Homophobia is the fear or intolerance of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or same sex attracted, usually linked with hostility, verbal and physical abuse, or discrimination.
In schools, the most common form of homophobia is the use of homophobic language. This can be name-calling, homophobic “jokes”, rumours and abusive words. Even phrases like “that’s so gay” which compare sexuality to words like ‘crap’ are homophobic and can have a very negative effect that might not seem obvious to everyone.
By the end of this module, students will develop an understanding of:
What homophobia is.
How homophobia hurts other students.
What students can do about homophobia
Students can:
· identify homophobia
· understand how it impacts others
· do something about homophobia
Homophobia can have very real consequences for people’s physical, emotional, and mental health and wellbeing.
Homophobic bullying can sometimes lead to some very serious health outcomes for young people. Victims of homophobic bullying are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety, abuse drugs and self-harm. It also has an impact on academic performance.