“When I went to high school there were a lot of people who didn't know what a bisexual was, so I got a lot of, ‘what a freak!' And that's really upsetting.”
—Ash, 14, WA
What is homophobia?
Homophobia is the fear or dislike of people who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual. When this fear and dislike is directed at bisexual people, it’s called biphobia. When people fear or dislike heterosexual people, it is called heterophobia. And when people fear or dislike transgender people, it is called transphobia.
Here are some ways these phobias can turn ugly:
- Calling a guy a “fag”
- Writing insults on the locker of a girl who the rumor mill says is bisexual
- Forcing a guy to have sex with a girl to prove he’s not gay.
- Raping a girl who identifies as lesbian to “turn her” heterosexual.
- Stripping a transgender person to reveal that person’s genitals and challenging their identity.
- Hitting or hurting someone because she or he is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
This type of behavior is always wrong. No one has the right to hurt any person, either emotionally or physically. And no one should be discriminated against based on their race, gender, age, physical abilities – or their sexual orientation.
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Your Comments
BIG CHOICE!!!!!: Response
Posted by: StacieS on Jul 24th, 2007 4:14pm
Hi Zachery, I don't actually understand what you mean. Do
you mean 'Is it ok to kill gay people?' or 'Is it ok to kill
the people who are cruel to gay people?' Can you clarify?
BIG CHOICE!!!!! ANSWER HONESTLY AS CAN BE PLZZZ!?!?!?!?
Posted by: ZAMZAM on Jul 24th, 2007 3:21pm
Is it ok to kill someperson if it goes to far like some of
the things uv said up there!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bcuz I seriously
will take this to the grave with me if I have to to defend
either myself and others just for this reason!!!!!!!! I'm a
boy. I'm an optimist AND I WILL do whatever it takes in this
world to defend something as little as this!!!! So I hope
ya'll take a great look at this and hope ya'll post it
plzzzzz!!!!! I was gonna say a little more but I forgot. THX
Sincerely, Zachary M
i know how this feels.
Posted by: IamKayy on Feb 26th, 2007 4:26pm
i have a friend who is bi and it hurts to see the things
that people will do to her.
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i am
Posted by: selena! on Apr 15th, 2008 10:33pm
well i always thought i was straight but just the other day
i had too friends over and they were both girls, we laughed
talked and compared problems. thats when i realized i like
girls i mean i relate to them. but i also like guys! i will
always like guys. i have a myspace and it says "my sexual
oreantation is blank ; i fall in love with who makes me
happy!, take that to heart. be with who makes you feel goodi
know i am.