'homophobia"
I was thinking about the creation of this word: homophobia.
Do any of you know who created it, or when it came about? Why is it that we have "-isms" for almost every other type of prejudice...but we have a "phobia" for gay people?
Think about it: racism, sexism, ageism...homophobia??
Who came up with the idea of associating homosexuals with fear?? I'm sure there is at least an equal amount of fear of black people that exists as with gay people...yet they're named differently. Many people understand the definition of homophobia to mean a hatred towards homosexuals..but the fact remains that the actual definition is "unreasoning fear of or antipathy toward homosexuals and homosexuality" (dictionary.com).
Are there any other words we can be using instead of this one?? Someone help me because the longer we continue to use and promote this word that technically means a fear of gay people, the longer the prejudice will continue.
Fuck Prop 8.
edit: obviously, in an ideal world, we wouldn't need ANY kind of word for this issue because it wouldn't exist. But, the fact remains that the problem does exist, and I'm just trying to find a way to remove this idea of fear that is associated.
Do any of you know who created it, or when it came about? Why is it that we have "-isms" for almost every other type of prejudice...but we have a "phobia" for gay people?
Think about it: racism, sexism, ageism...homophobia??
Who came up with the idea of associating homosexuals with fear?? I'm sure there is at least an equal amount of fear of black people that exists as with gay people...yet they're named differently. Many people understand the definition of homophobia to mean a hatred towards homosexuals..but the fact remains that the actual definition is "unreasoning fear of or antipathy toward homosexuals and homosexuality" (dictionary.com).
Are there any other words we can be using instead of this one?? Someone help me because the longer we continue to use and promote this word that technically means a fear of gay people, the longer the prejudice will continue.
Fuck Prop 8.
edit: obviously, in an ideal world, we wouldn't need ANY kind of word for this issue because it wouldn't exist. But, the fact remains that the problem does exist, and I'm just trying to find a way to remove this idea of fear that is associated.