Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia & Acephobia

Why are homophobia, transphobia, biphobia, and acephobia a problem?

Homophobia, transphobia, biphobia and acephobia are learned and hurt people.  It locks us into strict gender roles and makes it unsafe for individuals to be themselves. It leads to discrimination, which is against the law.

It can put 2SLGBTQ+ people at risk for:

• Homelessness - because they are not welcome at home or choose to leave abusive situations
• Depression and suicide - due to stigma, discrimination, isolation and abuse
• Higher rates of alcohol and drug consumption - as a means of coping with stress, stigma, discrimination, isolation, abuse
• HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections - because they are disproportionately impacted by the social determinants of health, have not had extensive sexual health education about their same sex needs, experienced decreased access to health care and encounter stigma and lack of knowledge within the health care system
• Poor overall health - due to disproportionate poverty, homelessness, isolation, depression and decreased access to health care systems

Where do we find homophobia, transphobia, biphobia and acephobia?

Cisnormativity

Cisgender is a term used to describe individuals who experience alignment between the sex they were assigned at birth and their gender identity. Cisnormativity is the assumption that everyone you come into contact with is cisgender - "the norm". This systemic prejudice means that we do not take responsibility for or ownership of the work and changes required to build respectful, equitable and positive environments for trans* people. Cisnormativity also refers to discrimination or prejudice against transgender people on the assumption that cisgender is the norm. 

Heterosexism

Heterosexism is the assumption that everyone is heterosexual ('straight' or attracted to the opposite sex) and that heterosexuality is better and preferable. This kind of discrimination may be more covert or even unintentional by the person or organization responsible for it. It involves assumptions about whether someone is straight or gay.  For example, when you ask if a man has a girlfriend/wife or when you ask a woman what her husband does for a living, you are making an assumption about their sexual orientation.

Homonegativity, Transnegativity, Binegativity, Acenegativity

Homonegativity, transnegativity, binegativity and acenegativity are negative and predudicial behaviours, attitudes, or expressions towards 2SLGBTQ+ people. 

Institutional/Organizational

Institutional/organizational homophobia, transphobia, biphobia, or acephobia is discrimination by systems such as government, business, employers, and public services. This can take the form of active policies or laws that exclude or limit the rights or access of 2SLGBTQ+ people, the physical environment, cultural norms or unwritten rules that are based on the attitudes and actions towards 2SLGBTQ+ people by staff.
Examples of institutional/organizational homophobia, transphobia, biphobia and acephobia include:

• When healthcare providers assume sexual activity, sexual orientation and/or gender identity within assessments, forms or treatment 
• When the family membership to a fitness club only mentions opposite sex partners
• When institutions do not honour, ask for and use a person's chosen name or pronouns
• When sex health education classes in schools focus on heterosexuality as the only accepted norm for all students. This exclusion is not necessarily deliberate, but it means that same sex partners are not seen as an option
• When washrooms are not inclusive and do respect a person's right to choose the washroom that is most comfortable and appropriate; when all-gender washrooms/changerooms are unavailable 
• Schools that are silent about gender diversity and sexual orientation in their policies, curriculum and culture

Societal/Cultural 

Societal/cultural homophobia is all around us. It exists is when social standards and customs give preferred treatment to heterosexuals (marriage, for example). It also supports the belief that heterosexuals and cisgender persons are morally superior to 2SLGBTQ+ people. It's the way that society promotes heterosexuality and cisgender persons and discriminates against 2SLGBTQ+ people. 

Am I encouraging homophobia, transphobia, biphobia or acephobia?

Encouraging homophobia, transphobia, biphobia or acephobia can happen in many forms, including (but not limited to):

• laughing at jokes about 2SLGBTQ+ people
• not standing up to comments or language that demean 2SLGBTQ+ people
• rejecting family members who come out as 2SLGBTQ+
• avoiding active participation in the lives of 2SLGBTQ+ family members or friends
• refusing to include gay partners and friends at family events
• negating responsibility to challenge and change systems of oppression, cisnormativity or heteronormativity in your workplace, religious institutions or other community spaces
• denying basic rights, such as employment or housing, to 2SLGBTQ+ people
• harassing or attacking people because you think they are 2SLGBTQ+
• assuming that only heterosexuals have families
• reinforcing heterosexuality as the only social norm by talking about boys only having girlfriends and girls only having boyfriends, instead of referring to "friends" or "partners"

How can I contribute to change?

It is our collective responsibility to end any form of oppression that gives us privilege(s). We need to listen to and be guided by communities and individuals affected by oppression and commit ourselves to showing up and doing the important work.