GenQ - For the not so straight individual

Someone asked me the other day ?What do you say when someone makes homophobic remarks or derogatory gestures about homosexuals?? I answer that although I know that such destructive messages come from ignorance or fear, I have learnt that calling people scared or ignorant is not a constructive answer.

I have found that I have much more success when I really listen to what people are saying, then ask a pointed question to personalise that issue and to try and challenge their knowledge and beliefs. For example, when someone makes a statement about gays having the right to marry, I ask why and how they think this could possibly hurt any one. I ask why and how it is fair to tell any child that his or her dreams of romance to the person they love is disgusting. Would they rather have the person put all thoughts out of their mind and live a passionless life?

Homophobia is just that, a phobia. A morbid and irrational dread which prompts irrational behavior. And some may ask why is it needed? And my simple answer is, its not. Being homosexual is just the same as being hetrosexual, mostly the offending person/s are generally misinformed about the facts. Some may also say that it's a medical disease, and you have to ask your self is it? And that answer is no, its not. To put it plain and simple it's the attraction between two same sex people.

I guess the highest price is paid by youth. The young person just emerging into adulthood who has begun to realize that he is different, and the difference is not approved of, finds acceptance of self particularly difficult. This is especially true when others perceive the young person as different, and persecute him as a result, with little effort made by authority figures to stop the torment. This is why gay youth commit suicide at a rate of about seven times that of straight youth. Yet it is surprising how often homophobes actually try to prevent intervention by teachers in the schools!

Heres some facts to think about: