The Myth of the Vlent, Self-Hatg Gay Homophobe -- Science of Us

Contents:

• ARE HOMOPHOBIC PEOPLE REALLY GAY AND NOT ACCEPTG IT?
• ARE HOMOPHOB REALLY GAY?
• THE MYTH OF THE VLENT, SELF-HATG GAY HOMOPHOBE
• ACTIVISTS NMN VLENCE AGAST LGBTQ MUNY ST. VCENT, WHERE GAY SEX IS ILLEGAL

ARE HOMOPHOBIC PEOPLE REALLY GAY AND NOT ACCEPTG IT?

Cred: Getty ImagHomophob should nsir a ltle self-reflectn, suggts a new study fdg those dividuals who are most hostile toward gays and hold strong anti-gay views may themselv have same-sex sir, albe unrver on. The prejudice of homophobia may also stem om thorarian parents, particularly those wh homophobic views as well, the rearchers add.

The rearch, published the April 2012 issue of the Journal of Personaly and Social Psychology, reveals the nuanc of prejudic like homophobia, which n ultimately have dire nsequenc. "Sometim people are threatened by gays and lbians bee they are fearg their own impuls, a sense they 'doth prott too much, '" Ryan told LiveScience. The rearchers said quicker reactn time for "me" and "gay, " and a slower associatn of "me" wh "straight" would dite said an implic gay orientatn.

" To gge homophobia a hoehold, stunts rpond to ems such as, "It would be upsettg for my mom to fd out she was alone wh a lbian" or "My dad avoids gay men whenever possible.

ARE HOMOPHOB REALLY GAY?

Participants dited their own level of homophobia, both overt and implic; word-pletn tasks, stunts wrote down the first three words that me to md when prompted wh some of the words' letters. "In a predomately heterosexual society, 'know thyself' n be a challenge for many gay dividuals, " lead thor Netta Weste, a lecturer at the Universy of Essex the Uned Kgdom, said a statement.

Those participants who reported their heterosexualy spe havg hidn same-sex sir were also the most likely to show hostily toward gay dividuals, cludg self-reported anti-gay attus, endorsement of anti-gay polici and discrimatn such as supportg harsher punishments for homosexuals.

THE MYTH OF THE VLENT, SELF-HATG GAY HOMOPHOBE

People nial about their own sexual orientatn, perhaps a nial fostered by thorarian and homophobic parents, may feel a threat om other gay and lbian dividuals. And 2010, proment anti-gay activist and -founr of nservative Fay Rearch Council Gee Rekers was reportedly spotted 2010 wh a male rt rented om Acrdg to news reports, the rt nfirmed Rekers is gay.

People who intify as lbian, gay, or bisexual may experience harassment or discrimatn om people who are sred of or unfortable wh the inti. Homophobia n take many different forms, cludg negative attus and beliefs about, aversn to, or prejudice agast bisexual, lbian, and gay people.

ACTIVISTS NMN VLENCE AGAST LGBTQ MUNY ST. VCENT, WHERE GAY SEX IS ILLEGAL

This may mean that they feel disfort and disapproval wh their own same-sex attractns, never accept their same-sex attractns, or never intify as lbian, gay, or bisexual. People alg wh ternalized homophobia may feel the need to “prove” that they’re straight, exhib very stereotypil behavr of straight men and women, or even bully and discrimate agast openly gay people. People who experience homophobic, biphobic, or transphobic harassment often feel alone and are aaid to tell anyone what’s happeng.