Homophobia sucks, but is it bad for my health?
According to the Anti-Defamation League, homophobia is the hatred or fear of homosexuals that sometimes leads to acts of violence, expressions of hostility, and discrimination. And it is everywhere. Research has shown that homophobia is more accepted in America than discrimination against other minorities.
Yes, it has many negative health consequences. Obviously, there is direct violence towards LGBT persons. However, it cuts deeper.
Being part of a stigmatized social group is stressful. There is fear for your well-being, never-ending awareness of external biases, and even a subtle tendency to start believing the negative ideas and turn hate in on ourselves (known as internalized homophobia). These stressors can impact our physical health, psychological health (with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation), and behavioral health (taking more sexual risks and having higher rates of substance disorders).
But homophobia goes beyond the individual. It affects social groups, like families — evidenced by the homelessness epidemic in LGBT youth — and larger communities/societies. A societal presence of homophobia denies empowerment of a community group, strips populations of governmental funding, and leads to real and perceived barriers to wellness — like fearing disclosure to a medical professional.
Recently, Project CRYSP held the forum "It's Not Just 'Faggot': End Homophobia Now." Join that discussion at lifelube.blogspot.com/2010/12/lifelubes-its-not-just-faggot-forum.html . Also, get out there and fight homophobia!
Peter Pointers is an online, gay health educator and is assisted by a group of qualified health specialists who work as a team to answer your health questions. Check out Peter's Question/Answer forum at www.lifelube.org/experts.php for more pointers and to ask your own questions.