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Ben O’Keefe

Mr. Skelly

Sinclair English Composition 1201

11 April 2021

A Review on the Effects of Homophobia on Queer Youth

The history of oppression against the LGBTQ+ community is long and storied.

Homophobia has appeared for as long as queer people have existed and lived their lives.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community, which will hereafter be referred to as the queer

community for the sake of ease, have long dealt with oppression and torment due to many

stigmas placed upon them throughout history. What exactly does homophobia mean, and how

does it affect the lives of queer people? Homophobia is defined as “an aversion or hostility to,

disdain for, or fear of gay sexual orientation or gay people” (Dictionary.com), but what exactly

does this aversion entail? These questions can be condensed into a particular query: Why is there

still such a stigma around being queer, and how does that stigma affect the experiences of queer

youth? The stigma around being queer is exhibited as homophobia that negatively affects mental

health and physical health and provides boundaries that make daily life harder for queer people,

especially queer youth.

Not until the 2010s was being a homophobe even viewed as a trait that would bring

shame. Throughout modern history, being queer was seen as unnatural and capable of corruption.

This stigma is mainly due to the rise of organized religion, particularly Christianity, and their

dominance over society’s views. The majority of religious groups and texts hold anti-LGBT
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opinions and declare that being queer is a choice and a sin. Due to this belief system, queer

people were seen as a threat to society and were treated as such. Violence and apathy towards

queer people were rampant in the twentieth century, with some notable examples being the

murder of Matthew Shepard in 1998 and the AIDS Crisis of the 1980s (Nunez). Fortunately, the

world has grown more accepting of queer people and their identities in more recent years, but

there is still a long way to end homophobia and transphobia. Identifying as a gay person, a

person who is attracted to members of their same-sex is no longer a radical concept. However,

many identities that fall on the spectrum of gender are still seen as foreign.

The rampant homophobia that most queer people will experience during their lives leads

to a decline in mental health, which then causes other risky behavior. Some startling statistics

were published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2016 outline just how much

the mental health of specifically gay men is affected by discrimination. These statistics show that

gay men who are rejected from their families are much more likely to have tried to commit

suicide, report high levels of depression, use illegal drugs, and have risky sex (CDC). Due to the

discrimination from their own families, these men engage in dangerous behavior and exhibit

worse mental health than what is average when compared to their straight counterparts. A study

compiled by the National Institute on Drug Abuse corroborates the CDC’s finding with statistics

such as that 9% of queer people aged 18 and older reported using opioids compared to only 3.8%

of the overall adult population reporting using opioids within the past year (NIH). These

statistics clearly state that there is a mental health crisis within the queer community, and much

of the stress placed onto the community is from the homophobia that is faced daily.

A significant amount of the decline of the queer community’s mental health can be

summed up into one term: minority stress. Ilan H. Meyer conducted a study entitled “Prejudice,
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Social Stress, and Mental Health in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Populations: Conceptual Issues

and Research Evidence,” in which she explains that the stressors of stigma, prejudice, and

discrimination cause an environment that could lead to mental health problems (Meyer).

Minority stress is the additional stress that minority groups face due to their status as a minority.

This stress can be experienced by any minority group, such as a racial minority, gender minority,

or sexual minority. However, Ilan’s study focuses on the minority stress that queer people face.

The different types of minority stressors include prejudice events, stigma, concealment versus

disclosure, and internalized homophobia. Prejudice events include any form of anti-LGBTQ+

violence and discrimination. In a probability study conducted by Mays & Cochran in 2001, the

researchers found that queer individuals are twice as likely to encounter an experience related to

prejudice when compared to heterosexual individuals. Herek et al. also found that ⅕ of queer

women and ¼ of queer men experience assault, robbery, or property crime, being targeted for the

sole purpose of their identity. Stigma makes itself present in everyday life, whether it be friends

or family who make negative comments about the community or even strangers on the street.

Heterosexuality is the dominant culture, and to stray outside of that norm is to be different. To be

different is to be the enemy, and “normal” people should fear the enemy.

Along with fearing stigma from outside sources, many queer people fear the stigma

within themselves. There is a constant battle on deciphering who is trustworthy to be a good ally

and who will support the coming out process. Before someone comes out, the constant worry and

stress of thoroughly monitoring and concealing your true identity can bring a tremendous amount

of pressure to queer youth. Another draining reality of the mental and physical struggles that one

might face as a queer person can cause many people to repress their identities and struggle with

internalized homophobia. Internalized homophobia is the concept that some queer people have
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been socialized to conceal their identity due to outside sources telling them that being queer is

wrong. Some ways that internalized homophobia can express are the denial of your true sexuality

or gender expression to yourself or others, feeling like you can never compare to a straight

person, engaging in behaviors associated with mental illnesses such as ODC, etc. (The Rainbow

Project). These behaviors are self-destructive and negatively impact the psyche of queer people

who do have internalized homophobia. Without the expectations put onto queer people by

straight people, internalized homophobia would not exist. So, it is an issue of oppression instead

of a problem within the community itself.

As well as worsened mental health that queer people live with, there is a genuine threat of

physical violence. A study conducted in Italy in 2013 recorded the percentages of queer people

about levels of discrimination, harassment, and violence against them. (Pelullo et al.). The results

were rattling as 85.2% of participants reported that they had been verbally assaulted during their

lifetime, while 26.2% reported physical and or sexual violence had been committed against them

during their lifetime, all because of their identity. Such attacks can lead to severe injuries,

damage to the psyche, or even death in some cases. Consider the Pulse nightclub shooting of

2016. A man walked into a gay nightclub with the sole purpose of murdering as many queer

people as he could. He took forty-nine lives and injured fifty-three others. After the initial

massacre, the shooter held multiple hostages before being killed by a SWAT team. Many, many

lives were destroyed just because they were queer. An attack like this affects the entire

community. Consider 9/11: Every American was terrified of foreign threats because of that day.

Queer people were always scared to go in conservative areas, but they were attacked and targeted

in the space they created for themselves; how could they be safe anywhere?
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The problem of violence and prejudice against queer people runs deeper than

single-person attacks. A map provided by the Human Dignity Trust highlights the seventy-one

countries that criminalize all same-sex private, consensual relations. These countries specifically

target gay men with laws against “sodomy” and “unnatural offenses.” In forty-three of these

countries, gay women are explicitly targeted with laws against “lesbianism” and “gross

indecency.” However, many countries that only outlaw relations between two men also persecute

gay women. Fifteen of these countries have legislation that specifically targets transgender

people with laws against “cross-dressing” and “impersonation.” However, similar to lesbians,

trans people are targeted in every country that has any law against queer people; trans-people

even have to face anti-Trans legislation in countries that claim to be queer-friendly as

trans-people are more likely to be homeless and engage in sex work to survive, which are

marginalized groups. The most striking fact provided by the Human Dignity Trust is that having

same-sex relations is punishable by death in eleven countries. Queer people in countries such as

Iran, Northern Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and Somalia constantly worry about their lives being

ended.

The physical endangerment and assault against queer people is not a new event, as there

have been many attacks against queer people throughout history. A notable event that is not

frequently thought of when queer violence is discussed is the Holocaust. Yes, the Holocaust was

a horrible tragedy for the Jewish community, and fact should not ignore that, but the Third Reich

also targeted anyone different from them. This targeting included people of minority races,

religions, and sexual identities. Hundreds of thousands of homosexuals were taken to the

concentration camps along with the Jews, who were the original targets of Hitler’s hate. These

gay men were on the bottom of the food chain within these camps, receiving beatings and
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assaults from guards and other prisoners alike. Before the Nazi party started the concentration

camp initiative, they were virulently anti-gay and persecuted anyone suspected of being queer in

Germany. Homophobia within the Nazi party stemmed from the idea of obtaining genetic

perfection. Through this practice of eugenics, all genetic “degenerates” had to be removed from

the breeding pool, which included homosexuals. Queer people were always considered

degenerates in less accepting societies, and the violence committed against them is well

encapsulated in the example of the Third Reich.

The discrimination that affects the mental and physical health of queer people is very

clearly a problem; but, there is a much less discussed issue of discrimination in regards to social

and economic barriers such as employment, housing, and health. One in four gay and lesbian

high school students are homeless, which is a staggering amount when compared to the 3% of

heterosexual teens who are homeless (Knickerbocker). Because teens get kicked out of their

homes for being queer, there is a long history of sex work within the queer community,

particularly within the community of transwomen. A study conducted by Urban Institute within

New York City throughout 2012 to 2015 found that those who engaged in sex work report a lack

of critical social services such as affordable housing, a steady income, access to therapy for

mental health purposes, and access to doctors for physical health (Knickerbocker).

There is a very famous case in recent years of a gay couple being refused service from a

bakery. Supreme Court case Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission follows

the story of a homosexual couple trying to purchase a wedding cake. The two men went to

Masterpiece Cakeshop to inquire about ordering a wedding cake for their upcoming wedding.

This request was swiftly denied as the shop’s owner told the couple that he would not bake a

cake for their wedding because of his religious beliefs, which included not supporting same-sex
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relationships and marriages. (Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission 4).

Even though the State of Colorado did not officially recognize same-sex marriage at the time, the

couple decided to take the bakery to court. Working its way to the Supreme Court, Masterpiece

had become the topic of many news reports. The court ruled that; “the shop’s actions violated the

[Colorado Anti-Descrimination] Act and ruled in the couple’s favor,” with a 7-2 majority.

Masterpiece shows us that queer people are still being denied certain services due to their

identities, even to this day.

During my research for this paper, I decided to seek out queer youth to interview their

experiences with homophobia and its effects on their lives. The first interview I conducted was

with “D.” Interviewee D identifies as a cisgender bisexual male who uses he/him pronouns.

However, D is not out of the closet and therefore asked to be referred to with a pseudonym.

When asked about his experiences with homophobia, D told me the story of the day he was

“walking down the street, and I was called a faggot by someone who drove past me. I was

completely crushed as I have struggled to accept my identity and am still in the closet, so it was a

very rattling experience for me.” As for why D is still closeted, he shared that he has had many

struggles with growing up in a conservative, religious area; feeling that if he were to came out,

he would be disowned: “I live in a very catholic family, so I constantly struggle with my sexual

identity, even today. This struggle has caused many negative mental health problems, such as

severe depression ever since I was young.” It is hard to argue against the harmful effects of

homophobia when you talk to someone who has experienced it first-hand. Many straight people

say that because same-sex marriage is now legal in the US, homophobia is no longer around. So,

I decided to ask D what he thought about prejudice against gay people in our modern world: “I

am strongly against the notion that the world is accepting of queer people. Even though the law
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is changed, governments can’t change how people feel about us. Honestly, I would much rather

be straight due to the closed society we live in. Despite being ‘equal,’ gays are constantly

prejudiced against for who they are. Because gays will never be truly accepted into society; I

would rather be straight.” D would rather be straight because he knows he would never be

accepted in his community. Homophobia has indeed ruined his childhood and teen years.

I also conducted interviews with Julian Luke and Lexi Stokes. Julian Luke identifies as a

cisgender queer man who uses he/him pronouns. Lexi Stokes identifies as a nonbinary queer

individual who uses they/them pronouns. Julian and Lexi have both experienced many instances

of direct, physical, and verbal assaults against them due to their queer identities. Both of them

being out and queer-presenting has put a massive target on their back for homophobia. Julian

told me the story of one of these instances: “I was walking home from school, still on the

campus, when this group of guys started yelling something at me. I just ignored them as this

wasn’t an irregular occurrence until one of the guys threw a trash can at me. This was a pretty

big trash can made of metal, and it hit me right on my back. So, I started running, and Due to this

activism, I didn’t look back until I got home. They had left a huge bruise on my back, but,

fortunately, I wasn’t hurt too bad.” Lexi had a tale of recurring verbal assaults from almost their

entire school district. Lexi told me about how they are very outspoken on social media regarding

race, sexual identity, gender identity, and many different minority groups' rights. Due to holding

these liberal views and being an activist in a conservative area, Lexi received massive hate.

“Every single day, I would wake up to messages saying stuff like ‘kill yourself,’ ‘you are

hideous,’ ‘being gay is a choice,’ etc. It’s just a lot to deal with. I mean, I am only 15 and a

sophomore in high school; why do I have to deal with this? Because I dress differently or use

different pronouns? It’s honestly ridiculous.” While being closeted may have meant that D faced
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great internal struggle, being out meant that Julian and Lexi were the targets of horrible attacks

that put them into mental and physical danger.

One of the biggest misconceptions that come with being queer is that it is a choice and

should be judged. Groups such as the Westboro Baptist Church preach that homosexuality is a

choice and a sin. So, is it a choice? Many religious groups use their sacred texts as reasoning for

condemning homosexuality, but the Bible is the most often referenced when it comes to

arguments against queer identities. A collection of reason and Bible verses used to justify

homophobia coalesced in Myles Markham’s article “What Does The Bible Say About

Homosexuality?” Markham mentions the book of Genesis and Adam and Eve’s story, the first

humans God created. This book is frequently referenced in anti-queer publications as God

created a man and a woman who were meant to be together, not two men. So, to go against God

implies that identifying as queer must be a choice. However, as laid out by Robert L. Kinney, III

in “Homosexuality and scientific evidence: On suspect anecdotes, antiquated data, and broad

generalizations,” the American Psychiatric Association has come to the conclusion that

homosexuality is not a mental disorder and is instead just a natural form of human evolution and

sexuality, and that this conclusion is backed up with scientific evidence. Sexuality is not a choice

and should not be judged as such. Queer people are born as they are, and the world expects them

to change.

Overall, the stigma against queer people is still present today and negatively impacts

many. Homophobia hurts the mind, body, and soul of queer people and is terrible. However,

homophobia will not cease existing until cisgender and heterosexual people unlearn the

anti-queer behavior that has been ingrained in their history. Queer people are not responsible for

homophobia and should not be expected to produce a solution to it. Only through the
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destigmatization of queer identities throughout the world can queer people truly be free to live as

they were born.

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Works Cited

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Streets, Report Says.” Christian Science Monitor, 25 February 2015, p. N.PAG.

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(2003): 674-697. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674. Accessed 8 March 2021.

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hate-crimes-history. Accessed 13 March 2021

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Stokes, Lexi. Personal Interview. By Ben O’Keefe. 18 March 2021.

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