A4A : Homophobia
Homophobia is an insidious phenomenon that often succeeds in taking hold in a subtle, discreet and often invisible ways. Nobody is immune from hostility and hurtful acts directed towards homosexuals and homosexuality itself. Even we as homosexuals may adopt homophobic behaviors to shield ourselves from the hate and aggression that comes from homophobia.
The International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) strives to fight all forms of Homophobia. Large scale, world-wide efforts like this are needed, as 1.5 billion people globally still live under regimes which criminalize gay relationships.
Held on May 17th, the day is set aside as a rallying cry to everyone, offering all persons an opportunity to gather and reach, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Spearheaded by Fondation Émergence, “National Day Against Homophobia” was organised for the first time in Québec on June 4, 2003. Fondation Émergence and their partners worked hard to have this annual day be observed throughout Canada. What’s more, countries such as Belgium, France and United-Kingdom caught on to the idea and have set up similar events. As the word spread, May 17 became the day selected as the International Day Against Homophobia. This date was chosen based on the World Health Organisation’s decision to decategorise homosexuality as a mental disorder.
Last year, events taking a stand against homophobia were held in seventy countries. This year, IDAHO coordinators say activists in 95 countries around the world have planned some form of event.
To learn more about Fondation Émergence and the International Day Against Homophobia, visit Fondation Émergence‘ s website or to find more information on the events taking place around the world to mark IDAHO today, visit dayagainsthomophobia.org.
Dave
(Follow us on Instagram , Twitter, Facebook)
You can’t legislate morality, but both domestically and abroad sexuality is under the legal thumb of the powers that be.
Correct, morals cannot be successfully legislated. American history proves that fact. However, most of the issues involved with sexual orientation are impacted by birth registrations, adoptions, inheritance, and similar legal factors. Getting past those administrative issues resolution of all other factors is easier.
Progress is being made…however slow the process. We will achieve equality for all humans some day although it may take longer than a tortoise getting across the road without getting smashed!
The part I find the most disgusting is the homophobic shown in the gay bars and other establishments from the practicing homosexuals. They can’t even get along with each other.
Constantly putting each other down and lots of gossip.
It is simply and plain bullshit.
Here, here! I totally agree with Roots. We must work to purge homophobia from the gay community. It’s pervasive and is shown on dating sites like this one too. Mean-spiritedness is just unexpressed self hatred. It is an attempt to make one’s self feel superior or better about himself due to a lack of healthy self-esteem.
I do not mind homophobia and in fact embrace it. Only the strong survive. The gays are the worst. How can you expect it stop when they themselves are guilty of it.
Let’s be clear–being an asshole isn’t the same as having a fear of homosexuals (the real definition of any phobia, homo or otherwise). We need to be sure to extend to others–and each other–the same tolerance that we expect. Running around calling people names because they don’t act the way we do is no way to make allies.
Homophobia has religions to thank for its’ existence today. The American, Mark Twain said it best,”Religion was invented when a con man met a fool.”Religion is great for promoting hatred of people that are different and supports the lie that “Superior Humans” exist. Religion is the greatest lie. So many reasons to separate humans rather than unite them. I bet if religions were removed from the Earth, it would be a more peaceful place. I am happy to live in the USA. We all have the freedom to reject religions and still live.
How can we expect straight people to stop the homophobia, when more than enough gay people have internalized homophobia themselves. Especially gay men. They are so affraid of anything feminine, covering it up with lines like “if I wanted a woman, I’d have one” newsflash, gays come in all different kinds, including fems.
How I feel about homophobia these days is exactly the same way I feel about all the other phobias, isms, etc. Having been born both black and gay, in 1960, in Mississippi!!!??? For those of you too young or just unaware, that was when people still called you the N word to your face. I had been patient while fighting for racial equality and then equality for gay people. But when black people, after their struggles, had the audacity to fight against gay marriage, etc? Thereby,in my eyes playing the role of “the white people” concerning the sexuality issue> That’s when when my gay black ass was done. Because I realized that human beings are some ignorant, low functioning assholes that are not worth the effort of trying to deal with like they can understand an intillegent arguement that DISCRIMINATION IS ALL THE SAME regardless of the reason/s!!!! AND HOW MANY MORE GROUPS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGHT THE SAME FIGHT SO THEY CAN HAVE THE RIGHTS THAT OUR CONSTITUTION ALREADY GRANTS THEM BEFORE ALL OF YOU IGNORANT ASSHOLES REALIZE THAT YOU AREN’T BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE AND DO NOT DESERVE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD DENY SOMEONE ELSE. I DON’T GIVE A FUCK WHAT YOUR REASONS!!!!So now I still firmly support every persons right to believe whatever they believe, BUT……. Please do me & yourself a favor and keep that bullshit about why “I don’t dererve, that you don’t apptrove, the bible, and so on” TO YOUR DAMNM SELF!!! BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL if I gave a fuck what you thought about ANYTHING I would ask you!!! Second, since you decided to “share”, now it’s my turn and I GUARANTEE YOU THAT YOU DON’T WANT TO HEAR what I think about your fucked up life. Third, I’m am highly likely to punch you in the throat if you’re within arms reach!!! So…. since I’M TOO PRETTY TO GO TO JAIL!!!…. Need I say more? YES!!!! Because you gay people are just as bad. You only give a shit about the discrimination that impacts you and are just as bigoted when the issue is race or gender, etc. I guarantee there are/will be a huge number of gay people doing the same discriminatory, hateful shit to transgender people in the very near future!!! So, the wrap this all up! I am done with any discrimination against anyone for any reason and I know that makes me a freak which I will gladly be. I don’t how I got sent to this planet with you humans but I know now that the way to deal with you is to have extremely low expectations and expect you to do the same shit to the next group coming up the road that was done to you!!!
Dean, it is very true that discrimination against anyone hurts everyone. It is also true that the targets of discrimination often find someone to target, themselves. Remember the high yellows targeting the dark? But lately, the hood targeting the bookish?
I have to agree that restrictive, conservative religion is destructive. True spirituality has no room for hate or prejudice. But acceptance or understanding of others requires honest understanding of oneself. And you hit that nail on the head, about prejudice.
People who really practice the Golden Rule fix themselves before they fix others, recognize others’ rights the same as their own, and don’t tolerate discrimination, even if they have to suffer too.
I understand your disgust, that people who finally got some advancement would turn on others, lest they have to fight again and maybe lose what they gained. Funny, that attitude implies that their gains are gifts from the mainstream, not a birthright. What that does, is actually betray themselves, by implying that they didn’t win, but that the powerful are allowing them to think they did.
I can’t blame you for feeling betrayed, because you were. It just reminds me the rest of us have to be more honest and less hypocritical. A house divided against itself cannot stand.
@Dean.
The problem with our AA community is Christianity. That religion has caused so much damage to our commuity that it makes some of us hate certain groups because, ” the bible said so.”
We like to think we are free from our slave owners who used their religion to keep us subjugated but in reality they have still won because two or three centuries later we are STILL subjugated by their European bred religion.
And it is not just Blacks but most colonised nations like the latino population that also has a strong hate for lgbt becauae of their religion.
I agree, religion is full of hate, judgement of others, raciest, and if you don’t agree with them, well, they say your going to “hell”. WRONG! Even today, blacks tend to stay with the black congregations, whites with theirs. To me anyone and everyone regardless of race, nationality should be welcome in any church. Although it doesn’t bother me (being white), if I were to walk into a black church, or other gathering. I figure if someone there doesn’t like me being there it’s their problem, not mine.
@Mal Sweeping generalizations don’t help. There are untold numbers of Christians who are not homophobic. Church leadership in many Christian denominations has rethought and others are rethinking traditional positions. A stance against Christianity is just as bad as homophobia.
People can blame their bigotry on whatever they want: religion, culture, etc. There is really only one reason for all bigotry. It is ignorance. This covers all of the reasons. Because the idea that one can be superior to another, that there is one thing,/way that is RIGHT and everything else must be wrong is a thought process so ingrained in human beings that people seem unable to distinguish between the TRUTH and their OPINION! And the need to be superior, is only felt by those who are insecure. Secure people are too busy loving their lives as THEY SEE FIT and believe everyone should do the same. They would no sooner try to dictate your choices than let you dictate theirs. Thinking that one anything could be right for the BILLIONS of people on the planet is NOT a sign of intelligence!!! Arrogance, ignorance, egotism… YES! But definitely not intelligence!!!
Well this is a big problem as the world is trying to understand us but we are not that easy to understand. Many are molested from young and others are just attracted. But it dose not help when others are allowed to pimp them selves out and not pay taxes on income. Maybe as we try to understand the right to marry this to will change. Along with being taxed for tipping income received for chatterbaiting. Because it’s over working the cocktail people unfairly.
But I think this is coming from the lack of focus on Mr.& MR. The word Mr. comes from the word master. LOL
Maybe that’s why the sidewalk’s closed at Glory to God in Palm Springs?
What a Rosie path Miss Us America!
I just wanted to say that I am pro ñude top beaches for ladies so let’s see freedom ring for God country and the red,white and blind. Sorry gotta stands for breast feeding!
First off I could care the least what color or nationality a person is. First off my BF is black and I am white, and so what. I have met many very nice people in his family and he has met many in mine. I went to a gathering with members of his (black) family me being the only white person there, and everyone there was very nice to me. I don’t understand why anyone should or have to be homophobic. People are people, dark or light skin, white, Hispanic, Asian, or what ever nationality, race, color, why should we be so judgmental.