2. What is homophobia?
• Homophobia is the irrational hatred, intolerance, and
fear of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people.
• These negative feelings fuel the myths, stereotypes,
and discrimination that can lead to violence against
LGB people.
• LGB people brought up in a homophobic society can
often internalise these negative stereotypes and
develop varying degrees of low self-esteem and self-
hatred, often described as 'internalised homophobia'.
• The word homophobia was constructed by the
heterosexual psychologist George Weinberg in the late
1960s. He used homophobia to label heterosexuals’
dread of being in close quarters with homosexuals as
well as homosexuals’ internalised oppression. The
word first appeared in print in 1969.
3. Why are people homophobic?
• Ignorance
• Peer pressure
• Insecurity about their own sexuality
• Religion
• Media stereotypes
• Not taken seriously enough in schools/
workplaces/government
• Parental/family attitudes
• Gay marriage not being legal
4. Some attitudes to homosexuality
“I’m one of those people who totally
hates gays. If my friend turned gay, they
wouldn’t be my friend no more.” “It’s not
the same as being racist at all,”
5. Homophobia – A history
•Until 2003, it was illegal for local authorities
(including schools) to be seen to promote
homosexuality
•Homosexuality was considered a criminal offence
until 1967
•In 2002, same-sex couples were granted the right to
adopt
•Civil partnerships were introduced as recently as
2005 granting the same rights as married couples
•The debate is currently ongoing as to whether gay
marriage will be legalised
6. Homophobia in schools
•17million people have witnessed anti-gay bullying in schools
•Almost two thirds of LGB pupils have experienced homophobic bullying
•98% of young gay people hear phrases such as ‘that’s so gay’ / ‘you’re so gay’
& over four fifths hear them frequently
•Ninety seven per cent of pupils hear other insulting homophobic remarks,
such as “poof”, “dyke”, “queer” and “bender”. Over seven in ten gay pupils
hear those phrases used often
•or frequently.
•“I have every confidence that as a teacher with over 30 years’ experience, and
as a head of year, I could discuss issues with girls who claim to be gay, but I
would probably not be very sympathetic,”
•“One has to pick one’s battles as a teacher, and that means occasionally
turning a blind eye to inappropriate language in certain contexts.”
7. Homophobia in society
•Three in five people still say there is public prejudice
against lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Britain
today.
•Three quarters of people (77 per cent) think the media
still rely heavily on clichéd stereotypes of lesbian, gay
and bisexual people.
•Almost 4 million people have witnessed homophobic
bullying at work.
•Physical bullying also occurs at work, and has been
seen by 4 per cent of people – over 1.2 million people.
11. Challenging Homophobia - Stonewall
• Stonewall was founded in 1989 by a small group of women
and men who had been active in the struggle against
Section 28 of the Local Government Act.
• Section 28 was an offensive piece of legislation designed to
prevent the so-called 'promotion' of homosexuality in
schools; as well as stigmatising gay people it also galvanised
the gay community.
• The aim from the outset was to create a professional
lobbying group that would prevent such attacks on lesbians,
gay men and bisexuals from ever occurring again. Stonewall
has subsequently put the case for equality on the
mainstream political agenda by winning support within all
the main political parties and now has offices in England,
Scotland and Wales.
• Stonewall is renowned for its campaigning and lobbying.
Some major successes include helping achieve the
equalisation of the age of consent, lifting the ban on
lesbians and gay men serving in the military, securing
legislation allowing same-sex couples to adopt and the
repeal of Section 28. More recently Stonewall has helped
secure civil partnerships and ensured the recent Equality Act
protected lesbians and gay men in terms of goods and
12. Challenging Homophobia - Diversity Role Models
•Diversity Role Models actively seeks to prevent homophobic bullying in schools. They aim
to stop bullying before it happens by educating all young people about differences in
sexuality and gender identity.
•In schools where homophobic bullying is tackled, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
(LGBT) students are 60% less likely to be bullied. This environment allows young people to
feel safe and focus on learning. It also prepares all students for a working environment in
which homophobia is not tolerated and diversity is respected.
•They communicate with students directly, using positive role models to counter negative
stereotypes. They help LGB and T young people to feel confident and their classmates to
understand, accept and welcome the differences they notice in others.
•Diversity role models can be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or straight. They need not
be successful, attractive or brilliant. They certainly don't need to be perfect. All they need
to demonstrate is that it's ok to be different.
