Homo-whatnow?

Webster’s dictionary defines the term phobia as “an exaggerated and often disabling fear usually inexplicable to the subject”. Having an exaggerated fear of needles myself, a fear that is quite common and typically referred to as “trypanophobia”, I can understand the unbearable and at times physical consequences that a deeply entrenched fear can have on an individual. All this being said, after spending a week at the International AIDS Conference discussing stigma, discrimination and oppression that members of the LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and intersex) community and PLWHA (people living with HIV/AIDS) face, I can’t help but hear the word “homophobia” and realize that its use and connotation is and always has been completely out of whack.

As previously mentioned and defined, the term phobia is meant to represent an exaggerated fear held by an individual, often for inexplicable reasons. The symptoms I deal with when faced with my fear (which are similar to those that many others experience when faced with their fears) include light-headedness, nausea and every now and then, I even faint. I don’t know about you, but I have yet to meet a “homophobic” that faints or throws up at the sight of a homosexual person. What I have met are individuals who have demonstrated hate, rage, anger, disapproval, superiority and distaste for gay and lesbian individuals. The issue at hand is thus not one of fear, but rather one of hate. A Caucasian man that holds negative views of people of other races is not recognized as being Blackophobic, Asianophobic or any other term that might insinuate that his sentiments are based on feelings of fear rather than hate, as they truly are. He is referred to as being discriminatory, racist and oppressive. It is now time that those that judge members of the LGBTI community for expressing their sexuality in the ways that feel natural to them, be associated with the same negative titles that racists are: no longer are those that hate homosexuals allowed to hide behind a “fear” of homosexuality: homo-haters is what they are, and their judgment and disapproval, here in D.C., in my home country of Canada and all around the world is equivalent to racism.

In the wise words of Ben Harper:

“My choice is what I chose to do; and if I'm causing no harm, it shouldn't bother you.
Your choice is who you chose to be; and if you’re causing no harm, then you’re alright with me.”

Thanks for the vent.

-Tracey K