Analyse The Effects Of Homophobia In Our Society

You’re lying on the street, beaten so much your body only consists of black and blue bruises. You’ve been kicked and punched so many times you lost count. Why you may ask, All because you happen to like someone of the same gender. This is a huge issue in today’s society. Homophobia is an issue that is only going to grow if we don’t do anything. Everyday more and more members of the LGBT+ community experience harsh and unnecessary abuse and harassment due to homophobia and today I will cover the effects of homophobia and how we, both as individuals and as a society, can help stop it.

The term ‘homophobia’ is a word used to define a generalised irrational dislike or prejudice towards members of the LGBT+ community. Homophobia often stems from
the ideas (such as homosexuality being unnatural) that are taught through religion or the beliefs one is exposed to while growing up. Anything outside of cis gender and heterosexual is often perceived to be ‘dirty’ or taboo, the lack of education and exposure surrounding the vast amount of sexualities and gender identities through society is what causes the aggravated negative way of thinking that is homophobia. Homophobia can be exhibited in a variety of ways including physical violence, verbal harassment (for example the use of derogatory language and slurs), and being isolated by society. This viewpoint is not only detrimental to the mindset of those who identify as LGBT+ but also poses a serious threat to their physical well being.

For those who identify as a part of the LGBT+ community dealing with the stigma and negative associations perpetuated by homophobia is forced to become apart of their daily lives. The exclusion and isolation that members of the LGBT+ community are subjected to every day can greatly affect their mental health and self worth. Clinical reports from the United Kingdom state that LGBT+ identifying individuals are twice as likely to have depression and experience suicidal thoughts compared to individuals that identify as heterosexual, these thoughts are particularly dangerous for developing queer youth as their minds are taught what is right and wrong as they are still developing and coming to terms with their own gender identity and sexuality. As previously mentioned homophobia can be shown through physical violence and verbal harassment towards the LGBT+ community. Nearly a fifth of the 5462 hate crimes reported to the FBI in 2014 were direct results of the targets sexuality or even perceived sexuality and 20-25% of LGBT+ individuals will experience a hate crime at some point in their life. Statistics like these demonstrate the need for a dramatic change within society to reduce the effects of homophobia across the world.

Believe it or not homophobia also affects the standard of living for many identifying as a part of the LGBT+ community.
Approximately 50% of LGBT+ individuals of working age will hide their sexuality from bosses, coworkers, and clients to prevent themselves from discrimination and prejudice regarding their sexuality. People can be denied jobs, fired and legally discriminated against in many countries across the world simply because of who they love and for the LGBT+ who are ‘out’ in their workplace they can earn as little as $0.68 for every $1 that a heterosexual man earns, even when the qualifications are equal or even greater for the LGBT worker. As a result of this 20.7% of LGBT+ people living alone have annual incomes below $12,000; close to poverty level; which for a person living alone is $12,082. So what can be done to change
this?

As a society in order to stop homophobia we need adequate education regarding the LGBT+ community both in and out of schools.
By educating and exposing people to the vast range of sexualities there are and helping them to grow familiar with a deeper understanding of the LGBT+ community. More diverse LGBT+ representation in mainstream media would also help to reduce the mindset of homophobia throughout society as it helps to change the way society views sexuality and gender expression by introducing the concepts in a familiar format. This introduction helps to change people’s opinions and preconceived ideas of the LGBT+ community and creates wider acceptance across the board. By increasing the diversity and frequency of queer characters in mainstream media it also creates an inclusive, supportive community that allows for queer individuals to feel included and appreciated – a factor that will stop the exclusion inflicted by homophobia from occurring. As individuals we can stop homophobia by being open to all the different sexualities and not always believe in what we're told and perceptions of the LGBT+ community that exist but instead form our own opinions that isn’t reliant upon or persuaded by what other people say.

There are so many actions that we as individuals and as a society can implement into our daily lives to help put an end to homophobia and the harassment of LGBT+ identifying individuals. We can stop the negative effects it has both for the people affected and
our society as a whole. So are you going to sit there as more members of the LGBT+ community get beaten, abused and harassed or are you going to take a stand and do something?