From dictionary.com:
ho·mo·pho·bi·a n.
1) Fear of or contempt for lesbians and gay men.
2) Behavior based on such a feeling.
From Jeff Sharlet of the Revealer:
"Homophobia is a cross-party persuasion, but last night it figured most often in the votes of Republicans. A topic discussed more and more frequently as the pundits came to realize that their predictions had been wildly wrong was 'values' -- that is, in this election like no other, gay marriage. Let’s make that simpler, get to the root of the matter: gay sex."
When did making a moral decision about sexual activity or legally enforceable contracts become an issue of fear or contempt? Why is my evaluation of the biblical texts on homosexuality a fear-based decision, when my evaulation of the biblical texts on adultery a morality-based decision? Why have we let "homophobia" become so broadly defined as to include rational moral judgments?
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- Nathan
- littlefights@gmail.com
AS kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame;
As tumbled over rim in roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell's
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;
Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:
Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;
Selves -- goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,
Crying What I do is me: for that I came.
I say more: the just man justices;
Keeps grace: that keeps all his goings graces;
Acts in God's eye what in God's eye he is --
Christ -- for Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men's faces.
Gerard Manley Hopkins
As tumbled over rim in roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell's
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;
Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:
Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;
Selves -- goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,
Crying What I do is me: for that I came.
I say more: the just man justices;
Keeps grace: that keeps all his goings graces;
Acts in God's eye what in God's eye he is --
Christ -- for Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men's faces.
Gerard Manley Hopkins
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5 comments:
"Homophobia" is a catch-all word. It really means "prejudice against gays," though; originally that prejudice was thought to be based in fear.
It IS true that there was great fear of homosexuality once; that was the overriding issue when all this began. Now, I think, blessedly, it's become more about boredom. That would be "homoennui," I guess....
;-)
"'Homophobia' is a catch-all word. It really means 'prejudice against gays,' though; originally that prejudice was thought to be based in fear."
I'm not qualified to speak on the origin of that prejudice, but why should homophobia alone among all the '-phobic' words include discrimination? Racists are certainly afraid of other races, but we don't call them afrophobic - we call them racist. Maybe I'm just being nit-picky, but I think its a loaded term that is misused. Opposition to redefining marriage is not "prejudice" and its not based on fear, so why use the word? For those who are actually motivated by hate or fear, we could come up some different word much more appropiate to their bigot-tude.
OK, but what would be a reasonable word?
"Homocist"? That doesn't look right, or seem to make much sense.
"Homosexist"? I think that's too similar to just plain "sexist."
"Homophobist"? There's that "phobe" again. No good.
What would you suggest? As a matter of fact, I've always disliked the word "homosexuality," now that you mention it. Gay folks aren't all about sex, any more than straight folks are, and that seems to imply we are. I've always hoped "homophilia" would catch on, but it never did.
I agree, BTW, that the "anti-same-sex-marriage" argument doesn't necessarily imply prejudice (although sometimes it does).
"OK, but what would be a reasonable word?"
Man, you got me. I think we could leave that up to the linguists (hopefully)! I think "homosexist" isn't too bad, but I don't think it fits very well, either. We could use "homosexualist/ism." Or just plain "sexualist/ism." We could turn the tables and call it "heterophilia", but that sounds positive to some degree, doesn't it?
"As a matter of fact, I've always disliked the word 'homosexuality,' now that you mention it. Gay folks aren't all about sex, any more than straight folks are, and that seems to imply we are."
There is definitely that implication. And I don't like the "straight folks" term, either. How, exactly, are gay people "curved"? It just seems like an odd term to be polar to "gay."
"I agree, BTW, that the 'anti-same-sex-marriage' argument doesn't necessarily imply prejudice (although sometimes it does)."
There are many, unfortunately, who rely on knee-jerk reactions first, and rational thinking second. We should have a word for them, too! Oh wait, we do - bigots! :)
There are many, unfortunately, who rely on knee-jerk reactions first, and rational thinking second. We should have a word for them, too! Oh wait, we do - bigots! :)This is true. I should note that for gay folks it sometimes seems like the whole world is against us (which it sometimes is!) and the reactions you see are often from a deep, lifelong hurt, not really from anger.
But I agree we have to stop calling people "bigots" for disagreeing with us on this issue; I find the "go-slow" argument on marriage to be perfectly respectable. I'm a gradualist on most cultural things, anyway. I guess that makes me a liberal with a conservative methodology!
;-)
Actually, I'm for civil unions myself, so the argument doesn't even bother me at all.
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