5
A
OF HOMOPHOBI
ate what it deemed
a desire to elimin
ophobia was
supposed
Historically, hom
lity or control its
sis of homosexua
l ba
ined in 1965 by
to be the natura
term was first co
rture others. The
ychologists
ability to nu
e the fear that ps
einberg to describ
ge W
. It was also
n-clinical setting
psychologist Geor
exual men in a no
being
ds homos
ar that men had of
harboured towar
to describe the fe
lar culture
isis in North
later used in popu
during the AIDS cr
exuals, particularly
os
pressed in terms
mistaken as hom
a was therefore ex
d 80s. Homophobi
gued by Susan
s an
destruction, as ar
America in the 70
containment and
fection,
of metaphors of in
.
and its Metaphors
Sontag in AIDS
. Ryan from
ofessor Richard M
ucted in 2012 by Pr
cond
nts who had
In an experiment
that the participa
ter, he discovered
e level
Roches
ho displayed som
the University of
hly straight” but w
lves as “hig
s. This suggests
declared themse
ur anti-gay policie
tion tended to favo
tions towards
of same-sex attrac
t one’s own attrac
be a reflex agains
may
cent string of
that homophobia
may explain the re
x. These findings
wn whilst
me se
with their pants do
members of the sa
who were caught
liticians
in spite of their
American male po
other men – this,
al encounters with
ting gay rights.
embroiled in sexu
gnising, or protec
s targeted at reco
ie
opposition of polic
“institutional
mophobia include
ent examples of ho
of violence or
Other promin
religious sanctions
ch as political or
ity. Often, these
homophobia”, su
mosexual commun
embers of the ho
m
l grounds –
penalties against
ligious or cultura
mosexuality on re
ise ho
lty while
penalties criminal
, is the death pena
Iran, for instance
ey were in
domy in
whether or not th
the penalty for so
me-sex relations
gaged in sa
Ugandans who en
r life.
be imprisoned fo
the country would
term has grown to
e 1960s then, the
of, one
inal inception in th
udes to the point
From its orig
sponses and attit
e range of re
contemporary
encompass a wid
red significantly by
and has been alte
n,
sponded to
might say, dilutio
d and should be re
mophobia is varie
d, ho
ted by different
uses. As discusse
example, is motiva
homophobia, for
ds
alised
expressed towar
differently – intern
hobia, and can be
stitutional homop
reasons than in
otional relations.
sexual and/or em
different from
try is qualitatively
hobia in one coun
d that the
, homop
han has remarke
More importantly
thor Chou Wah-S
Chinese Au
a North American
another country.
rather specific to
“homophobia” is
bia in the Chinese
history of the term
says that homopho
inese history, he
Ch
se or too
context. Based on
ectrums - perver
n two extreme sp
the unique
betwee
bia fail to capture
culture oscillates
nses of homopho
sexual in
, “both se
understands the
generic. However
ral attitude which
inese cultu
specificity of the Ch
l.”
terms of the socia
4
Y
A SHORT HISTOR
COMING OUT, COMING HOME
IN SINGAPORE
In Singapore, the idea of homosexuality and
consequently, homophobia, is complicated by our multiethnic and multi-religious society. In such an environment, Dr
Russell Heng recognises that the concept of “coming out” is a
Western concept that celebrates individuality and one’s right
to freedom of expression.
However, in an Asian cultural framework, individuality
takes a backseat to family, community and group
solidarity. If homophobia in the Western world is an
affront to someone’s right to freedom of expression,
then homophobia in Asia might be understood
as a denial of this person’s right to family and
community. In place of “coming out” then, Heng
and Chou suggest “coming home” instead – of
asserting one’s place and significance within
society or a family in spite of one’s sexuality.
6
“IS MY CHILD NORMAL?”
Childhood educators Kerry H. Robinson and Criss Jones Dìaz
commented that it is important to communicate about difference
and diversity with children from an early age. Children begin
to develop a cognitive awareness of visual and behavioural cues of
difference, which stem from a growing sense of self-consciousness, from
the age of two. From five years onwards, children learn to respond to
these cues. Markers of difference that are thought to be threatening often
result in fear, or an attempt to exert some form of control over these
threats – often manifesting in racism or sexism.
Amongst older children, you should challenge uncritical assumptions
about homophobia and homosexuality, even those mentioned in this
article. Regardless of your views, it is in the best interests of you and your
children to acknowle