The Roots of Homophobia - Research Paper Example

Many straight people often repress homosexual tendencies, and as a result, homophobia can be seen as the tag to encapsulate the attitude strongly exhibited by heterosexuals towards the gay society. In the field of science and medicine, it is notable that the inclination towards the besmirching of the homosexual community started with the end of inquisition by scientists and medics on the pathology of this minority group (Eaklor, 2017).

The Pathogenesis and Treatment of Homosexual Disorders

The Pathogenesis and Treatment of Homosexual Disorders are well enunciated in The Roots of Homophobia  (Moore, 1945). The first red flag is when he describes homosexuality as an abnormality and by extension a disease that is morally contagious. It is seen as a deviation from the norm which in his analysis is the language as well as practices that define and permeate day to day discourse. It can be seen to have an apparent inclination on the notion that being straight is the only normal. This line of thinking has a deficiency either maliciously or maliciously on the singularity of life and the various decisions that exist therein. It is, therefore, a misguiding notion to think that homosexuality poses a threat to the overall welfare of the state while ignoring the fact that the state should be in the vanguard in promoting pro-gay policies.

Is homosexuality a biological factor? Scientists have proven that there might be a gay gene for those who are gay. Therefore, it does put a lot of shade on the notion of transformation from homosexuality to heterosexuality with there being no proof that it is a curse, disease or a personal decision. It means that Moores position on homosexuals being able to make a conscious effort towards transformation is in itself unconscionable. It is also suspect to think that a person who is acting according to their biological tendencies should have the rights that grant them the liberty to do so nipped (U.S Senate, 1950). A law that denies such rights is what is a countenance and is based on false foundations.' The greatest injustice of homophobia is the predisposition of thinking that homosexuals are morally inept and suffering from a pathological condition. Its all a lie; they are as human as any human can be  (Eaklor, 2017).

U.S. Senate, Employment of Homosexuals and Other Sex Perverts in the U.S. Government (1950)

The Lavender Scare was in full scale in the 1950s and was markedly one of the greatest and most disturbing elements of homophobia. It challenged the very existence of homosexuals as it sought to cripple them through economic subversion  (Eaklor, 2017). The assertion implies that the various government bodies did go on a rampage to remove from its staff any homosexual. The war books dictate that an enemy who cannot support himself lacks in empowerment and is easily defeated (U.S Senate, 1950). Its principal line of support also stems from the unfounded notion that homosexuals being susceptible to blackmail a security threat and could easily be subject to the blandishments of external enemies as recruitments for espionage activities.

The roots of homophobia and all negative depiction of homosexuals stems purely from data that has been processed with a lot of bias and passed onto a very unsuspecting public as being empirical and factual. In some cases, these data were manipulated grossly to serve the narrative of the daythat of homosexuals and sexual perverts being outcasts within a properly functioning social environment (U.S Senate , 1950). This notion does not define the aspects of a properly functioning social system and also is very dishonest as regards to the various ills of the society that are perpetrated by heterosexuals. Homophobia is, therefore, an attempt at scapegoating and apportioning blame where there is none.

The Senate subcommittee that was tasked with looking into the various elements of homosexuality in terms of employment and the various modes of how they got employment into government pride itself on being able to protect the privacy of the subjects of the study but this can be seen to be a mere sideshow away from the intent and purpose of the survey (Eaklor, 2017). In its entirety, the subcommittee embarked on the study from the perspective of them investigating a vice that hard, serious moral implications as well as a grounding on social taboos. That cannot be a neutral point to start a study (Eaklor, 2017). The intent and purpose of the survey were therefore hinged on them being able to prove and cement the notion that homosexuals were actually morally decayed and a contravention of the various social norms.'

The US Senate played a significant role in strengthening the homophobia. It for instance published in its findings a glaring connection between psychological trauma and sexual deviation (Moore, 1945). Studies that have been done without any bias have proven otherwise. The idea of sexual mannerisms has continuously been projected, yet it still has zero effects on behavior. It can be seen to be an issue of fashion and personal perspective rather than a psychological issue (Eaklor, 2017). Can it be assumed that the sexual orientation of a workmate will have a bearing on ones performance? To understand this, it is important first to be alive to the fact that the one who is uncomfortable is most likely 100% homophobic.

Another cause for homophobia is the psychiatric notion that it is first as a result of sexual perversion which by extension leads to a personality gap. This gap is as a result of what psychiatric physicians refer to as sexual immaturity (Eaklor, 2017). I the statement was true would also substantiate the notion that homosexuality could be cured and is, therefore, a disease/disorder which is not the case. It can be noted that the isolation of sexual perverts and homosexuals as those lacking in proper behavior from meaningful employment within the government marked a significant dip in the struggle for equality in modern America. The failure was characterized with the tag of them being unsuitable for work and substantial security risks. The fact that homosexuality was considered a crime made it very difficult to be accepted by the society and this only helped in strengthening the homophobia.

Post-war America

It is challenging to pick through the various notions that stocked the fires of homophobia. It is also of importance to note that the one that touches on homosexuality as a pathological disorder and therefore providing a compass towards its relation to the aspects of moral decadence and security (Moore, 1945). It is also important to point out how this affects a homosexual as a person and not entirely the entire human block. Injustices have always been fought for the simple reason that an injustice to a single person is an injustice to the whole human race.

This kind of stereotype does have a significant bearing on how one can come out. It will be necessary for ones safety to stay in the closet as coming out does have risks associated with being ridiculed and even suspensions from places of work and school which is the legitimate thing to worry about (Eaklor, 2017). The treatment of the homosexual community also has a huge psychological dent on their well-being as it manages to continually pummel an individual with notions of how unworthy they are. In the post-war America, this still did form a significant part of the majority reasoning (Moore, 1945). The need to constantly have the gay group reminded of its position and place in the society.

The isolation of the homosexual community in the larger American context robbed the nation of very crucial talents and skill sets. It is worth noting that the talent and skill set of the marginalized groups could have aided by an excellent stretch further prosperity of the American nation (Moore, 1945). How does this work towards shaping the discourse on homosexuality? As aforementioned, when one wants to cripple an enemy, one of the things to do is always to disempower them. In leveling the playground even to include the homosexuals would have been a significant step towards legitimising the entire position on variations in sexual orientations. This would have been not only empowering but also very progressive (U.S Senate , 1950).

Post-war America still had federal laws that criminalized homosexuality. Challenging this twisted notion in itself would have laid a significant and important foundation towards equality. It is only recently that homosexuality was legalized and that has been seen as the greatest stride towards achieving parity.

Another fundamental issue lies in the dispensation of the role of the US Senate in addressing the issue of homosexuality. It is noteworthy to mention that its lack of objectivity affected and impacted by the need to have a balanced discussion and national discourse with regards to the issue (Moore, 1945). By playing to the public gallery and manipulating the majority of the findings, the Senate failed in providing leadership. The discussion needs to move from the top-down approach-leaders to the people-approach and embrace a more cyclic paradigm to change the narrative on homosexuality,

References

Eaklor, V. (2017). Queer America: A Peoples GLBT History of the United. U.S.A: n.d.

Moore, T. V. (1945). The Pathogenesis and Treatment of Homosexual Disorders. U.S.A: n.d.

U.S Senate. (1950). U.S. Senate, Employment of Homosexuals and Other Sex Perverts in the U.S. Government. Washington: n.d.