User:MikeK/Homophobia
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The real victims of homophobia are the homophobes themselves. Wait... what?
Conservapedia as of 1st July 2007 |
Commentary |
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Homophobia is, literally, "fear of homosexuality." Though the term can be used for a variety of purposes, its most common usage is to criticize people opposed to homosexuality. |
The arguably more common definition, the intense and/or irrational dislike homosexuality, is notably absent. (Princeton.edu definition) |
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Homophobia is a pseudoscientific term originally intended to portray principled opposition to the homosexual agenda as an abnormal mental condition. It was introduced into scientific literature shortly before the American Psychiatric Association declassified its diagnosis of homosexuality as a mental illness in 1973. A 2002 research study by the University of Arkansas Department of Psychology, however, claimed that among non-homosexual homophobes no phobia exists.[1] Most homophobes are homosexual who suffer from "internalized homophobia". The is no agreement within the psychiatric and therapeutic professions on what the term actually means. |
As alluded to above, the theme of CP's article is that the using the term "homophobic" to describe someone is irrational prejudice. Labelling it pseudoscience is astonishing but serves that purpose well. Taken at face value, the statement that "among non-homosexual homophobes no phobia exists" is supported by the reference[2] but its phrasing implies something more. The study[3] merely says that homophobia (whether expressed by a homosexual or heterosexual; it does not make the distinction) is a dislike rather than a fear. Conservapedia makes it out to say (by making the heterosexual-homosexual distinction using "among non-homosexual homophobes") that heterosexuals do not have irrational fears against homosexuality, but homosexuals do. CP goes on to say that "most homophobes are homosexual who suffer from internalized homophobia" (my emphasis). Few deny the existence of internalised homophobia but saying that it constitutes "most" homophobia is a rather strong claim to make without a good source. Conservapedia doesn't provide any source in this case.
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Notes and references[edit]
- ↑ New Study Says There’s No Phobia in ‘Homophobia’, Martha Kleder, CWA, 6/28/2002.
- ↑ "Psychologists at the University of Arkansas (UA) have shown that what laymen refer to as “homophobia” is actually not a phobia. That is because cases of “homophobia” are rooted in disgust rather than fear or anxiety." [1]
- ↑ As reported on the website of "Concerned Women for America".