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Kaylissa Green

Homophobia: Why Bring It Up?

Janis, I can't invite you, because I think you're lesbian." I mean I couldn't have a lesbian at my party. There were going to be girls there in their *bathing suits*. I mean, right? She was a LESBIAN. So then her mom called my mom and started yelling at her, it was so retarded. And then she dropped out of school because no one would talk to her, and she came back in the fall for high school, all of her hair was cut off and she was totally weird, and now I guess she's on crack. This quote from Mean Girls represents the article I am writing about. This Article Homophobia: Why Bring It Up by Barbara Smith is about people questioning different views of being Gay. She points out that not many people in the world really stop and think about how being called gay or lesbian can affect someone. Homophobia is usually the last oppression to be mentioned, the last to be taken seriously, the last to go. But it is extremely serious, sometimes to the point of being fatal. This is a part of the article that I really thought was interesting. Its a startling fact and shows you that it can be fatal. Which you wouldnt think words could be so hurtful. In this case they can be.

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At the end of her article, she talks about approaches of bringing this subject up. She states that one reason to bring it up is that at least 10 of students will be or already are lesbian and gay males. (Page 529) That was in 1982, now it is 2013 and the rate of lesbian and gays have increased. A survey of 191 employers revealed that 18% would fire, 27% would refuse to hire and 26% would refuse to promote a person they perceived to be lesbian, gay or bisexual. -Schatz and O'Hanlan, "Anti-Gay Discrimination in Medicine: Results of a National Survey of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Physicians," San Francisco, 1994. Homophobia is a big deal and I am glad that Barbara Smith wrote this article. This article is important because it shows that people are different and it shouldnt matter what race or sex someone prefers. As long as that person is happy with the life they have. I choose this article because I know many people who are gay and I hear people say they are homophobic. It just irritates me. Everyone should be able to be with who they want.