Introduction

A phobia is an irrational fear. It can affect otherwise healthily people in a variety of ways. A person can dread stepping into an elevator, or break into a cold sweat at the thought of boarding an airplane. Any phobia can be debilitating.

Homophobia is an intense, irrational fear of gay people. It is a two-sided tragedy. Those of us who fear or hate gay men and lesbians usually don't think we "know" any, even though there may be a number of people with whom we work, socialize, or even live who are lesbians or gay.

Concurrently, many gay and lesbian people spend their lives "in the closet", fearing that homophobia will destroy their self-respect, their family relationships, even their lives. Unfortunately, homophobic people go on blindly perpetuating fictional stereotypes, while real people are hurt by the hatred.

Some people may need professional help to deal with their phobia of gay me and lesbians, just as some need help to deal with fear of heights or elevators. But for most of us, a willingness to examine out fears is enough to alleviate them. Fear is borne out of myths and ignorance. We can stop being afraid of gay and lesbian people if we start understanding the myths surrounding homosexuality.

Myth: It isn't "normal" to be homosexual or have homosexual feelings

Alfred C. Kinsey landmark research beginning in the 1930's and continuing into the 1950's, demonstrated that homosexual behavior occurs in this country much more frequently than people had imagine. More recent studies have also indicated that a certain portion of the population is exclusively homosexual.

It is interesting to note that a few hundred years ago, being left-handed was considered a mark of a witch, a sign of perversity. The phobia of witchcraft was so pervasive that people were tormented, even murdered simply because they were left-handed. Such a thing may seem unbelievable, but people can do very cruel things when they are afraid. Future generations are likely to look back with equal astonishment that gay and lesbian people were subjected to similar act of hatred and fear.

We each have our own intrinsic and instinctual patterns of sexual identification. Very few of us have exclusively heterosexual of homosexual feelings throughout our lives. Human sexuality is a continuum, not opposing "camps". However, this culture has rigidly indoctrinated us that even the appearance of traits that are not assigned to a person's gender role is cause of uneasiness. The man who cries at a sad movie, or the woman who can repair her own car is likely to be subject to ridicule. Many homophobic responses are born out of fear that one's own sexual orientation may not be entirely heterosexual. People who overplay their cultural gender roles, who react negatively, or even cruelly to any deviation from these "roles", may well be driven by a need to deny their own behavior or feelings. An example is attorney Ray Cohn, who led the persecution of many homosexual people during the McCarthy era. Years later, in 1986, when he died of AIDS, it became clear that much of his zealousness was an apparent attempt to hide the fact that he was gay.

Myth: People "choose" to be gay or straight

We fall in love with a person, whether of the same or opposite sex, because of a complex combinations of factors. Most people feel that their orientation is not a choice, it is a natural response for them. Trying to change one's sexual responses to straight or gay is almost unsuccessful.

We do have a choice regarding how we treat each other. Hatred of gay men and lesbians is the work of humans, not God. AS with any other group, the majority of gay men and lesbians are good people who are concerned about the future of our country and the world. They do not ask special favors or seek "special rights", simply the respect and rights that we all should enjoy, without fear of verbal or physical attacks. How we treat one another IS by choice.

Myth: Children are not affected by homophobia

Suicide has become one the leading causes of death among young people. Statistics indicate the incidence of substance abuse and suicide is disproportionately high among gay and lesbian youth. Societal oppression and fear of rejection often lead to depression and substance abuse, even suicide. Most traditional support groups such as families, places of worship, and school, reject, ostracize, or deny the existence of gay and lesbian youth. Without a support system, many of these young people become causalities of out homophobic society.

Myth: Homosexuals contribute nothing to society

Historically, gay, lesbian and bisexual people have made innumerable contributions to society: Plato, Leonardo da Vinici, Julius Caesar, Gertude Stein, Michaelangelo, Peter Tchaikosky, Alexander the Great, T.E. Lawrence, Truman Capote, Bessie Smith, Alice B. Toklas, James Baldwin, Elton John, David Geffen, k.d. Lang, Melissa Ethridge, Barney Frank...Many popular and influential people are lesbian, gay, or bisexual. However, most hide their private lives (like Rock Hudson or Roy Cohn). They live in fear of the intolerance and hatred they might be subjected to if someone associated "gay" or "lesbian" with their name.

Myth: Homosexuality is a sin

Theologians and Biblical scholars continue to differ on many Biblical interpretations. They agree on one thing; however, Jesus said absolutely nothing at all about homosexuality.

Religion has often been misused to justify hatred and oppression. Less than half a century ago, Baptist churches (among others) in this country defended racial segregation on the basis that it was condoned by the Bible early Christians were not hostile toward homosexuals. Intolerance became the dominant attitude only after the Twelfth century.

Today many people no longer tolerate generalizations about homosexuality as pathology or sin. Few would condemn heterosexuality as immoral - despite the high incidence of rape, incest, child abuse, adultery, family violence, promiscuity, and venereal disease among heterosexuals.

Fortunately, many within organize religions are beginning to address the homophobia of the church. Many churches today support full civil rights for gay and lesbians, as they do for everyone else.

Myth: Homosexuals are sick

"homosexuality per se implies no impairment in judgment, stability, reliability, or general social or vocational capabilities. Further, (we) urge all mental health professional to take the lead in removing the stigma of mental illness associated with homosexual orientation. Further, (we) support and urge the repeal of all legislation singling out homosexual acts by consenting adults in private." This resolutions was passed in 1973 by the American Psychiatric Association, Board of Trustees.

Many experts claim that one's sexual and emotional orientation are fixed at birth, certainly by age five. Homosexuality itself does not promote psychological abnormality. Living under oppression and pretending not to be a homosexual, however, can extract a high emotional toll in terms of feeling of self-worth. That can cause serious psychological damage.

Homosexuality was considered quite normal in Ancient Greece and Rome (both during the rise and declines in power) and Native American tribes where gays were elevated to very high leadership positions. Some present-day societies like the Netherlands have an accepting attitude. In some countries same-sex marriages are legal, though none of the United States allow same sex unions at this time.

Myth: AIDS is God's judgment on homosexuals

Was Polio God's condemnation of children? Is Sickle Cell Anemia God's judgment of Blacks? Homosexual men were one of the first population in this country to contract the disease, but they did not cause the disease. Outside of America AIDS is primarily transmitted through heterosexual contract. Any population, once exposed, will be affected. The disease is the enemy, not those who are ill. AIDS does not discriminate. Those who promote the notion that AIDS is a divine judgment against homosexuals fail to point out the lesbians heave the lowest incidence of AIDS of any group.