Homophobia

Homophobia describes discrimination of people based on their sexual orientation. This term is criticized, as the word “phobia” stands for an anxiety disorder. However, homophobic people are not afraid, but have an aversion and hostility against homosexual people. This is why “Homofeindlichkeit” and not “Homophobie” is used in German. There is no suitable equivalent in English yet, which is why we continue to use the term homophobia here.

Homosexual sexuality or love has always existed in humans and the animal world. However, heterosexuality is viewed as the ‘normal’ and ‘natural’ form in many societies, religions and other groups. In Germany, criminalization and persecution of gay and bisexual men was still legitimized in the German Criminal Code until 1994, and marriage was not opened up to lesbian and gay partners until 2017. Homosexual couples still face hurdles in German adoption law. These are examples of structural homophobia, but those affected also experience physical, verbal and other forms of violence due to their sexuality.

Sources: Lesben- und Schwulenverband; Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung; Aktiv gegen Diskriminierung