Homophobia is the fear of homosexuality. However, the word fear is more often replaced by hatred and aversion. Homophobia, or homophobia, is a persistent phenomenon that can often have major consequences. In some countries, practicing homosexuals are even punishable by death. Mere homosexual feelings can also be a reason to punish someone (for example with death). How can you as fellow human beings do this to each other is the central question in this article. Understanding and explaining homophobic thoughts.
Homophobia is the fear of homosexuals
Homophobia literally means the fear of homosexuality. The word comes from Greek. However, the meaning of the word does have some nuance. The vast majority of homophobes do not necessarily have and feel a fear of homosexuality, but rather an aversion or hatred. For example, people with a spider phobia are more likely to have a fear (the phobia) of spiders. Hatred and aversion seem to occur less often in spider phobia.
Which people are at increased risk of becoming homophobic?
Every person naturally has an enormous urge to follow authorities. As a child you often come into contact with this. If mom and dad say something should be done this way, then it should be done that way. You don’t have to wonder why that is, you just accept something as it is. As you get older, everything is suddenly questioned. Why do people find something? Why do people act like this? Why is something considered normal? Many children and young adults enter a rebellious phase and start to resist the standard.
Homophobia persists because homophobia is passed on through upbringing, through school, through the media or through other channels. Homophobia is always taught through an authoritarian body. These can be parents but also formal organizations (governments, associations, religions). Religions in particular pose a major problem as they often remain unchanged. Countries where there is little religion have relatively many gay rights. Religious countries, on the other hand, have relatively few, if any, rights for homosexuals. Homosexuality (behavior, actions and expressions) is even punishable in many countries. In Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Nigeria and Mauritania the punishment is the death penalty. Not only public homosexual expressions (for example a hug between two women in love) lead to the death penalty. Homosexual behavior in private places (for example in your own home) is also punishable by death. The death penalty often consists of hanging. All countries where the death penalty for homosexuality are so-called Muslim countries.
Tolerant countries are happy and wealthy societies
|
Country |
When gay marriage? |
Happy country ranking? |
Rich country ranking? (IMF 2011) |
|
The Netherlands |
since 2001 |
place 8 |
place 11 |
|
Belgium |
since 2003 |
place 17 |
place 17 |
|
Canada |
since 2005 |
place 6 |
place 10 |
|
Spain |
since 2005 |
? |
place 28 |
|
South Africa |
since 2006 |
? |
place 72 |
|
Sweden |
since 2009 |
place 3 |
place 9 |
|
Norway |
since 2009 |
place 1 |
place 3 |
|
Iceland, Portugal, Argentina |
since 2010 |
place 15 (Iceland) |
place 22 (Iceland) |
|
Denmark |
since 2012 |
place 2 |
place 8 |
Is homosexuality innate or learned?
What about homosexuality actually? Is it innate or not? Most scientists working on this subject agree that this is an innate trait. The innate characteristic can be compared to having a dark skin color or having red hair on the head. Homosexuality is therefore nothing more than heterosexuality. However, a number of scientists have some doubts about this conclusion. According to them (often cognitive neuropsychologists), it is not yet clear exactly where the brain structure that determines sexual preference in humans should be located and which genes are exactly responsible for this. Research into the origins that determine sexual preference continues to develop.
Is homophobia innate or learned (a choice)?
What about the other way around? Is the fear of homosexuals (homophobia) innate or learned? Where homophobes consider homosexuality to be learned behavior (it is a choice), homophobes consider their own behavior to be innate. However, homosexuality is common in nature. Homosexual behavior has been found in dolphins, penguins, zebras, baboons, sheep, bison, ducks, foxes, elephants, horses, gorillas, moose, cats, pigs, mice, rabbits, swans, lions and 1,500 other species. Not only temporary behavior has been demonstrated, but also homosexual behavior that is unchangeable appears to exist. Have these animals chosen their sexual orientation? Does a homophobic pig naturally exist? The answer is probably no and no. Homosexuality, like heterosexuality, is most likely an innate phenomenon (it is genetic). Homophobic behavior, however, is not. Homophobic behavior is encouraged and internalized through various channels. People are naturally very susceptible to authorities (it’s genetic) and do what they are told or told. Authorities can use this human urge for their own goals and desires.
Is homosexuality unnatural?
Some people believe that homosexuality is unnatural. When something is unnatural, it is often strange and arouses feelings of fear and contempt. How is it possible that some people find homosexuality unnatural? How does one arrive at this conclusion and is it correct? First of all, something can be said about how we as humans structure the world. The brain is programmed to make sense of the world with as little information as possible. You could interpret this as less is more. The less the better. People try (unconsciously and consciously) to allow as little noise as possible. Noise disrupts an existing thinking framework and that costs energy (you have to think about it). The brain takes an enormous amount of energy. Energy is often not available in abundance, so your body tries to use it as sparingly as possible.
The default is heterosexuality. This orientation is the most common and has the dominant position. Most people who see heterosexual behavior (for example, a boy and a girl kissing on the street) don’t have to think about it. It fits into the thinking framework and is an automatic process. As we know, homosexuality is less common and is also much less visible. When homosexuality becomes visible, the brain picks it up as a form of noise. The brain has to think about the context, cause and effect. The brain is stimulated and tries to understand what is happening. Understanding this takes energy and mental strength. With frequent exposure, the stimulus is no longer seen as noise. The brain is used to the stimulus and understands what is happening. Two men kissing each other on the street has become a normal stimulus and no longer requires any brainpower. With more frequent exposure to homosexual behavior, the term homosexual and the associations that emerge end up in a natural behavioral framework.
Is homosexuality a threat to world peace?
In a message marking World Peace Day, Pope Benedict XVI wrote that homosexuality is a threat to world peace. Harsh words that, from the mouth of a highly respected and believed religious leader, could actually incite a threat to world peace. Why does a person mention this when he knows what the consequences can be for millions of homosexuals on earth. Why is hatred deliberately directed towards homosexuals? Homophobia?
Is homosexuality causing humanity to become extinct?
There are people who think that homosexuals are one of the causes of the extinction of the human race. This conclusion is reached because homosexuals have children less often than heterosexuals. Roughly seven billion people live on our planet. A large proportion of these people live in extreme poverty with constant hunger. Food and clean drinking water have become scarce on a small globe with enormous numbers of people. It is starting to look more and more like the Earth is reaching its limit in terms of the number of people it can accommodate. The more mouths there are to feed, the more the earth becomes exhausted.
Why is there less homophobia in rich, non-theist countries?
In rich countries where religion plays little or no role, there is less homophobia than in countries where religion does play a major role. Countries where there is less homophobia are mainly found in northern Europe. These countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, Iceland, Finland) all share a number of characteristics. First of all, they are rich countries. Secondly, they are countries where there is little religious activity.
Why are poor, theistic countries more likely to be homophobic?
Homophobia is more common in countries where there is a dominant religion. A faith can be, among other things, the Christian faith, Islam or the Hindustani faith. A combination of these three major religions sometimes occurs in one country. Countries where a high percentage of residents are religious are mainly found in Africa and the Middle East. These countries have many social and economic problems. A witch hunt for homosexuals is even taking place in Uganda at the moment. According to a high percentage of the Ugandan people, homosexuals should be killed. Laws that should make this formally possible are in the making, but have not yet been finalized. Will killing homosexuals solve the country’s financial problems?
Are homosexuals not suitable as parents?
Just like every human being, homosexuals also want to have children and raise them. Having a desire to have children appears to be enormous for many people. When having children cannot happen in an easy and natural way, many people turn to alternative options. For example, heterosexual couples try to have children through various methods if fertility appears to be low or if there are other problems that make it difficult to become pregnant. There are people who think that homosexuals should not have children or raise them. The idea is that homosexuals (two women or two men) are not suitable as parents and do not know how to raise children. Also, some people think that homosexual couples cannot provide the right love to their children and act as proper role models. ,Gay parents should not allow their children to play parents,, some people say. Of course, these statements are all based on gut feelings. None of these slogans are based on research and truth. For example, recent research has proven the opposite: gay parents actually appear to be better at raising children. A recent study into the well-being of 500 young Australian children shows that these children have higher self-confidence, stronger family bonds and are in better general health than children of heterosexual parents. Another study from the University of Cambridge found that children adopted by homosexual couples found no disadvantages in their health, school and mental well-being. Growing up by gay parents does not appear to be detrimental and in some cases even has a more positive outcome.
Russia and homophobia
Russia’s gay law states that propaganda for non-traditional sexual relationships among minors is prohibited. In principle this could mean anything, but the link to homophobia is mainly made. The law is extremely vague and global. So non-traditional can mean anything. The reason why it has remained vague gives the Russian rulers a lot of leeway. The law can easily be misused/used for various purposes. The consequence of signing the law is a huge increase in homophobia in Russia. Although Russia was already quite homophobic before the new gay law , the new law seems to terrorize Russian homosexuals even more. Why does Russia actually have a gay law ? Self-interest is especially important here. Russia is very homophobic, something those in power are of course also aware of. Vladimir Putin will gain many political votes by signing the law.
Why do people have something against gays?
The central question in this article was of course why people have anything against gays in the first place. You may wonder what gay people are actually doing wrong? Why are gays terrorized, belittled, abused and sometimes even murdered? Why do people care about other people’s lives? The main reason, as read earlier in this article, is the urge to follow the will of authorities and the urge to create constant peace in the brain. When there is unrest in the brain, it causes stress and discomfort. People are very inclined to avoid stress. The balance theory, for example, is a theory that can support this statement.
- People have something against gays because they learned that during their childhood
- People have something against gays because it gives them political power. Being against something is easy to understand. It takes little brainpower.
- People have something against gays because they are afraid of the unknown
- People have something against gays because seeing and thinking about homosexuals causes unrest in the brain
Is it possible to stop homosexuality?
No. Homosexuality cannot be stopped. Homosexuality occurs in all peoples. Homosexuality can also be found among Asians, Africans, Arabs and Europeans, for example. Homosexuality has existed for centuries and occurs in more than 1,500 animal species. Homosexuality occurs in both men and women and occurs in every society. Homosexuals are therefore also born in a culture where homosexuality is punished. This means that children in these societies are at a great disadvantage from birth. Homosexual children in Russia, for example, experience a major problem with the law that should protect them. Homosexuality cannot be stopped in humans. It also cannot be changed to heterosexuality. The same applies to a person with a dark skin color who cannot possibly change his or her skin color to a white skin color.
- Homosexuality is not a choice. Practicing homosexual feelings is a choice. One can choose not to express homosexual feelings and/or to enter into a heterosexual life. Psychologists and psychiatrists believe that this will cause major psychological complaints. Falling in love, passion and romance seems to be an essential need for every person.
- Heterosexuality is also not a choice. Practicing heterosexual feelings is a choice. One can choose not to express heterosexual feelings and/or to enter into a homosexual life. This will also cause major psychological complaints.
Will hatred towards homosexuals end?
Change often takes years. What used to be standard and normal is now unacceptable. Discrimination against homosexuals and dark people is not accepted in the Netherlands. This used to be different. During the time of slavery, dark people were even used as attractions. People who owned a slave enjoyed great prestige. Unthinkable in this day and age, but back then people did not look up or down. Many Western countries consider it important that every person has rights. Every person is a unique individual and is valuable. Human rights, men, women, children, etc., are protected by laws. Homosexuals are also often protected. The process has taken years, but little by little everything is becoming more equal. Every person should be equal, or are certain people just a little bit better?
In countries where this development has been less, minority groups have a much harder time continuing. Homosexuals in Uganda, Iran and Nigeria, for example, have a difficult life . In the Netherlands this is almost unimaginable, but in those countries homosexuals have to fear for their existence every day. Even in many Arab countries and countries with strict religious beliefs, rights for homosexuals are very marginal. Discrimination, hatred, violence and even the murder of gays is completely normal there. These people cannot and should not discover love. These people will never build a life they want. They are like a rat in a trap and the only thing that will set them free is time. They can wait a long time because the acceptance of homosexuals still seems far, far away in certain countries.