Homophobia

Obama has been touted as the first gay president of the United States, not because of homosexual relations, but rather for his surprising declaration of support for same-sex marriages. He believes that no member of the democratic republic should be subject to exclusion or discrimination for reasons of race, gender, nationality, social class or sexual preference.

Obama says that there are millions of homosexual citizens in the United States to whom society does not offer the appreciation or respect they deserve and who are forced to remain in the closet for fear of being rejected, objectified in vulgar jokes or even [physically] assaulted. They offer valiant services to their country in positions of high personal risk in the armed forces, are charged with positions of high scientific and technical responsibility within the government or perform in the arts, literature, education and sports with particular brilliance.

Following the debate engendered by Obama’s declaration and the furious responses from certain churches, social groups and fundamentalist politicians, I have been researching the sociological approach to this question. The first thing I have searched for is an explanation for the homophobic neologism in a text (Macionis and Plummer, 2005), which has been cited by several professors in the United States and Latin America. It is a feeling of fear of homosexuals with the concomitant attitude of disdain toward members of this community.

The text states that, according to Amnesty International, there are currently more than 70 countries with “laws that criminalize homosexual acts. Some of those countries, including Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Chechnya, apply the death penalty for the crime of homosexuality.”

I don’t believe that there is anyone in my generation who hasn’t joked about homosexuals. This and similarly openly inappropriate conduct, such as commercials and radio and TV programs that still dare to embrace such idiocy, are products of a society that is still in turmoil, where heterosexuality is seen as the fundamental seal of morality and the [enduring] power of the male identity.

Many citizens have been assassinated in Honduras or have been beaten and savagely abused simply for being gay. Homophobia and the associated mockery, persecution and physical aggression are considered violations of human rights.