Homophobia

Homophobia is fear, hatred, mistrust, or discomfort in regards to people who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual. It can exist in many forms, including contempt, prejudice, aversion, or a general negative attitude towards people who either are or are perceived as LGBTQIA, and can result in things like harassment, job discrimination, or hate crimes. Homophobia is often rooted in fear or ignorance, and can also be tied to a person’s religious beliefs or the culture and belief system they grew up in. Individuals can also experience internalized homophobia, if they themselves experience same-sex attraction while simultaneously holding stigmas or prejudice against it. Even though persecution of LGBTQIA people is legal in many places around the world, there are many international human rights organizations that condemn any laws against homosexual relations between consenting adults as a violation of basic human rights.