Homosexuality: The Origins Of Homophobia

Great Essays
Sean Mukherji
Professor Young
English 103
November 4, 2015
Origins of Homophobia Throughout the existence of the human race homosexuality has been judged by antagonistic attitudes. Homosexuality has existed throughout the ages but only recently have common views regarding the social cause have been tested. Homophobia is defined as a persons level of fear or sense of disgust upon seeing or referring to individuals who are lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and gay. In addition, heterosexual people believe that homophobia is also morally incorrect and that heterosexual relationships are only expected. Some of the reasons homophobia prevails in civilization are due to opposing religious and cultural beliefs, concerns of the spread of new diseases,
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Throughout ancient history homosexuality was prevalent but condemned across the globe. In the earliest of times homosexuality was perceived as a mental illness. In Homophobia, History, and Homosexuality, Michael K. Sullivan states, “Until the early 1970’s the American Psychiatric Association (APA) classified homosexuality as a disease, based on Freudian concepts of arrested sexual development that lead to a loveless life.” It was also believed to be prominent in the teenage years who specifically experienced anxiety, shame , and depression. Psychologist Sigmund Freud, most notably acknowledged for his research on …show more content…
The Holy Bible states, “If a man also lie with mankind, as he leith with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination:they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them,” (Holy Bible,Lev. 20.13 KJV). Many followers believe it is essential to abide by the rules of christianity, therefore it’s view on homosexuality is very influential. The Holy Bible is religiously powerful and it reinforces homophobia by supporting homosexuality as unholy, intolerable, and punishable by death. According to Christianity, partaking in homosexual relationships are deemed unnatural and the desire for the same sex relationships defies gods intentions. and in many other religions it is forbidden to partake in homosexual relationships because they are views also as a disgrace. In contrary to most Western schools of thought, numerous other religions and cultures also allowed same sex relationships. For instance, “Many early accounts of homosexuality indicated that a permissive attitude with the same-sex relationships existed in many cultures, and it was considered at least a transitional rite of passage

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