay gene theory who believe a person is born gay and will always be gay, and proponents of Reparative therapy who believe with sympathy and understanding a homosexual can be relieved of afflictions if he so desires. Gay gene advocates seek to criminalize so-called "homophobia", despite many homophobes themselves being gay, whereas Restoration therapy advocates point out the cruelty of brainwashing a young person into believing -- based upon theoretical evidence -- there is no hope of ever leading a heterosexual lifestyle.
Etymology
The neologism was promoted by George Weinberg, a gay activist and psychologist, who attempted to define it in clinical literature in 1972 as "the dread of being in close quarters with homosexuals." [4] From there the term entered the mainstream currency through pornographic publications. [5]
The word comes from combining the Greek prefix homo-, meaning "same", and suffix -phobia, meaning "fear of". In early usage by homosexual activists, the term described heterosexual fears that others might think they were homosexual [6] The term has not been wholly accepted within the psychological therapeutic community.
Homophobia as an "Irrational Fear"
The suffix "phobia" [7] suggests an irrational fear, but it is most often used as a attack term by gay rights groups to suggest that opposition to homosexuality is irrational and hateful.[8] Dr. Sander J. Breiner of NARTH has observed,
- There is no personal, internal, institutional, or cultural homophobia. The terms do not exist in the recognized scientific literature...There is only one homophobia, which has been properly defined....There is no doubt that homophobia exists. There is also no doubt that there are rationalized and irrational anti-homosexual attitudes. However, it would be very valuable for society in general, and therapists in particular, to have a clear picture of homophobia separated from all the other topics that have been lumped under that rubric." [9]
William O'Donohue and Christine E. Caselles [10] have concluded based upon research within the therapeutic community a clear understanding of the term has not been adequately evaluated and it is not clear whether the term can be accurately characterized. They have concluded,
- "the construct of homophobia, as it is usually used, makes an illegitimately pejorative evaluation of certain open and debatable value positions, much like the former disease construct of homosexuality."
See also
References
- â Study Says Thereâs No Phobia in âHomophobiaâ, Martha Kleder, CWA, 6/28/2002.
- â Gay Psychologist Creates New Terms for Use in the Social Debate
- â NARTH Position Statements
- â Plummer, David, One of the Boys: Masculinity, Homophobia, and Modern Manhood, pp. 3-4: "'Homophobia was introduced into the clinical literature by George Weinberg in 1972, in Society and the Healthy Homosexual. At that time, he referred to it as 'the dread of being in close quarters with homosexuals.'"
- â Gregory M. Herek, Ph.D., published Beyond 'Homophobia': Thinking About Sexual Prejudice and Stigma in the Twenty-First Century, in the April, 2004, issue of Sexuality Research & Social Policy.
- â http://www.narth.com/docs/creates.html
- â Psychologists do not recognize it as a phobia in any generally recognized publication like the DSM IV.
- â Eg, this site [1] first defines homophobia as a dread or fear, but says that it includes those who write their Congressmen to oppose same-sex marriage.
- â HOMOPHOBIA: A Scientific Non-Political Definition, Dr. Sander J. Breiner, National Association for Research and Therapy on Homosexuality, 2003.
- â William O'Donohue and Christine E. Caselles, Homophobia: Conceptual, definitional, and value issues, Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, Volume 15, Number 3, Springer Netherlands, September, 1993. ISSN 0882-2689