(NAME-MCE) Editorial: Homophobia Hurts Everyone, Even McCain

[Warren Blumenfeld]

Homophobia Hurts Everyone, Even John McCain

An Editorial by Warren J. Blumenfeld, Ed.D.
Editor, Homophobia: How We All Pay the Price
Assistant Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
wblumen at iastate.edu

While out on the campaign stump in Tennessee at the beginning of 
June, John McCain has reiterated his opposition to same-sex civil 
unions and marriage, "I just believe, frankly, in the sanctity and 
unique status of marriage between man and woman. That's what I 
believe. And that's what I support. And that's what I will fight 
for." Since marriage rights and benefits, among other important 
social, legal, and political markers encompass what it is be 
considered as a citizen of the United States, McCain and others are 
continuing to relegate same-sex couples generally, and specifically 
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people to second-class 
citizenship status.

In the wake of these actions, I cannot help thinking about something 
Frederick Douglass, famed abolitionist who escaped from slavery, once 
said when he described the dehumanizing effects of slavery not on 
slaves alone, but also on white slave owners whose position to 
slavery corrupted their humanity. While the social conditions of 
Douglass's time were very different from today, nonetheless, I 
believe Douglass's words hold meaning by analogy: "No [person] can 
put a chain about the ankle of [another person] without at last 
finding the other end fastened about his [or her] own neck."

Though it cannot be denied that McCain's words and actions on this 
issue serve his interests in a number of ways, I believe he is 
misguided and uninformed and, therefore, eventually this strategy 
will backfire and the chain will take hold of him.

In truth, homophobia (prejudice and discrimination against lesbian, 
gay, bisexual, and transgender [LGBT] people) is pervasive throughout 
the society and each of us, irrespective of sexual or gender identity 
and expression, is at risk of its harmful effects.

First, homophobic conditioning compromises the integrity of people by 
pressuring them to treat others badly, which are actions contrary to 
their basis humanity. It inhibits one's ability to form close, 
intimate relationships with members of one's own sex, generally 
restricts communication with a significant portion of the population 
and, more specifically, limits family relationships.

Homophobia locks all people into rigid gender-based roles, which 
inhibits creativity and self expression. It often is used to 
stigmatize, silence, and, on occasion, target people who are 
perceived or defined by others as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, but who 
are, in actuality, heterosexual.

In addition, homophobia is one cause of premature sexual involvement, 
which increases the chances of teen pregnancy and the spread of 
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Young people, of all sexual 
identities, are often pressured to become heterosexually active to 
prove to themselves and other that they are "normal."

Societal homophobia prevents some LGBT people from developing an 
authentic self identity, and adds to the pressure to marry someone of 
the other sex, which in turn places undue stress and oftentimes 
trauma on themselves as well as their heterosexual spouses and their children.

Homophobia combined with sexphobia (fear and revulsion of sex) 
results in the elimination of discussion of the lives and sexuality 
of LGBT people as part of school-based sex education, keeping vital 
information from all students. Such a lack of information can kill 
people in the age of AIDS. And homophobia (along with racism, sexism, 
classism, sexphobia) inhibits a unified and effective governmental 
and societal response the AIDS pandemic.

With all of the truly important issues facing the world, homophobia 
diverts energy and attention from more constructive endeavors. It 
also prevents heterosexuals from accepting the benefits and gifts 
offered by LGBT people, including theoretical insights, social and 
spiritual visions and options, contributions in the arts and culture, 
to religion, to education, to family life, indeed, to all facets of 
society. Ultimately, it inhibits appreciation of other types of 
diversity, making it unsafe for everyone because each person has 
unique traits not considered mainstream or dominant. Therefore, we 
are all diminished when any one of us is demeaned.

The meaning is quite clear. When any group of people is scapegoated, 
it is ultimately everyone's concern. For today, lesbian, gay, 
bisexual, and transgender people are targeted. Tomorrow, they may 
come for you. Everyone, therefore, has a self interest in actively 
working to dismantle all the many forms of bigotry, including homophobia.

I believe that we are all born into an environment polluted by 
homophobia (one among many forms of oppression), which falls upon us 
like acid rain. For some people, spirits are tarnished to the core, 
other are marred on the surface, and no one is completely protected. 
Therefore, we all have a responsibility, indeed an opportunity, to 
join together as allies to construct protective shelters from the 
corrosive effects of bigotry while working to clean up the homophobic 
environment in which we live. Once sufficient steps are taken to 
reduce this pollution, we will all breathe a lot easier.

Dr. Warren J. Blumenfeld
Assistant Professor
Multicultural and International Curriculum Studies
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011
wblumen at iastate.edu
515.294.5931 office
515.232.8230 home