Homophobia

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Dr. Ellen Faulkner in her paper Homophobic hate propaganda in Canada tries to address the impact of various channels of media that promote hate against homosexuals. She argues that polarization of community against each other has been long part of traditions of Canada. Racism and hate propaganda have long been a part of the Canadian experience. Attitudes toward First Nations persons in the colonial period and the campaign of de-humanization, de-tribalization and marginalization was widespread in Canada. Faulkner relies on the critical hate theories to put forward her argument. She begins with the presumption that heterosexism is endemic to life in Canadian society. She analyses the hate propaganda directed towards Canadian queers. (Journal of Hate studies, pg 66) or (Ellen Faulkner , pg 4).

Dr. Faulkner explains how media can be used to manipulate and promote hate against LGBT community. Homosexuality is perceived to be a result of mental illness, a strong tone of condemnation exists and traits attributed to LGBT community are extremely negative. Below is an analysis of hateful words used against LGBT community by the majority community. Hate propaganda maintains that LGBT community do not contribute to the fabric of society and suffer illness and hence require medical intervention or treatment. Such community is also considered to be dangerous and criminals, political agenda is attributed to LGBT community that they aspire to become rulers and conquer nations. (JOURNAL OF HATE STUDIES, 82, or Faulkner , 20).

Now I would like to throw more light on the politics of LGBT community. Donald P. Haider and Markel Kenneth J. Meier in their article Politics of gay and lesbian rights argue the long standing views of society on culture and morals. they highlight the importance of morality politics in understanding the enforcement of majority community views on the minority group. for instance the pattern of morality politics is seen in abortion, alcohol, sodomy, gambling, prostitution policies of government. Interest groups influence or minority groups influence is considered to be less important because of vote bank politics. Past policies provide a guideline to the governments when taking a crucial decission. (Donald P. Haider- Markel and Kenneth J. Meier, 334) or The politics of gay and lesbian rights , pg 4). Religious groups yield a significant importance when framing policies in such morality politics and all religions are usually opposed to gay and lesbian rights. Catholic, Christian, Islamic doctrines are against gay behavior hence indirectly they influence the policies of the governments. Morality politics also evolve into redistributive policy, where the government sanctions one set of values over other in such circumstances the government and the representatives of public are drawn into conflict. The policy environment also plays a crucial role in morality politics, variables such as urbanization and regionalism effect the policy of government. For instance majority of LGBT community is urban in nature, politics in urban areas might find more favor for gay and lesbian rights than in rural areas. Increased levels of education also are positively associated with high levels of tolerance for minority groups. Donald P. Haider- Markel and Kenneth J. Meier argue that gay and lesbian politics is no different from vote bank politics, interest group pr minority group support policies can be framed only in elite areas. As an example the authors cite the election of George Bush in 1992 a classic case of morality politics, where George Bush laid emphasis on family values, policy against abortion and a political code that rejected gay and lesbian rights. (Donald P. Haider- Markel and Kenneth J. Meier, 346) or The politics of gay and lesbian rights , pg 16). Race also determines the extent of homophobia prevalent in the community. Racist ideas and assumptions about individuals capabilities of groups of people which explicitly forms a negative view of them. The artcile by Elijah G. Ward titled Racial Abuse, homophobia and hyper masculinity and the US black church in USA gives us a deep insight into how race/ethnicity impacts our views on homosexuality. Black churches have been a source of homophobia, which pervades black communities. This religious homophobia is reinforced by the anti-homosexual rhetoric of nationalism. Three main sources that the author argues as to why homophobia is more prevalent in the black community in USA are (a) religious beliefs of Christian community, (b) historical sexual exploitation and (c) race survival consciousness that experiences intense competition from majority community. As blacks have a history of slavery and exploitation by whites, the fear of homosexuality is a psycho cultural issue that is deeply rooted in their minds. The use of bible to condemn homosexuality is an obvious way of finding freedom from exploitation. Black masculinity is seen as struggle against white imperialism and colonialism, hence race consciousness and moralism about homosexuality are preached to unite all blacks together. (Abuse, homophobia and hyper masculinity and the US black church, pg 4) or 496. I would like to contest the race consciousness part of the theory put forward by Elijag G. Ward on the grounds that struggle against the white domination and using black masculinity as a way to show rebellion is farfetched. Hegemonic constructions of masculinity by blacks referred to hyper masculinity as they consider their set of gender traits are superior to that of the whites or the general heterosexuals. Black masculinity treats femininity as a weakness, for them masculinity is defined in terms of athleticism, criminality and sexual predators which is absolutely wrong. Hyper masculinity is the living force within blacks, as masculinity traits are totally heterosexual in nature.

Michael S Kimmel in his article Masculinity as Homophobia puts forward his argument that Masculinity and manhood have been for eternal and that Men either have it or don't. It is often described an innate characteristic exhibited. Ideology of manhood and their comparison to the male peers and the constant scrutiny of individuals by other males have embodied the notion of masculinity. Unless a man display certain male gender qualities such as aggression, wealth, power and being physically strong other males do not approve of his masculinity. According to Kimmel Masculinity is a homosocial enactment, the number of women by his side tell us the ranking of an individual on the social scale. (Michael S Kimmel, MASCULINITY as HOMOPHOBIA, pg 4). Homophobia according to Kimmel is the fear in an individual that the world will expose us, emasculate us and reveal to other men that we do not measure up to their expectations and hence we are not as masculine as them. In this world of relentless competition the thought