Definition

Noun: 1. Prejudice, fear, or hatred directed towards homosexual people or homosexuality: An irrational aversion to, or discrimination against, individuals who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual, or towards same-sex attraction and relationships in general.

Usage

• The term is used to describe a range of negative attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, from personal discomfort and derogatory language to systemic discrimination and violence.
• It is a sociological and psychological concept used in academic, activist, and everyday contexts to identify and critique anti-LGBTQ+ bias.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The company's new policy aims to combat homophobia in the workplace.
  • His comments were widely criticized as stemming from deep-seated homophobia.
  • Education is a key tool in reducing societal homophobia.

Advanced Usage

• Institutional/Structural Homophobia: Refers to policies, laws, and practices within institutions (like governments, religions, or corporations) that systematically discriminate against homosexual people.
  • The country's ban on same-sex marriage is an example of institutional homophobia.
• Internalized Homophobia: When a person who is homosexual unconsciously absorbs and accepts negative societal attitudes about homosexuality, leading to self-hatred or denial.
  • Therapy helped him address his feelings of internalized homophobia.

Variants and Related Words

• Homophobic (adjective): Characterized by or showing homophobia.
  • Homophobic rhetoric has no place in public discourse.
• Homophobe (noun): A person who harbors or exhibits homophobia.

Synonyms

• Anti-gay bias
• Heterosexism (specifically denotes the assumption that heterosexuality is the norm or superior)

Related Phrases and Concepts

• LGBTQ+ phobia: A broader term encompassing prejudice against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual/gender minorities.
• Hate speech/crime: Homophobia can be a motivating factor behind hate speech or criminal acts targeting individuals because of their sexual orientation.

Noun

1. prejudice against (fear or dislike of) homosexual people and homosexuality