When people think about children, rarely is their focus on how homophobia can hurt them. Usually it is raised when talking about a gay parent and how they may “impact” their offspring, or how the behavior of gay and lesbian adults will influence them. But even more rarely do people concentrate on how homophobia impacts children, [...]
Homophobia, an unrealistic fear of gays/lesbians, affects all of us in this culture – straight and gay alike. It’s characterized by a generalized negative attitude towards homosexuals, if not outright feelings of hatred. Gays and lesbians experience internalized homophobia as a result of growing up in a culture that allows/encourages discrimination against homosexuals. Internalized homophobia can [...]
The following article originally appeared in the Port Huron, Michigan Times Herald as a "Guest Opinion" column. Some weeks ago you published a story about the local Gay Pride group. As a pastor and counselor of more than 40 years in Port Huron, I have followed with interest TalkBack and letters, which have since appeared, on [...]
This article originally appeared in the Michigan Imago Therapy Association newsletter, 1999. In a society that sees most relationships as disposable, lesbian and gay relationships are seen and treated as even more disposable. Thus, when conflict arises and the relationship becomes more difficult, it seems easier for lesbian and gay couples to give up on the [...]
Joe Kort, Ph,D, writes for Attitude Magazine in the UK Dear Joe, I've been with my boyfriend for just over a year now and I love him to bits, but on a night out a few weeks ago we ended up having a stupid drink-fuelled fight. He left and in my drunken state I ended up [...]
In keeping with this month’s theme of whether you are the Turtle or the Hailstorm, I’d like to ask which you were, when you came out—or are, in your process of coming out—as gay or lesbian. October 11 is National Coming Out Day, where many Hailstorms go on Oprah and say, “Hi, Mom and Dad, I’m [...]
The reality that boys are sexually abused by women is not widely accepted. Some people view it as an impossible act - that a male can’t be sexually assaulted by a female—and others view it as sexually titillating. The existence of female perpetrators and male victims confronts many of our most firmly held beliefs about women, [...]
As the years go by, a growing number of cartoon characters have been forcibly “outed.” I am amazed that anyone would be concerned about the sexual and romantic orientation of any imaginary two-dimensional figure. First it was poor Bert and Ernie of Sesame Street . These two beloved American figures were minding their own business, taking [...]
Ex-gays love to point the finger at lesbian and gay "bad behavior," stating that acting out behavior such as promiscuity, being overly vocal about being gay, too much partying and too much chemical use exemplifies what gay life is all about. They further say this is why they became ex-gays to avoid living that type of [...]
The following is a tongue-in-cheek questionnaire designed to illustrate the heterosexism implied in these same questions asked of lesbians and gays. Imagine as you read them if this were real and straight people were asked these questions. Gays and lesbians experience these questions in the same way a heterosexual would. Heterosexism is the belief that everyone [...]