Why are people homophobic?
Many prejudices against gay, lesbian, and bisexual people are based on inaccurate stereotypes and lack of information. Society portrays sexual minorities as sick, perverted, or nonexistent. Many people are not aware that they know healthy gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals. Many people, fearing they might be gay, lesbian, and bisexual, prefer to attack us as a way of avoiding self identification. Many people also link homosexuality and bisexuality only with sexual behavior. In a culture that is reluctant to acknowledge sexuality of any kind, homosexuality and bisexuality become problematic. Our society supports one way of being: the traditional male or female role within a nuclear family setting. The reality of same sex relationships challenges this model’s claim to be the only legitimate one, and suggests that people can lead successful and creative lives without having to fit a set pattern. For people who feel uncomfortable with or uncertain about their sexual orientation or rela
