Mental health complications: People who internalize antigay views may experience depression.Poor relationship quality: A 2009 analysis found that, even independent of other factors, internalized heterosexism predicted lower quality relationships among lesbian, gay, and bisexual couples.Internalized heterosexism can affect a person’s health and well-being in many ways, including: For example, a person may not wish to tell others that they are gay because they have made a calculated decision to keep themself safe rather than because they have internalized heterosexism. Antigay bias: It is important to acknowledge that antigay bias can affect a person’s behavior.Sexual prejudice: This term describes all forms of prejudice about sexual behavior and preferences and treats these attitudes as rooted in bigotry rather than fear.Heterosexism: This term refers to the notion that heterosexuality is normal and the default, meaning that other identities and orientations are inferior or abnormal.
It does not reside in the individual but in a broader society that dismisses people who do not identify as heterosexual and treats heterosexuality as the norm.įor these reasons, some advocates suggest using other terms, such as: Rather, it is rooted in hostility, bias, and sexual stereotypes. having a fear of being gay or others labeling them as gayĮvidence suggests that despite its name, homophobia is not a phobia at all.believing that there is a right or wrong way to be a member of LGBTQ+ communities.deriding or disliking people who proudly say that they have same-sex orientations.denying the role of heterosexism in LGBTQ+ oppression.refusing to acknowledge their same-sex partner publicly.trying not to behave in ways that they see as being consistent with heterosexist stereotypes.feeling ashamed of their sexual identity or orientation.holding their same-sex partner to unreasonable standards rooted in heterosexist stereotypes.being unable or unwilling to acknowledge their own sexual orientation.Internalized heterosexism may result in a person: However, essentially, internalized heterosexism refers to the development of a negative view of one’s own and others’ sexual minority identities due to living in a heterosexist society. It can involve overt hatred of nonheterosexual people, as well as more subtle biases, such as the belief in stereotypes based on sexual orientation. Heterosexism is a very broad term that includes a range of behaviors. Throughout the rest of this article, we will replace the term “homophobia” with “heterosexism.” The word homophobia places emphasis on the irrational fears of an individual rather than the systems in place that affect a person’s health.
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In this article, we discuss why internalized homophobia occurs, how it can affect someone’s health, and how to get support. It is a form of oppression that excludes the needs, concerns, and experiences of LGBTQ+ people while giving advantages to heterosexual people.
Internalized homophobia occurs as a result of the assumption that all people are or should be heterosexual. It can happen to anyone, regardless of sexual orientation, though most studies of internalized homophobia have looked at people who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Internalized homophobia happens when a person consciously or unconsciously accepts homophobic biases and applies these biases to themself. They then turn those ideas inward, believing that they are true, and experience self-hatred as a result of being a socially stigmatized person. Internalized homophobia occurs when a person is subject to society’s negative perceptions, intolerance, and stigma toward people with same-sex attraction.